The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1882-09-09
The Extra Session again.


rof the Greehflue Times.
In a communication published
in your issue of 26th August, the
question was raised: "Shall we
have an extra session Of the Leg
islaturei" Simultaneously with
the publication came the informa-
ton that the River Commission
had donated the sum of 100000,
for the repair of breaks in our
levee district (number two.
To the minds of some this may
seem to be a vindication of the
Governors course in refusing to
grant the request made by the
Greenyille convention. But is it
a vindicationi Does it prove any
thing contrary to the averments
and declarations made by that
conventions Is it demonstrated
that because the General Govern
me',t mas through the Commission
devoted this sum to repairing our
breaks, that we have no further
use for our own district organiza-
ton, and that we can afford to and
should 90 into liquidationa If
this is NOT demonstrated, then |
maintain that the wants, require
ments and necessities of the Delta
counties demand unification and
consolidation now with all the
force that they did when the Green
vile convention was held.
l admit that this assistance is a
great benefit. and judiciously rem
dered will go far toward placing
us on our feet again. My effort is
not to depreciate the value of this
timely, and to my mind indispen-
sable aid. 1t has often been said
that if the General Government
will only once make an appropria.
tion for levees, then it will be COM
mitted to the scheme. They will
then become the charge of the
Government, and will ever after be
provided for by it, as the river i'm
provement is to-day under the
management of the Commission.
This is mostly inferential, and in
this inference hes our danger
Through the powerful and com
manding influence of the Western
States, Congress has been forced
into its present attitude toward
the river, and because it is for the
best interests Of the people of the
Great West, the Improvement OF
it's navigation will be provided for
and to the extent that leyees may
be incident to improvement, tC
that extent, and only to that OK
tent, will they be provided for by
appropriations. This is an oper
and oft.rcpeated declaration made
pending the discussion of the ap
] preparation bill.
Admit that this 100000 will re
pair our breaks-what have we il
district number two to go upon
Say 100000 of our own funds, t.
build new levees where caves arr
endangering old lines, to repail
and strengthen the hundreds o
weak places, and defray incidenta
expenses-which it will not NOR,
than do.
Did not the recent flood demon
strate that large per cent. of ou
line of levees was four feet below
the line of safety, by allowing tn,
water to run over them 7 Did no
this "running overn in BOLIVIA
county relieve or lower the hoo'
line on the front of Washington
E county, And Notwithstanding
that fact, were not a number o
reaches on our front found t,
be below the line of the recen
water9
This being the case, what is on
first and most imperative need
Certainly, the raising of our lin
of levees from two to four feet
r No one will say that any othe
n course will protect us from waite
equal to that of 1882.
n What will this COST hav
i good authority for stating that les
: than s1,OOO,0OO to s1,25O,OOO wi
not do the work. We have no
: the money, nor the authority b
law to raise it. Now what are W
to doP Let an extra session G
the Legislature answer.
If this is our condition, thol
oughly organized and measurabl
equipped, what must be that {
district number one, on the front
!, of Tunica and Coahoma, withor
organization Their former boar
in liquidation, DECLARING THEN
: SELVES BANKRUPT, and seeking
repudiate a debt of 100000 o
leveesj just washed away, and mor'
over mandamused to amount {
$4,000. In short, without credi
and without the authority to uti