New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-28
THE WEEKLY REPUBLICAN
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LEVEES ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
Speech Of Mr.. Sheldon.
Advertisements.

- 0l0po OF uvo or more.
LEvEEs ON THE MISSISSIPPI.
Speech Of MIR. Sheldon.
In the House of Representatives on Thur
day. the twenty-frst instant, Hon. L. A
Sheldon, Of the second district of Louisiana
made an excellent speech on the levee ques
ton, which is thus reported in the Globe:
Ma Speaker: 1t occurs to me that thi
may be regarded as an suspicious time to-
Congress to give attention to the develop
ment of the material resources of the coun
try. The unity of the republic is assured
the largest liberty has been conferred upo1
all the citizens through the fundamental law
Of the land, and the mears of protecting al
in the enjoyment of this liberty have beer
provided by appropriate and ample legisla
ton. 1t seems proper. therefore, that there
should be added to these blessings the great
est possible facilities for promoting the
material welfare Of the people. The public
debt is large, admit, but integrity and eff.
cheney in the collection, and economy in the
expenditures Of the revenues, together with
the increase Of wealth in the country, have
conduced to its rapid extinguishmeDt. When
we Objectify this debt it has huge dmen-
siOns, but when considered in connection
with the resources of the nation its formid-
able appearance is greatly modified. When
the means to pay are ample no liability is
onerOus. An increase of public wealth is
equivalent to reduction of the debt itself
The proposition which shall present will
if adopted, have the effect to largely in
crease the national resources, and will open
up homes for milliOns, and contribute i'm
measurably to the happiness of mankind.
On the first day Of the session had the
hon )r to introduce a bill to incorporate the
Mississippi Valley Levee Company. That
its provisions may be more easily under
west or right bank of the Mississippi river
ls low, and liable to be overlooked nearly
the entire distance from Cape Girardeau,
in the State Of Missouri, to Fort jackson,
in the State of Louisiana. A few miles of
bluffs exist about sixty miles above Mem
phis. continuous levee is necessary be-
tween the designated points. If crevasse
takes place at any point the country below
it is more or less injured If there are no
levees in Missouri, damage is done to
Arkansas, and if the latter State neglects
those within her limits Louisiana suffers.
Hence, it is not only necessary that the
levee should be continuous between the
points specified, but it should be skillfuly
constructed, and carefully watched and
preserved. To place this single levee.
which runs through two States and into the
third, under three Jurisdictions and control
the systems adopted and the management
may, and probabl y will, be different, and in
such event evil consequences can not be
avoided by State which employs the most
perfect system, and practices the greatest
vigilance. 1t is important, therefore, that
this levee should be placed under one con-
troll, and that this control should be coupled |
with an interest which will be sufficient to |
guarantee the exercise of proper skill and |
care.
The levees heretofore constructed are not |
uniform IN height or of ample strength, |
and, as might he expected, reflect great |
variety of ideas as to the measures which
are necessary toprotect the country. During
the continuance of the war the people were
unable to take care of the levees, and to
natural deterioration has been added the
destruction incident to the conflict. Hence,
the whole country is in danger of being
submerged, and the people are too poor to
pay the expense of repair and construction
IF the levees without grievous oppression.
Nor is there in existence any plan or system
~ which the adequate labOring force can
20 concentrated in case of threatened
'anger. 1.-The business of everybody is the
business Of nobody is a rule which, applies
lere The low bank on the east side is not
continuous, and does not, except in single
Instance, extend into two States. The
|
Jared with those on the west bank There
IRE several tributaries on both sides of the |
which must be diked for some
distance from their mouths, but the EN-
'ankments need not be so costly as those |
N the main river. If the main levee on the
light bank is placed under one management.
With proper means to communicate informa-
ION and to transport men and materials
apidly, the levees on the left bank and
tributaries may be advanta geously com
litted to the same management.
The objects OF the bill are threefold: first |
0 create system which will apply to all
he levees; second, to place them under the
ontrol OF a single and interested head: and
bird. to obtain pecuniary aid from the gov
rnment.
The bill proposes to create certain gentle
len therein named body corporate. with
ne usual powers and privileges of similar
operations, and prescribes the method of I
'ganizatiOn. 1t authorizes the COMPANY TO
instruct a levee and line Of tele graph from {
ape Girardeau to Fort jackson. and t. Law &
railway track on the top or alon. the line I
the levee. The telegraph line is essential
a means of transmitting information from | |
lint to point rapidly. railroad will afford a
more speedy means of concentrating men !
ii materials than that furnished Lv the |
yer. Moreover, it is believed that when t
CIC 10 - AS"Son"oie W cont thttt the :,
untry is secure against inundation. emf !
alton will tend thither. and that in the +
rly future it will become ond the most e
pulous and productive of the rural dis o
cts, and that railroad will be great c
nvenience to the people and a source of t
ofit to the company. Whether the track r
l be safely laid upon the levee is a ques- c
n for engineers, and one upon which there a
differences of opinion, the weight being a
verse to the proposition. The bill is so p
med that the track may be laid upon or o
ng the levee. as shall be directed by the a
.ineer therein mentioned. The building a
the railroad is permissive, and not Oh A
atOry. ~
The Secretary of War is required to de- le
an engineer of the United States, whose u
) duty while so detailed shall be to plan