Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-19
LEvEE SYSTEM.
Twenty or Thirty Millions Not rse Much to
Secure Safety to the Lives and
Property Of the People Of he
Mississippi Valley.
RETURNING PART OF THE COTTON TAX.

wAsuINcroS. ID. c., April is.-rae fol-
lowing is the Presidents message 10 Ooa-
gress, recommending the appropriation q
5000, 900 for restoring the Mississippi riv-
er levees, instead of 100000, heretofore
recommended for that purpose by the
Mississippi Commission.
To the Senate aud House Of Representatives,:
l transmit, herewith, letter dated the
enty.ninth ultimo, from the Secretaryof of
War, enclosing q copy OF communioAaoa
from the Mississippi River Commission.
which commission recommends IN appro-
priation be made OF $l,olo,ooo for closing
the existing gaps in the levees, in addition
TO like sum for which an estimate already
has been submitted.
The subject Is one OF such importance I
deem Il proper 70 rscommead sn 60 -
favorable consideration Of the reoommsada-
tions of the commissioners having posses.
sion Of, aud jurisdiction oyer the rvsf.
Congress, With A view oi Improving a..
! Navigation and protecting the people OF the
valley from floods, has for years, caused sur
veys OF the river to be made for the purpose
| OF acquiring q knowledge Of the laws that
| control its phenomena. BY an act approved
June 2sth. 1879, the Mississippi commits
sion was created, composed vi able engi-
neers Section Of the act provides that IL
| shall be the duty OF said commission 10 take
| into consideration, and TO mature such
| plan or plans and estimates as will correct.
per :lanenty locate and deepen the chan.
| mel and ,,rotect the banks OF the Mississippi
| river improve and give safety and ease 10
the nayiration thereof. TO prevent destruc-
| tive floods. promote ant, facilitate commerue.
trade and postal service. The constitution.
ality of the law making appropriations in
aid OF these objects cannot be questioned.
While the r, port OF the commission sub
mitted and plans proposed for river i'm
provcmeut seem just led as well on scen-
approval Of people st interested, desire
TO leave IL 10 the j.dgment Of Congress To
decide upon the best plan for the psrtas-
nent and complete improvement Of The
navigation OF the river and for the protec-
ton Of the valley. The immense loss and
wide spread suffering of the people dwell
ing near the river, induce me to urge upon
Congress the propriety not only OF making
an appropriation Ia close the gaps in levec~,
occasioned by the recent floods, ~ recon-
| mended by the commission, but that Con.
gress should inaugurate measures for the
permanent improvement Of the navigation
Of the river and the security Of the valley.
II may he that such system OF improve
ment would, as Il progressed. require the
appropriation Of twenty or thirty million
dollars. Even such an expenditure. CT.
tending, a. II must, over several yesrs, can
not be returned as eXtravagant In view OF
the immense interests involved. The safs
and convenient navigation Of the Missis-
sippi il q matter OF concern TO all sections
Of the country. but 10 the Northwest, with
its immense harvests needing transports.
ton, and TO the inhabitants Of the river
valley, whose lives and property depend
upon the proper construction OF safcguardl
which protect them from floods, IL is OF
vital importance that well matured and
| comprehensive plan for improvement
should be put into operation with rs little
delay rs possible:
The cotton product Of the region subject
| TO the devastating floods II source Of
wealth 10 the Nation and Of great import
ance in keeping the balances OF trade In
our favor. Ii may not bc inopportune 10
mention that this Government has imposed
and collected some 81. ZOO, 900 by tar on
cotton. In the production OF which the
population Of lower Mississippi IL largely
7 engaged and IL does not seem ineluitablc 70
return q portion OF this tax to thosr who
contributed IL, particularly ~ such action
will also result in M important gain 70 the
country at large. and especially 90 10 the
great and rich States Of the northwest anS
Mississippi. CREsrER A. AHrHus,
ENE,cTIvE MASsios, April 18th.