, 1873-06-08
The Sny Island Iavee.


Over On the opposite bank OF the hIssissipui srt
what are known all OYER the West as the Auerscar
Bottom Lands. They e1tend from the historic are,
Of Bloody 1s1and for hundreds Of miles doSn toward
the South and include the whole Of the rich section o1
country embraced between the river and the high
bluffs or tablaauds, which have warning breadth Of
from one to ten miles, The soil IN rtch blsck allu-
vial ioan which han been accumnlating through gen
erations, and whose richness knows computation
1a corn waves Its tssses high above the heads Of the
tallest mounted horsemen, and ts wheat1elds under
the influence Of the summer breezes, ron In hflow1
fully fathom deep. The only unfortunate circum-
stance e., connected With the bottom ts It's IN
that have enriched the soil 1t standa are con-
santl adding fresh deposits by annual inundations
driven from their homes; when they are permitted 70
occupy them thny the constant victims the as
nat. ha Thieh the sugesh waters and
less. 1p about st. Louis On bot fs Of tha 1asus rve
in numerous places. Opposite Hannibal and Louizt
ana and extending IS FIR south point across from
land ths i saSsss to equsn Ind ssls bottom
eaent Il spring fise 1t these places q o1s"a, lave
Louisiana {erryboats to sail ac1oss the Illinois bot
tom lands thst 4 In midsummer yie1a Large crops Of
Ind 70 Fl ha 81 ii tss
high md dry on the crest Of the bluff.
year OF more ago active measures were take.. to
ar1ble / system Of 1evse improvements was aereeg
upon the work waa put into the hands Of an efficient
ane snsEo % ana nn Of TIE fruits
are located On what is known - shy Island. lon9
eltce Of the territory Of Illinois which hass
Ecarte. IT xas subsequently, md By The
ssSa III q 3sa: sss Ito
Ano nnaLy 70 j" Snyp" without any prefix or sufH1 |
whatever. Tho island contains inst loo 600 acrea of
largest crops OF and wheat to the acre grown On
ne continent M Owing however, to tho frequent over
song rhs naa s sss
The north Of the island the head The bayou
II the island leaving the bsyou open drain OF tie
WATER. Tha work was commenced in September last,
se,,e until pat tho stan Se'1aF and h9Fss
tgorous1y: At present 20 miles hsve been built,
which is ttttlo esa than haif the number required
g aain be put IN the field and tie work viii be coI-
'leted, 1t ia promised. by fan.
The large ttacts Of land subject to overflow in Mis-
at 500 600 acres-should lead the
izens Of this State aud legtalators particularly to
1ach carefully the progress Of the sny Island WORK and
~ Of Illinois relating to drains and leyees and il
eing carried forward without any outside did.
nd By means only Of the funds obtained b.
T ~ provides. l?as Ia q estimated sa' ok Z tie
5oo ooo and bonds for this amount have been issued
the State. They are secured by lien On tue lands
oct taz paid at the State Treasury Tho value Of tha
ORR may be approximately catrnated from the fact
aat two Or three hundred actea of the Iaud fhat
ould have been bought bafore tho levee was begun at
stx btts an acre" we're sold, less than month aeo.
Ut per acra cash down and for land that Waa for
lerly held at 80 an aere s75 il now aafed Tbs in
eased valuation Of this plat acres bT reason
ths !eyee, can not be less than from $5o0ooO0 10
AZ tie lsvee costs but $500 900 tie immense
ronf that VIII scdrue to the Stata is at onca up-
aren't, Under tlese circumstances It will be t1e
:ossost kind OF negligence for our Legislasurea to
nut 70 mike preparations for such work within cur
~ boundaries next winter. There are within aeye1-
-hge miles Of ST. Louis, hundreds Of acres that Ike
9 6 sny island land formerly, cannot be cultivated
ore than che year out Of five. Twenty-Five thousand
liars expended in dyktng them with loan leyees
2nld .ad 9oooo 600 to their worth, and make them
escfy oest garden spots within reach Of u. Down
tho part Of the State arp thousands OF
res Of Ae same kind, and which are susceptible Of
same reclamation. 1t Is both the sates duty and
the StAeH interest to that they arc 1uada pro-
etiTe.~7st Louis Democrat, Jure 4.