New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-20
THE MISSISSIPPI LEvEES.
Speech of Hon. j. Hale Sypher, Of Louis.
lana, in the House Of Representatives
June =. 1874.

IHU0, In tne n Ouec u ACpACsC~s"sA'So
June 2, 1874.
The House having under consideration
the bill House resolution No. 2S8s) to pro-
vide for the appointmenr OF commission
of engineers 70 investigate and report
permanent plan for the reclamation OF the
a,lrvial basin of the Mississippi river sub
ject to inundation, Mr. Sypher said:
Mr. Speaker-In the remarks l am about
to offer upon the pending bill, desire to
impress upon the House and the country
tine ma agnitude and importance Of this ques-
ton of the Mississippi leyees, and OF the
necessity for sure protection from lnunda-
ton of the vast areas of fertile lands COM
prising the Mississippi Delta. Your select
committee. to whom was referred this SUD
iect in their able repor. have presented an
array of facts which must dispel all doubt
as to the power and duty OF Congress IN
this matter. A great necessity and respon-
bility is upon you at this moment. While
speak the lives and property OF the people
inhabiting the Mississippi valley are being
destroyed by the turbulent waters OF that
Overpowering and uncontrolled stream.
No opower outside Of the general govern
ment is adequate to protect the wide ex-
panse of fertile territory, and give con.
tidence to capital and labor to occupy and
cultivate it. Individuals, corporations and
States all have hitherto attempted in vain
to confne the waters OF the Mississippi
within It's banks. Millions Of treasure have
been expended in these fruitless efforts
until the States are impoverished and the
people are bankrupt. A crisis is upon US;
an unprecedented food low rolls in un-
checked and devastating might over the
land, leaving suffering, death and destruc-
ton widespread in the wake Of its resistless
currents. / desire here, IN the name OF my
afflicted State, to acknowledge with pro-
found gratitude the liberality and generosl-
ty of those citizens OF other States who
have contributed SO promptly for the reliet
OF our suffering people. These individual
acts of benefcence. together with the aid
afforded by Congress in furnishing supplies,
will alleviate Immediate wants; but the
millions of property swept away before
the food can only be replaced by labor
and the lapse of time. 1t is in behalf Of the
inhabitants of the whole delta, citizens of
five great States, that plead for the aid Of
the government. II is for them invoke
the aid of the strong arm of national au-
thority, that the periodical recurrence OF
these appalling disasters may be averted:
The history Of levee protection on the
Mississippi river dates from the earliest
settlements on it's banks. As the country
adjacent to the river became inhabited the
levee system was established and extended
until il stretched for more than one thOus-
and miles along both sides of the channel.
Prior to 1860 the system was maintained by
the riparian prOprletors With the large force
of slave labor at their command. Congress,
in lSi9. ceded vast tracts OF swamp lands to
the States interested in aid Of this purpose.
Under that system and aid the levees at
tanned a high degree of perfection, and
afforded ample protection to the valuable
crops grown in the soil thus defended
against the floods. That condition of secu-
rity continued until the war, no less disas.
trous than the devouring floods, swept
away and destroyed both levees and the
disciplined labor by means of which the
system had been constructed and main
tanned; system which had cost the States
OF Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi. Ten
nessee and Missouri $40OOO,OO0.
Owing to the great change in the indus
trial and domestic relations of the Southern
States, though the great body OF the newly
made citizens remain upon these lands and
are interested in their protection, they can
not be controlled and employed in large
numbers as they were under the old regime.
The great plantations are, in many cases,
divided up into small homesteads. and this
process is destined to continue. Hence the
organized force and capital which once en-
abled individuals to construct and maintain
levees can not hereafter be reliance.
Since the war there has been no united
action by the States whose alluvial lands
are subject to overflow. Louisiana, in ef-
forts to reconstruct her own levees, has e1-
pended more than $e000,000. Being power
less to make any further efforts. she ap-
peals to you, in the name of millions Of
your own coultrymen inhablting the Mis-
sissippi valley, for protection against inun-
datiOn.
The value of the products of these lands
<ra af
With adequate protection from overflow.
ffty-fve per cent, the same as in the State
of Illinois, being under cultivation, would
produce a crop exceeding $500, 100000 in
value.
Of the extent of this vast exparse of ter
ritory quote from the able report of your
Committee on Mississippi Levees, as fol-
lows:
The delta of the Mississippi, with its
head near Cape Girardeau, in Missouri,
sweeps across Dine and half degrees,
from 80 SO to 29o of north latitude, and
contains about 3S,7G6 square miles of area,
while the Red river contains in her al
luvium about 1887 miles. and the Arkan-
sas about 800 miles, liable to inundation
unless protected by levees. Thus we find
the aggregate alluvial area of the Missis-
sippi and connate alluvions dependent
upon levees for protection against inunda-
ton, about Al 10y square Mllts.
In round numbers the delta requiring
protection levees comprises 70 OOo; ooo acres,
divided about equally between the cotton
and sugar producing districts. The ordlna-
nv Weld from one-half the cotton acreage
would exceed 100000 bales, which, at
present prices, would bring in the market
$500, 100000. Would not that amount
added 10 the credit side of our international
balance sheet relieve from embarrassment
the gentleman from Vermont Mr.. VIII
lard). whose constituents pay their proper
ton of the interest due foreign bondhoid.
ers with the proceeds of butter and cheese!
When England discovered that her sup
ply of American cotton would be cut OH by
the rebellion in this country, che at once
began to encourage the cultivation OF cot
ton in India. But the cotton fields OF Asia,
being distant from the seabOard, required
the construction of railroads at great ex-
pense. This was done without delay, but
before a supply of India cotton reached the
mills at Manchester the British government
had expended $450,000,O00. Will this gov
ernment hesitate, in the face OF this exam
pie. to expend $40,000,O00 for the protec-
ton of an area which is more valuable than
the whole of India9 But these vast expen-
ditures by England in developing new cot
ton fields have resulted in signal failures
SO far as it was intended to cause dlmlnu-
ton to the demand for American cottons OF
the best staple.
Prior 70 1860 American cotton held su-
premacy in the markets of the world. Cot
ton WAS the king" of American products.
Then. if king under the baneful hinderances
of slave labor, what may it not become IN,
a free and intelligent system of agricultural
But lest his feecy majesty offend the sensi-
bilities of the gentleman from Vermont
[Mr. Willard who watches with such jeal..
GUS care the constitutional safeguards of
his country. pass to the more soothing
and agreeable subject Of sugar.
The annual consumption of sugar in this