Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-04-27
PRESIDENTS SPECIAL MESSAGE.

Line IOllOWlnG IS CIle IreSlQeHC' Speclal EleS-
sage of date April II, 1882, to Congress, Oh the
subject of improving the Mississippi river:
To the Senate and House of Representatives.
1 transmit letter dated the Doth ult., from
the Secretary of War enclosing a copy of a
communication from the Mississippi River
Commission, in which the Commission recon-
mends that an appropriation may be made OF
81, ,0OO, 600 for "closing existing gaps in the
levees," " in addition to a like sum for which
an estimate has been submitted.
The subject is one of such Importance that
1 deem it proper to recommend an early and
favorable consideration of the recommends.
tions of the Commission. Having possession
of and jurisdiction over the river, Congress,
with view of improving it's navigation and
protecting the people of the valley from floods,
had for years caused surveys of the river to be
made, for the purpose of acquiring knoWl-
edge of the laws that control it and of it's phe-
nomena. BY an Act approved June 2Sth,
1879, the Mississippi River Commission was
created composed of able engineers. Section
of the Act provides ''that it shall be the duty
of the Commission to take in consideration
and mature such plan or plans and estimates
as will correct, permanently locate and deepen
the channel, protect the banks of the Missis-
sippi River, improve and give safety and ease
to navigation and prevent destructive floods,
promote and facilitate commerce, trade and
the postal service" The constitutionality of
the law making appropriations in aid of these
objects cannot be questioned.
While the report of the Commission sub
mitted and the plans proposed for the rivers
improvement seem justified as well on scien-
tifc principles as by the experience and ap-
proval of the people most interested, I desire
to leave it to the judgment of Congress to de-
eide upon the best plan for the permanent and
complete improvement of the river and for the
protection Of the valley.
The immense losses and widespread suffer-
ing of the people dwelling near the river in
duce me to urge upon Congress the propriety
of not only making an appropriation to close
gaps in the levees occasioned by the recent
floods, as recommended by the Commission,
but that Congress should inaugurate measures
for the permanent improvement of the naviga-
tion and the security of the valley. Itmay be
that such system Of improvement would as
it progresses require appropriations of twenty
OF thirty millions of dollars. Even such an
expenditure, extendingas it must over several
years, cannot be regarded as extravagant in
view of the immense interests involved.
The safe and convenient navigation OF the
Mississippi is a matter Of concern to all Sec
tions of the country, but to the Northwest,
with it's immense harvests needing transpOr-
tation to the sea, and to the inhabitants of the
river valley, whose lives and property depend
on the proper construction of the safeguards
which protect them from floods, it is of vital
Importance that we'll matured and compre-
hensive plan for improvement should he put in
operation with as little delay as possible. The
cotton product of the region subject to devas-
tating floods is source of wealth to the ma
tion and of great Importance in keeping the
balance of trade in our favor.
1t may not be inopportune to mention that
this government has imposed and collected
some seventy million dollars by tax on cotton,
in the production of which the population of
the lower Mississippi is largely engaged, and
it does not seem inequitable to return portion
of this tax to those who contributed it, particu-
larly as such an action will also result in an
important gain to the country at large, and
especially so to the great and rich Northwest
and to the Mississippi Valley.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.