The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-12-06
TaE nissIssIrfI LENKEs

Memphis appeal, December ii: /; "
10 DO hoped that Young, Money aad
Chalmers will cooperate in their eaoess
TO secure an appropriation for levSeins
the Mississippi river. This is s subject
of vital Importance. In discussing 'he
very able letter furnished the Al2P,a! by
Major Meriwether two weeks aso, the 81
Louis Rspubliea" says;
The bill recently introduced by Dr.
Young, OF Tennessee, asks tor forty live
million dollars 10 be used in the cons
struction OF levees-the money to be re-
paid, principal and interest, by tax on
the redeemed lands and on the freight
carried by river steamers. Let us sup
pose that instead of torty>tive million
dollars the estimated cost Of the levees
was one hundred million dollars, not
cent OF which was ever 10 find its way
back 10 the treasury by the proposed
taxation; would not the investment pay
sufficiently we'll to satisfy the most scru-
pulous political economist? Lands, now
practically valueless, would then be
worth live hundred million dollars,
and their annual products tour huns
dred million dollars. What better gold
mime could there be than this! lt will
be observed that we do not include the
vast increase OF revenue Indirectly result
ing from the permanent improvement OF
the navigation OF the national river, by
enlarging and stimulating all kinds OF
businsss In the great valley. Ourfgures
are confined exclusively to the direct pecu-
mary results Of a properly constructed
system OF levees in the region subject to
overflow. In the light OF these figures
the persistent opposition OF eastern sen-
ators and representatives, and the press
OF that section, to this intellectually i'm
portant work becomes not merely un-
reasonable, but contemplate. Hundreds
OF millions have been spent in the i'm.
proyemcnt and protection OF the rivers
and harbors on that portion OF the At
lsntic coast lying north OF the James
river, and yet when less than nifty mil,
lions ID asked TOR an object in which
every State west of the Alleghenies and
east OF the Rocky mountainsis interested,
the politicians and journals of New Eng
land and vicinity denounce 1t as "a gi-
Rantic swlndls." In their opinion the
mighty stream which drains hall q con
tinont, and whose valley furnishes a
larger varsity OF valuable products than
can be found anywhere else. IN the same
extent OF territory, on earth, is "a local
AFFAIR." only, and its protection and i'm
proyement "belong to the adjacent State.
and net to the general government
Hell Gate aud Harlem river, Podunk
harbor and Hullahalioo sound, are nation
al; the Mississippi and all its attachments,
local! sThia sort Of argument has shaped
congressional legislation long enough
and there arc encouraging indications
that II will soon give place TO logic based
on common justice and common sense.
Tho MIsslssippi levees will be built and
the channel OF the Mississippi put in pro-
Der condition at the expense Of the Fed.
sral government, all opposition to the
contrary, Notwithstanding. Sectional
prejudice and Jealousy may delay and en.
barrass this contamination, but they can>
not prevent II.
Tho southern and western states are
uAiting In demanding an appropriation
for lsveeing tho MlssisslppI; but the
northern and eastern states, that have
grown rich by similar appropriations,
are loud IN denounclng what they call
subsidy. The Augusta Chronicle and
Constitsti onalst forcibly says that these
rop'e ny ~. .ue n'selAnl' ui.D, "nO'e
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