Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-06
THE LEVEES.
Coed Reasons why the Mississippi
Legislature should be Called
together
BY GOV. LOwry-stRtIstics of PopuIa-
siOE, and Production that Cannot
be Overlooked.
To the Editors Of the Appeal

10 Inc OF the appeal.
Shall the levees be built on the front of
DesOtO, Iunics and CoahoRa counties dur
ing the year 1888, or shalt the people of the
greater part of the Yazoo Delta be subject to
aooiher overflow? This is question ih at can
only be solved by the Governor OF Missis-
sippi. He has alone the right 10 convene
the Legislature of The Stale in extra session.
He alone has the position TO see and say whst
ID the best interest of the whole State during
his term OF administration. What il the
YazOo Valley, and what are its local inter-
estr, compared with TIE State OF Mississippi7
Ara the local interests sufficient to warrant
the Governor TO impose upon the whole
State s tax of paying for an extra session of
the peoples representatives, TO aulhorizs a
part OF Yazoo Valley the privilege of taxing
themselves TO build their own levees3 These
the questions that come up prominently
before the public. in consequence of the
recent meeting at Jackson OF part of the
1szoo Valley people, who want authority 10
tax themseiVes-and nobody else-to rebuild
their levees and protect their section from
the dire calamity of another overflow.
The Yszoo Delta is composed of
part of Desoto, all of Tunica, Coahoma,
Bolivar, Washington, Issaquena, Shsrkey,
Lefiore, Sunhower, QuitmaD, part of Pa
neia, Holmes and Yszoo counties, having
population OF 10000, and making Of cotton
In lS79-S0 100000 bales. THIS is no small
part OF the great Stale eff Mississippi. The
assessable value OF the Yszoo Valley is $40.
100000, which is not sum TO be ignored
The idea that the people 10 the hiils and
prairies cannot afford TO pay for an extra
session OF the peoples representatives to en-
able this vast property 10 be protected from
another Hood is more than j can understand
Bolivar, Washington, Isssquena and Sharkey
had in 1880 a population of 60,329, and
make III ,6O4 bales OF cotton. These coun-'
ties compose what is known as District No. 2,
but while their lsyees are rebuilt, a part at
least of this section 10 liable to overflow, be-
cause the upper levees are not up. The idea
that the great State of Mississippi cannot
afford to spend what an extra session of her
Legislature would cost TO pass law giving
so large portion of her people the right 10
| tax themselves 10 rebuild leyees 10 prevent
loss OF life and properly is absurd. That
the people in the hills and all over
the State are opposed TO this is
a hard commentary on their humanity.
II 1t was Anown that great and sudden
| calamity wac about 10 occur to ones neigh
Dor, and man refused TO arrest it at some
personal sacrifice, what would be thought of
such man? 1t is well-known fact tn III
the levses from Memphis to Bolivar county
line are down, and that the water does not
| ndVc u get eb ulSu Dy from Blk 10 eight teft
Of the 1882 or 1888 flood to cause great dis.
aster. 1t is also well known that the regular
esssion OF the Legislature does not meet until
January, 1884, and that the people ia the
Yazoo Valley, unless an extra session is
called, are bound TO run the risk of beng
everhowed 10 1884, no levees can be built
during the spring, while the water is even
with the banks. Now, am strong believer
in the milk Of human kindness, and do not
believe that the members of the present
Legislature would refuse TO obligete them
selves to meet at ackson, under call of the
Governor, and pass an act to enable the peo-
pie in the Yszoo Delta to protect themselves
from an overflow and ADJOURN without going
into general legislation. There ia differ
ence of opinion as to the best method of pro-
lection in the valley, but all are agreed
upon one point, and that is Of the necessity
Of prote ctien. So, common justice, and !
think public policy warrants the call of an
extra session. The hill people may have no
fears Of our wanting to tax them for our
levees, but We do want the right to tax our
selves, and can only do 80 by the extra ses-
sion being called in time 10 avert third
overflow, more dissstroys in lis consequence
to life and property than the cycloner, now
doing such great damsge in the hills and
| prSirIss OF the country.
| THOMAS T. LYON