Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-04-19
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
-
Special Message from Presi-
dent Arthur.
Recommendations for Liberal Invest
ments TO Prevent Floods.

Washington, April ls.-The following
is the presidents message to con-
gress, recommending an appropri-
alton OF S2,02O,o0O for restoring the Mis-
sissippi river leyees, instead of 81 ,0lO,OO0,
as heretofore recommended for that pur
pose by the Mississippi commission for
safety and care to the navigation thereof
to prevent destruction by food and pro
mote and facilitate commerce and postal
service:
The constitutionality OF the law
making appropriations in aid of these
objects cannot be questioned, while the
report of the committee submitted and
the plans proposed for river improve
inents seem justified, as well on scientific
principles AS oY the experience and appro-
al Of the people most interested. l desire
to leave II TO the Judgment .ot congress
to decide upon the best plan tor the per
manent and complete improvement OF
| navigation of the river and for the pro-
lection Of the valley. Congress, with a
| vie" Of improving its navigation and
protecting the people of the valley from
foods, had Tor years caused surveys OF
The iiver to be made for the purpose OF
acquiring knowledge OF the laws that
control st and OF its phenomena By an
act approved June 2oth, 1919, ths Missis-
| sippi river committee was created, com
| posed of able engineers. Section four
| Of this act provides that it shall be the
duty OF said committee to take into con-
! liberation, and e ature such plan or plans
aud estimates as will correct permanent
y. locate and deepen the channel and
project tie banhs OIL the Mississippi river
Tins indnces me to urge
Of not only making an appro
pliation 10 close the gaps il the levees
eccas.oned by the recent tioods-recom
neuded by congress-but that congress
should pausurate measures for the per
tlon OF tue river and security OF its val
) ley 1t may be that such system of i'm
provement would, as it progressed re
qure an appropriation of twenty or thi1
~ millions Of dollars. Even such an ex
3 pen,ti;ure, extending as it must over sev
t eral years, canno. be regarded as e,
: travagant IL view of the Immense inte
. ests involved. The safety and convel
. lent navigation OF the Mississippi is
matter OF concern to all sections of th
country. but to the northwest with il
, immense harvests needing transportatio
to the sea and 10 the inhabitants of th
valley, whose lives and property depen
on the safeguards whic
protect them from foods
it Is OF vital importance that we'll ma
tured aud comprehensive plan of i'm
provement should be put into operation
with as little delay as possible. Th
cotton product of the region subject t
the devastating foods, Is a source c
wealth to the nation, and of great in
tortance in keeping the balance of trad
in our favor. 1t may not be inoppo
), tune to mention that the governmeI
> has imposed and collected some e7U,0U
600 by the tax on cotton, in the produ
: ton of which the population OF the 10,
: er Mississippi is largely engaged, and
: does not seem inequitable that q retul
:: of portion OF the tax 10 those who CO
), tributed it, particularly as such actic
will also resul, IN important gain to Il
y country at large, and especially to Il
: great and rich states of the northwe
. and the Mississippi valley.
(Signed CHESTER A. ARTHUR.