Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-12-03
CAsEY YoUNG's LEvBE BILL.

CASEY Y0UNG'S LEVBk
Our representative, Colonel Casey
Young, has introduced a bill in the
house of representatives entitled "A bill
for reclaiming and prot, citing from over
flew the a~lluvial lands Of the Mississippi
valley" 1t was read twice, referred to
the committee on the Mississippi levees'
of which be is a member, and of which
+. w. Robertson, of Louisiana, is chair
man, and ordered printed. The bill has
frequently been referred to, but it may
not be smiss to refer again to its leading
provisions. Section first constitutes and
dssignates so much of the States Of Hi
nois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee,
Mississippi and Louisiana as is subject
to overflow by the waters of Mississippi
river and other streams a district to be
known as THE Leyee District Of
the Mississippi Valley" Section two
provides for a board of levee commits
sioners to consist Of FIVE members, and
be composed Of three officers OF the
army engineer corps, to be detailed BY
the secretary Of war, n to rank not less
than lieutenant colonel and two who shall
rank not less than captain, and two per-
sons from civil life who sbsll have been
residents OF the district not less than
ten years, to be appointed by the Presi
dent and confirmed by the senate; the
army officers to receive their usual pay,
and the others three thousand dollars
per aunum Section three provides
that the said board, when selected
and organized, shall establish their
headquarters at Memphis, or some
other suitable point in the dis
trict, and take charge Of the survey now
being made, with a view Of determining
a proper method Of retaining and pro-
tecting the Mississippi delta, aud when
the survey is completed the board shall
report through the chief Of engineers
and the secretary OF war whether or not
the lands in said low district car be pro-
tected from overflow and the best method
of doing so-whether by %levces, outlets,
cut-ofs or %jettiea, or all combined; and
they shall also submit the estimated cost
of such works as they may deem ntces'
sary. Section 4 provides for the appro'
pristion of $3.50, 900 to carry into effect
the foregoing provisions Of the act. Sec
tiou 5 requires that when the report oil
the board shall have been approved and
adopted by congress the commissioner
shall proceed 20 the construction Of the
works under such rules as they may
adopt, by aud with the approval o
the secretary Of the treasury, or as MAJ
hereafter be prescribed by congress
Section 6 provides for the issuing o
thirty-year six per cent. gold bond
to carry into effect the main object 0
the bill, provided that the estimate doe
not exceed the sum OF $45, 900, 900. Sec
ton I makes it the duty of the secretar.
of the treasury to sell the bonds in sucl
iustsllments as may be necessary Il
carry on the work. Section = provide
that when the work shall have bee.
completed ell lands reclaimed, and o.
vessels navigating the rivers, bays O
lakes within said levee district shall b
liable to . certain tsx yet to be named
Section 8: The money so collected shs
be used to pay the interest IN the leye
bonds, aud to keep the levees or othe
public works in repair, provided that th
surplus, if any, shall constitute a sinkin
fund for paying the principal Of sal
bonds, and provided that none of ii
provisions Of the act, except those pr,
ceding section 5, shall take effect unit
the StsteS through which the levee distric
extends shall cede to the government
the United States the power aud jun
diction te carry into effect all tie pr,
visions of the Get, These are all Il
material provisions Of the bill att
eliminating the usual legal verbisge.
will be understood at once that this is
very important bill, affecting the iute
ests Of a vast region, which for produ
tive capacity has scarcely a rival in ii
world. II these ovelaowed lands can
reclaimed by any system Of l%evees, j.
ties, outlets or canals, this would ;
com the most highly favored and pre-
porous part Of the world We undo
stand that the bill will be pressed at
early day in the regular session Of CO
gress and that a considerable support
already assured.