The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-03-25
THE LEvEE, sIpE WATER, ETC.

Mr.. Editor:
Considering the state Of my feelings for
few weeks, I've kept silent as long as
can without subjecting my physical ma.
chinery to explosions Another day of this
repression and brother John would reap
the benefit Of my life policy. told him
SO, but John has an eye to business, and
commanded me to silence. / told him |
was obliged to say something to somebody
about the evees, sipe water or overflow,
but the unthoughtful fellow scorned the
idea of me knowing anything on these
subjects. Said that the committee knew
just exactly how to remedy every evil; and
did not want women to NEEDLE ia the matter.
John said that to me, unninchingly, mind
you, when he knew he helped at the birth
of that "cross-levee" idea This fact alone
should condemn him to silence the rest of
his life. 1t blasphemy for my brother to
talk so whep he knows am Older than he,
and have lived ia Cairo ever since her en-.
terprise consisted of two shantiss, a wood
yard, a fiat boat, "dug-out" and two
goats. Ihave breathed the malaria Of this
place till chills and 'rheumatz' can get
no hold on me, and now I'm as yellow and
tough as pine. When the "spring rise"
comes, have tied skif to the door for
thirty years regularly, in order to fee to
high lands with my geese and blue china,
should it be necessary. Yet know moth
ing about Cairo! Perhaps not I'm pretty
sure of oae thing and that is, il that cross.
levee business carries, and twelve or four
teen feet OF soil block the doors and win
dows of the handsome residences
on twelfth street, that We will
have TO enter them through sewers
pipes, or through elevators on the roofs.
These arrangements would produce q re.
markedly aesthetic appearance, and might
beguilc the romantic Oscar Wilde 10 our
shores, which would be no mean achieve.
mcnt for cross levee We would either
have to tunnel the levecs or build bridges
for the cars TO pass over or under. Either
way would be practicable.
Another problem with the people is; How
10 keep the sipe water from coming through
the soil. | propose that we line the town
with rubber. 1t will be cheap, neat and
not sandy. The rain water eau be kept out
by raising mammoth tarpaulin over the
city, and If this be properly secured, the
people might fnd place Of safety on top
of it should the outside leyecs break. This
tarpaulin might also screen the city Tin lie
present coudi,ion) from the unfrendly gaze
of the Chicago reporter, when be is abroad
seeking whom he may devour." There
are other suggestions that could make,
but will wait Till see some Of these
engrafted into the resolutions" which will
be made.
Before close, want to drop all non-
sense and thank Mr. Llnsden for the trou.
bic he took u hunt up 50 many business
points regarding our city and giving them in
such a compact shape 70 the thinking peo-
pie. have the confidence IN our citizens
that they can manage the levee business
| thoroughly as soon as they cease leaning
on broken props, and depend on themssl
YES. The matter is unquestionably in the
hands Of some Of Our incest and best men.
Mr.. Thrupp gave them some important
suggestions, and hope they will give them
proper consideration. think he is in
favor of pumps for the sipe water, and
pumps would surely be remedy.
l sm.proud that belong TO a community
whose courage stood the test of our late
danger Every man did his duty, and some
were actual heroes. In this connection
would do injustice to my feelings did not
mention the name Of w. p. Halliday.
feel safe in saying that every intelligent or
sincere person in the city will bear me out
in the assertion that to his courage, energy
and determination do We owe our present
safety. When the thousands of willing
hearts and hands but waited leader to
success, no pride appeared until Capt.
Halliday came to the front. When he said
"come" the anxious, restless army sprang
gladly forward, denying themselves rest,
food or comfort. When the levees were
torn by slides aud tho labor OF many an
xious hours seemed thrown away, the
stoutest hearts lost hope. But their daring
leader sprang in the watery breach and
shouted-"come on lads the river shall NOT
come in!"
These brave words inspired his followers
| xpt hon anl sla,, lad NIT bal