The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-04-26
LEVEE CONVENTION.

To the citizens of Tunica, Quitman, Coahoma,
Suniower, Leflore and Tallahatchie counties,
and to those citizens residing in that part of
DeSoto, Pamela, Holmes, Carroll and Yazoo
counties, whose lands are subject to overflow
from the waters of the Mississippi
The Board of Mississippi Levee Commits
%sioners, now in session, and whose duty
it is, as far as they are able, to protect from
overflow the territory composing Levee dis
trict No. ., which is composed Of the coun-
ties of Bolivar, Washington, Issaquena and
Sharkey, have in the discharge of the duty
imposed upon them, turned their thoughts
to how a recurrence of that dreadful calami-
ty from which the Yazoo Delta is lust now
emerging, can be prevented. In doing so
we affirm our faith in levees as q system,
and as affording the only practical means of
escape to the Yazoo Delta from annual
overflow. We believe that with a sufficient
amount of money to construct a line of
levees on or near the banks of the Mississippi
river, of proper size, that next to absolute
immunity from overflow from the waters Of
said river can be guaranteed to the cit
liens living in said Delta. An honest effort
has been made and much money expended
by our predecessors in that direction, but
it has never been possible (without bank
rupting our district), to realize an amount
SuIlclelI TO construct S1lU ItHCCS Oh q Size
which would reasonably afford the above
guarantee. We find ourselves to-day with
a levee line of 2l4 miles in length having
therein many crevasses occasioned by the
recent high water a country overlooked
and devastated. We have reckoned oul
means and find them far from what is nee.
cessary to accomplish the desired purpose.
viz: the protection of the YazoO Delta
from overflow. We find the courage of our
people undaunted; their faith in the leves
system mistaken; ready to take hold like
men, and to stand shoulder to shoulder with
those whose duty they believe it to be t.
aid them, and to set to work at once anC
in earnest to build up the broken levees
and to repair their waste places. We aliki
find our treasury well nigh empty, our re
!, sources much impaired, and a growing in
disposition to rebuild said levees unles
you unite with and help US to dc so. Thi
we think Just. We think the maintenance
of common protection should be byycom
mon contribution. Do away with the ide
prevalent with some of you, that YOU
. lands are exempt from overflow. Note tn
e food-line of 1882 and guard against its rt
~currence. We invite you to Join US, an
] ask that you bear your share of the burde
; which is for our common good. Believin
4 that you Will do so, and to the end that a Il
2 wee district may be formed of the counties {
Tunica, Coahoma, Quitman, Bolivar, Wasl
: ington, I~ssaquena, Sharkey, Sunfower, L.
fore and Tallahatchie, and such parts {
DeSoto, Carroll, Pamela, Holmes and Yazo
counties as are subject to overflow from Il
; waters of the Mississippi river, upon sue
: terms of taxation and representation as ma
7 be agreed upon; We recommend that a col
: ~vention be held at G~reenville, or MoNDA
: JUNE 19, A. d. 1882, for the purpose of di
cussing, considering, and agreeing upC
such a levee district, taxation al
representation, as we may deem ju
and proper, and our necessities equire al
: for taking the necessary steps to obtain
: special session of the Legislature for t
purpose of having such an act made a la
We ask that you meet US in convention
the time and place above named and
L the meantime, that each of the foregoi
y counties and parts Of counties hold ma
e meetings at their respective eOurtkouses
nj other convenient places, by the Boards
Supervisors of the respective counties,
lect two delegates to attend the converts
a. aforesaid, and there to represent the int
ests of said counties.
- Respectfully,
Y JAMES F. STOKES, President
y W. 4. EvERMAS, Sec. and Treas.