Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-05-10
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

IhE mlSSlSSlTCl M En-
The appropriation for the Missis-
sippi River appears to be in some
danger of being curtailed. The fol-
lowing special to the Picayme cx-
plains how. The Picayunc specials,
have, however, on occasions, proved
| to be on the wild cat order, and viii
not always do to depend on. Here
is the special under consideration.
There are some troublesome iBdi-
cations in the Committee on Rivers
and Harbors i'll respect to the Mis-
sissippi River appropriation. The
Hennepin Canal project has been
beaten in committee. This deeply
oflends Iowa and Illinois who have
three members on this committee.
Members from these States say
that they contribute largely to the
public revenue and have a right to
share in the benefits of the bill No
tice has been served that when this
item of the bill for the Lower Mis-
sissippi is reviewed a motion will
be made to cut down the appropri-
alton and also adopt restrictive
clause impairing the discretion OF
the engineers. This means the old
fight of the city of New York, the
railroads, and the John Cowden lob
by; and if the HcnnepinCanal inhu-
ence joins them they will be very
formidable.
Assuming this statement is true,
here is nice state of affairs the ell
tire Mississippi Valley is depend
ent on a few men, who make the
support of their scheme, the condi-
ton oftheir friendly disposition to-
wards the valley interests. This is
not the first occasion on which the
friends of the valley have been
hampcrcd by the selfishness of a
few men. That snickering patriot
5. S. Cox, of New York, and the
speakership-hunting Sam Randall
of Pennsylvania, have interposed
themselves in the way ofthe river
improvement more than once, but,
when candidates for speaker, they
both loudly protested their intense
anxiety to see the valley reclaimed.
Now is a good time to free the
valley question from all entangle-
ments and no better opportunity
could be presented, to separate the
river from every other issue, and
give it a committee of its own. AS
long as it hangs on to the skirts OF
the Committee on Rivers and Har-
bors, just so long will it be weighed
downed by every miserable little
stream, running through the district
of any Congressman whose constit-
uents want an appropriation. II
the Mississippi River matter can't
stand alone now we had better give
it rest for one entire generation
and plod along as usual, except,
that then we can make it decidedly
interesting for the appropriation
business, having no axe to grind.
THE TINES is in favor of serving
notice on the country, that what
this valley country wants is protec.
ton from overflow, that the river
is trespasscr on our property and
we want it kept off, and that who.
ever keeps it off is our friend, while
whoever will not help to keep il
off is our enemy. Don't mincc tho
matter, but speak plainly so there
can be no mistake. If il was un.
lcrstood that the Valley States
were disposed to throw their sup.
port to the party most friendly tt
the river, we would soon have
plenty Of friends, and could get all
we wanted but as long as it i,
known that, friend or foe, We will
support only Democrat, we viii
be beggars asking for pittance
instead of equals demanding oul
rights.