The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1883-06-30
study Of the highest ability of the country

AsCSVScU' AHaC tO0 recommendations
and plans of the Mississippi River Com.
MISSION referring to the Improvement Of
the navigation Of the Mississippi River,
are hereby cordially and heartily indorsed
aud approved.
Tho Red ard Atchafalaya.
H. Resolved, That concerning the Red
and Atchatalaya rivers. We deem it mex
pedient and hurtfnl to the commercial in
terests of the people Of tho Red River
country aud those of its tributaries to
make any attempt to divert the course Of
that river away from the Mississippi, and
recommend that the waters of the Red
should be DETECTED from the Atchafalaya.
IL. Your committee recommend that
debate on any Of the resolutions contained
in this report be limited under the five
Minute iMle.
The proceeds of swamp land sales.
13. Whereas. there is now in the State
Treasury the sum Of sl66.65 81, proceeds
Of swamp land. applicable under the acts
OF Congress to the construction Of levees !;
and
Whereas. by the sales Of swamp lands
further sums will accrue to said fund from
time to time. therefore bo it
Resolved. That the Governor and Board
of State Engineers be and they are hereby
requested to- adopt such measures and
mako aeh ege1oments as may be necesss-
ry to seCures the immediate construction
and refHiesof levees to the extent of the
funde-ntom IN Che Treasury to the credit
ef the lcvee and drainage fund. or which
may accrue from the sales Of swamp lands
from time to time.
Be it further resolved. That the men,
bers u tAis convention hereby pledge.
their individual support to securing the
passage OF such measures by the General
Assembly, ~ may be necessary to apply
said funds to paying for work which may
be done under the provisions Of these TesO
lutlOus.
f. The power to Tax.
Resolys2 4hsssahis coayention is of the
decided 7niop. hassd upon high legal an
thority HAT the several parishes Of this
State - irvestsl with tha power and au
thority toJevy cpd collect any tax neces
sary fer the building or maintenance of
the levees, they being works Of public i'm
proveyents, t6eauth'rity to.bo. exercised
in Virtue and iIf accordance with article
2O9 of tho Epnstit1tion aud Act No. Al Of
the 5essiOA of 1881 -,
We aisO of1nrs the report af the -sub-com
mittee Of eur body. and submit the same
- part Of this our report.
Very respectfully 4,a 49, -s
t< J.H COSGkOVE, Chairman.
Report of the Subj Committee ON the Gov
ernor's Message
Judge Lazarus read the report of the
subcommittee ON the Governors message,
which was as follows:
Baton Ronge, June l9, 1883.
To the Members of tho Levee Convention
Geptlemen-Yonr committee, to whom
was referred the Governors message. have
the honor to eubmit the following report,
treating the subjects discussed in the OF
der stated in the message:
FirstcThe Inauguration of plan to pre-
Tho cutting Of Levees.
and the use Of them as highways. Under
existing laws the local authorities are not
invested with sufficient power to prevent
the use Of the levees as r0adways. and to
impose proper penalties. We would. there
fore, recommend to the General Assembly
the passage of laws giving to the police
juries full and ample power to pass laws
and ordinances defining and providing ad
equate punishment for such Offenses.
Second Maintenance and repair of levees.
This subject is ably and elaborately dis
cussed by the Governor in his message,
and while thoroughly indorsing his up
peal to tho patriotism and good will Of
the people living in tho localities protect
cd by these leveos, We would also recon-
mehd to the General Assembly the p~esage
Of an act to compel compulsory work up
on the lovoes by tho adul1 made citizens
living in the levoe district, such work to
be under the control aud direction Of tho
police juries.
We further recommend that the police
juries he urged to use and exercise the i'm
portant powers intrusted to them by OK
listing laws for the maintenance and pro
lection Of levees, and especially to the pre-
vention of tho use Of the Svees - roads
or their cutting for roadways or rice
fumes,
We approve tho suggestion Of the Cover
nor in reference to the just
Responsibility of Railroads
to contribute to tho maintenance aud SUD
port Of tho levees, which protect their
property and inure to their benefit and I'D
vantage. We heartily indorse tho recon
mendatiOn of the Governor and advise
legislation with view to tho protection
and care Of the levess, during high water.
We recommend the formation of char
tered volunteer companies Of levee guards
in towns and cities, and the erection of
station or signal houses at convenient
points by tho people Of the vicinity, tho
said station houses to be used - depots
for materi. b and appliances to stop Gre
vssses OF 70 strengthen wesk points in the
lsvses whom imperilled.
Third-Improvement Of Navigation.
The convention has BY independent reso
lutions fully indorsed the sentiments OF
peessed By the Governor in reference to
thp Mississippi River Commission. Tho