The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1882-05-27
The Levee Convention.

The Convention of Levee Com
and Presidents Of Pc
ice Juries that met Oh the call OF
the Governor at Baton Ronge. on
May 10 1882 was one of the ablest
and most earnest assembly of
Lonisianians that has been gath
cred together for many years.
It's object was to devise such
ways and means as would be prac
ticable to rebuild, preserve and
care for the Louisiana Levees in
future, and prevent inundation~
such as the disastrous one of1S62.
The body consisted of delegates
from all the River Parishes, from
Arkansas to the Belize, and from
the interior one of Assumption
Lafourche, Terrehonne, st. Mary,
Iberia and st. Martin.
Judge John NJ. Howell of Lafonr
che, was chosen President, aud
Richard Mccall Of Ascension
was made secretary. The dele
gates were IN session for nearly
two days, and discussed the ques
lions that came before them with
great earnestness and dignity. In
fact, the convention for some time
did nothing bnt listen to the ideas
of the gentlemen who had any
plans to propose that might be-
made available for the safety OF
the country in the future.
The one fact that Vas percepti
bic and met them at every step in
their deliberations was that the
Levees could net be rebuilt with
out money. How was money to
be raised became the all abSoIb>
ing question.
The Constitutional limitations
precluded the idea of obtaiuin.
any more tian the one mill gene
raj, and the five mill special Dis
trict tax.
Resolutions were adopted antht
rising the people representing one
fourth OF the property IN any Die
trict, Parish. OF part Of a Paris!
to petition the Police Jury to a.
sess Il tax not over 20 mills on the
property in said District, PariSl
or part of Parish provided th,
petition was approved by Il IN;
jority OF property holders, by ;
vote to be given as prescribed l.,
/ law.
Another plan was adopted pc
uniting Parishes Or Districts Il
lcvee Il contribution on produce ii
/ kind, viz: sugar, rice, cotton, III;
iasSes and cotton seed.
These last two plans will en-;
ble people III any Parish, 10 hci]
themselves il they are SO disposed
OF course all monies so iaise,
must be expended in the name
expressed by the petition whic'
produces such Il tax or levy. Thi
latter plan Of contribution in kin,
is the Que in operation in til
lGross Tete country by which the,
have surrounded that entire sc
ton with leyees and which ha
been successful i'll protecting tha
fertile country from disasters pr
vions to 1882.
1t is the same method by wiiic
the Levees are maintained in III
Sissippi aud under which the co
tracts for rebuilding all thu bro
en- leveeS in that State have .
ready been made and are now j
process of construction.
It must be remembered thG
all acts of the convention are si1
ply expressions of opinion. an
recommendations for action Of til
Legislature. Whether that boz
will enact such laws as the 60
vention has recommended
mains 10 be seen.
The convection also recommen
ed changes IN Act No. So. whic
leave the building Of Rice fam,
and the cutting ofL-seeS for al,
i, purpose within the control of 7
lice Juries.
There was q feeling Of harmon
existing among the members, an
an anxious desire to devise soY
method by which such diSastto,
foundations as the one Chat is no
leaving us, may he prevento
hereafter.
! The feeling and anticipations
the delegates, were not alwa,
similar, and the troubles of ii
future were viewed from d:tferei
stand points,
The representatives above RI
River, feel that they will be ,
cure If their own fronts are rend,
ed safe. Those between Red II
/. er and Lafourche know that
=, they secure their own fronts tn.
, are liable to be oyerfowed fro
floods that may come down fro
above Vicksburg. as has been Il
i, case in this Sping.
Those between LafOurche Il,
i, the River see no danger from al
: source than their own fronts.
ri In the interior Parishes SOL
delegates think that il all the r
: er ievees were safe, they won
I yet be inundated from the 4,
and Atchafalaya river. In Is
when there waS No hjWh ,,..t,,