The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-10
ADDRESS
OF the Exseutivs Committee Of the
Interstate Leves Convention.
vnEsBuRe, MISS, Oct ?, 1883.

VrEsBURe, MISS, Oct. ?, 1888
To the Citizens el rh= Mississippi vsIley;
The undersigned appointed an Exeeu-
tive Committee by the Interstate Leyee
Convention. recently assembled ut Vieks-
burg. desire tO lay before YOU some Of
the results Of that Convention and the
necessities Of the hour. The Conven-
ti0n was a purely business assemblage,
called by tie Chief Executive Of Louis
lana for the purpose Of devising methods
Of forwarding and promoting the over
shadOwing interest Of the Mississippi
Valley. that 0f protecting IL from over
flow and improving its river navigation
A. the practical outcome Of the COnven-
ton, ii provided for perPetuating II
sell by ehectiug a permanent organiza-
tiOn, appointing an executive committee
and taking steps 10 secure annual CON
ventiOns Of a similar character, with the
hope that its membership and influence
will constantly extend until II shall IN
clude all Of the States lying in the great
Mississippi Valley II adjourned TO
meet in Washington City, on the 10Th of
January next with the view Of coming
directly in contact with the members Of
Congress, the Executive and different
heads of departments, and the River
Commission. II instructed this Com
mittee to appoint delegation Of Promi-
nent citizens TO consist of not more
than three from each State represented
on the floor Of the convention to attend
the ensuing session Of Congress for the
purpose OF promoting and forwarding
all measures, which such delegation may
deem Of value to the levee system of
the Valley and TO the improvement Of
river navigation. It is the intention
that this delegation shall be composed
Of men who will certainly go 70 Wash
/ ington at an early date after the assem-
bling Of Congress who will Look with an
eve single 70 the interest entrusted to
/ them and who will remain at their post
as long as it is possible TO effect any good.
We believe that such delegation can and
will effect much of good for the interest
Of the Valley. To carry out these plans
il will be necessary that this committee
should be Literally furnished With funds.
IL is idle to expect gentlemen to give
not only their time and labor for the
benefit Of the whole Valley, but also te
bear the heavy expense incident thereto.
To them individually it would be a
serious and heavy outlay, whilst if the
necessary expense were betrayed by the
citizens and sections interested, it would
be an Insignificant tax upon each local.
| ty. The cities of New Orleans, Vicks-
burg and Memphis, and more vitality in
terested in the permanent security and
protection of the valley and the improve
ment of its great river, than in any
other one subject. Indeed, without il
they cannot prosper, they must decay.
We feel assured that their intelligent
business men will concur with us in this
and will at once respond through their
various commercial exchange to the. APP
peais OF this committee. The same re-
marks are substantially applicable to
the constituted authorities of the various
levee organizations of the lower valley.
For the purpose Of promptly securing
the necessary funds 10 carry out the
purposes Of the Convention, this COM
mittee of three gentlemen, one from
each of the States of Arkansas, Ten
nessee and Mississippi to call upon the
various bodies, commercial exchanges,
local authorities and individuals, who
ought 10 subscribe TO the purposes in
view. This of course will impose upon
these gentlemen a large amount Of labor
more probably than can be efficiently
performed within the required time
We would therefore urge upon the ex
changes and upon individuals that they
do not wait to be called upon, but that
they promptly deposit their contribu.
tions with the Canal bank of New Or
leans, Ia, to the credit of JnO. 5. vii
| liams, Treasurer of the Interstate
I.evee Convention. Whilst the onlj
purpose for which it is now desired t.
raise means is to defray the current ex
! penses Of the delegation to be sent Il
! Washington City, vet a considerable
sum will be necessary for that purpos'
; as the delegation win be required TO re
main at its post for at least six weeks
5 perhaps longer.
= In conclusion we say 10 YOU that W,
mean business. Ii depends upon yol
2 whether our efforts shall avail any
) thing. We can do nothing withOu
! adequate means. If the Mississippi
/ Valley is to be redeemed aad made th
abiding place of a thrifty and pros
porous people, it must be done b,
, earnest cooperative effort. Eyerybod
q must help. Some can give their tim
and labor, others pecuniary aid. If tn
/ body of our people refuse TO give eithel
I they can have no right to murmur q
disasters, loss of trade, gradual decay Q
|, to complain that the General Cover
4 ment oyerlOoks and passes by thei
!. necessities. Self help begets help froI
. others. The following gentlemen wei
: appointed as our Finance COMMITTEES
4 Major George c. Waddill, of Louisians
: Col. Pat. Henry, of Arkansas; and Co
v w. A. Percy, Of Mississippi. Either {
I these gentlemen or Mr.. Jno. 5. William
, of YazOo City is authorized to receive SUI
Il scriptions. This Committee has also a
I pointed Committee on Statistics Il
. the purpose of collecting and tabulatiE
70 information of actual losses of stoc
4. crops, etc, caused by the overflow i,
10 1882. The Boards of Supervisor
le Police Juries, and County Courts of Il
n different States have it in their power
~ collect such information readily as mi
be needed BY said Committee ana
facilitate it very much in its work. u
are respectfully requested to do so.
W. G. WYLKY.
Chairman of Executive Committee
10 the Interstate Convention