The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-04-22

at once. There Is no wisdom In one |
closing his eyes to that which is inevi-
table. l.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE ON THE
RIVER COMMtSSION BILL.
I transmit herewith a letter, dated
10Th ultimo, from the Secretary of
Wsr. inclosing a copy of the commune
cation from the Mississippi river COM
mission in which the com mission re-
com NEEDS that an appropriation may be
made of 81, OOO, 900 for closing of the gaps
in the levees, in addition to like sum
for which an estimate has already been
submitted. This subject is one of such
importance that I deem it proper to
recommend an early and favorable con-
sideration of the recommendations of
the committee having possession of
and Jurisdiction over the river. Con-
gress, with view of improving its
navigation and protecting the people of
the valley from floods, had for years
caused surveys Of the river to be made
for the purpose of acquiring knowl-
edge of the laws that control it and of
its phenomena. BY an act approved
June %, 1879, Mississippi river COM
able engineers. Section four of the act
provides that it shall be the duty of
said commission to take into consider
alton and mature such plan or plans
and estimates and correct, permanently
locate and deepen the channel and pro-
tect the banks of the Mississippi river,
improve and give safety and ease to
navigation thereof; prevent destructive
floods, promote and facilitate commerce,
trade, and postal service. The consti-
tutionality of the law making an appro-
priation in aid of these objects cannot
be questioned, while in the report of
the commission is submitted estimates
and plans proposed for the rivers i'm
provement, the sum justified, as on
scientific principles, as by experience
and approval of the people most inter-
ested. l dasire to leave it to the judg-
ment of Congress to decide upon the
best plan for permanent and complete
improvement of navigation of the
river and for the protection of tho val
ley. The immediate losses and wide
spread suffering of people living near
the river induce me to urge upon Con-
gress the propriety of not only making
an appropriation to close the gaps in
the levees occasioned by the recent
floods as recommended by the commits
sion, but that Congress should inaugu-
rate measures for the permanent i'm
provement of navigation and the Sc
curity of the valley. 1t may be that
such system of improvement would,
as it progressed, require an appropria.
ton of twenty or thirty million dollars.
Even such an expenditure, extending
as it must over several years, cannot
be regarded as extravagant in view of
the immense interests involved. Safe
and convenient navigation of the Mis-
sissippi river is a matter of concern to
all sections of the country, but to the
northwest with its immense harvcsts,
needing transportation to the Atlantic,
and to the inhabitants of the river val
ley whose lives and properly depend
upon the proper construction of safe
guards which protect them from floods,
it is of vital importance that we'll.
matured and comprehensive plan for
Improvement should be put into oper-
alton with as little delay as possible.
The cotton product of the region subject
to devastating floods is source of
wealth to the nation, and of great inn
portance in keeping the balance Of trade
in our favor. 1t may not be inoppor-
tune to mention that this government
has imposed and collected $4,000, 200
by tax on cotton, in the production
of which the population of the lower
Mississippi is largely engaged, and i,
docs not seem inequitable to return a
portion of this tax to those who con
tributed il, particularly as such an &C
ton will also result in an important
gain to the country at large, and espe
cially to the great and rich States q
. the Northwest and to the Mississippi