The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-04-29

To the Senate aud House Of Representa-
tives
l transmit herewith a letter da
ted the Gath ult., from the Secre
tary Of War, lnclosing a cory Of
IA COMMUNICATION from the Missis
sippi River Commission, in which
the com mission recommends that
an appropriation may be made Of
$l0,OOO.O 900 for closing existing
gaps III the levees in addition to
IA like sum for which an estimate
has already been submitted.
The subject is one Of such i'm
portance. that l deem i, proper to
recommend an ea.ly and fayora
ole consideration of the recon-
mendations of the commission.
Ha ing possession Of aud juris
diction over the river, Congress-,
with a view Of improving its nayi
CATION and protecting the people
OF the valley from floods, had for
years caused surveys of the river
to be made for the purpose OF nc
quiring knowledge of the laws
thar control it and of it's phenO
mena. BY an ACT approved Jnne
%, 1879. the Mississippi River
Commission vas created, co,npoS
ed OF able engineers. Section &
OF the act provides:
Ilat<it shall be the duty OF
said commission to take into COZ
>iueraIiou and mature such plan
or plans and estimates as vii! cor
rect, permanently locate ard deep
en- the channe! and protect tire
banks of the Mississippi river, i'm
prove aud gite safety and ease to
the navigation thereof, prevent.
destructive floods and promote.
and facilitate commerce, trade
aud the postal service. The con
stitutiOnality Of the law making
appropriations in aid of these ob
jtcts cannot be questioned, while
the report of the commission sub
mitted and the plans proposed
for the rivers improvement se-m
justified as we'll on scientific piin
cip'es AS by experience, aud the
approval of TIE people most i'll
terestea. and also desire to leave
it to The Judgment of Congress to
decide upon the best plan TOR the
permanent and complete improve
ment of the river and for the pro
teclion of the valley.
The immense losses and wide
spread suffering OF the people
dwelling near the river iuduce me
TO urge upon Congress the pro
i'riety OF not efiiN making an .ap
propriation 10 close tue gaps in
the levers accustomed Ivy the re
Gems foods, as recuM Hrnded by
the commission, but that Congress
Shoaid inansnrate measures for
the permanent Improvement of
the navigation OF the liver and
the security of the valley. 1t ma,
be that sucd a system OF improve
mtnt would, as it progresses, re
qnire the arproprlatim OF twenty
or thirty million, OF dollars. Even
such an expenditure, extending as
it must over several wears, can
not be regarded as exlravagant IN
view of the immense interest IL.
VOWED.
The safe and convenient naviga
ton OF the mississippi is ii matter
Of concern to all sections Of The
county to the Northwest, with
its immense harvests needing
transportation; to Alabama and
to the inhabitants of the river val
ley, whose lives and property de
pend upon the proper c0nstruc
ton OF the safeguards which pro
'ect them from foods. 1t is OF ri
t al Importance that Il well matur
ed and comprehensive plan Of i'm
plUvement should be PM ilto
operation with as it'll, delay as
possible.
The cotton productnf the region
SabJect'to devastating foods, Is:a
source of wealth to the nation
AMI OF great importance III keep
ing the balance OF trade III cur Il,
NUr.
L. may not be iDoppoitune TO
mention that, this government
has imposed and collected $4,000
GOO by tax ON cotton, in HE pro
duction of which the population of
the iower Mississippi is largely en-
gagged, and IL does not seem eu3lita
Die to return ii portion of This tax
TO those who contributed il, ga
tlen'arly as saeh an action viii
also 'esllt in an important gain
10 The country ut iarSe, a:at espe
eiaiiy SO 20 thr great and rich
States OF The No invest aud t.
the Alssissirati valley.
CHESTER a. ARTHUR.
Executive Ma"siois April II, 80.