Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1882-04-29
ARTHUR'S MESSAGE.
A Manly and SiateSnlanlille Doc
ument Oh this Interesting
Subject.
He Recommends the Improve
nent Of the River Even il il
Costs S30.O90,GOO.

TIE following is the message sent into con.
nre.s April 18th. which entities the Prcsiden,
10 no, only the esteem but the s,at,ue OF the
entire population OF the Mississippi Valley
To the Seuate and House of Representa-,
lives:
transmit herewith letter dated the 2gtn
ult :lom the Secretary of War, nclosing Il
copy of a communication from the Mississippi
River Commission. in which the commission
recommends that an appropriation may oe
ma lie of Slo,UO0Ooo for closing existing
gaps in the Ievecs in addition to like sum
for which an estimate has already been sub
mitu d.
The sulJ"ct is one Of snch importance thar
| deem il proper to recommend an early and
favorable consideration of the recommended
tons OF the commission.
Having possession Of and jurisdiction over
the river, Congress, with view OF improv
ing lis navigation and protecting the people
OF the valley from floods, had for years caus>
Ell surveys of the rIyer To be made for the
purpose of acquiring knowedse Of the laws
that control IT and of ~ phenomena. By an
act approved June IS. 1879, the Mississippi
River Commission was created, composed OF
able engineers. Section OF the at pro.
vides
That szhaIl be the duty of said commits
sion TO take into consideration and mature
such plan or plans and estimates rs will
correct, permanently locate and deepen the
channe! and protect the banks Of the MisSis>
sppi river. improve and give safety and ease
to the navigation thereof, prevent destructive
floods and promote and facilitate commerce,
trade and the postal service. The cun,titu>
tionality OF the aw making appropriations in
aid of these objects canno, be questioned,
while the report OF the commission submitted
and the plans proposed for the rivers improve
ment seem justified as well on scientific princ,
pies as by experience, and the approval OF the
people most Interested, and also lie size to leave
ii to the Judgement OF Congress 10 decide upon :
the bes' plan for the permanent and complete |
improvement of the river and Tor the prot,c- !
ton of the valley.
The immense osSes and Widespread suf /
fering of the people dwelling near the river I
induce me TO urge upon Congress the pr,priety !
Of not only making ali appropriation to close !
the gaps IN the lcvces occa Toned by the /
recent Hoods, as recommended by the com. (
mission, bu, that Congress should inaugurate :
measures tor tire permanc'i' improvement of .
the NAVIGATION Of the river and the security of .
the valley. ltmay be that such a system of i'm
provemen: you'd, as II progresses require the .
Oi twenty or thIIty millions of .
dollars. Even such al expenditure ex.end.
ing as IT must over several years, cannot be
regarded as extravacant IN view OF the i'm
mense interests involved.
The safe and convenient navigation of the
Mlsslssippfls matter of concern To all Sec
tons Of the country to the Northwest, with
lis immense Earvests needing transportation
- ALBANIA and to the inhabitants of the river
valley, whose lives and property depend upon
The proper construction oc The safeguards
which protect them from floods. 1t is of
vital importance that a well ,matured and
plan OF improvement should
De put into operation with as liue delay as
possible. The cotton product of the region
subject To devastating foods is source of
wealth To the nation and of great importance
in Keeping the balance of our trade in.
1t may not be inoPportune to mention that
his government has imposed aud collected
bIO,OOO,OOO by tax On cotton, in the produc,
lon OF which the population of the lower
SilssSsppi Is largely engaged and it does not
eein ine4utable to return portion Of this
ak to those who contributed it. particularly a.
nch an seton will also result in an important
'an to the country at large, aud especially So
. the great and rich States of the Northwest
md to the Mississippi valley.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Executive Mansion, Arril Il, 1882.