Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-15

board OF LeNee commissioners IN
YazOO-M Delta"- - the former
of these have been for many years,
under acts of former Legislatures, en-
gagged successfullyin cOntending with
the floods.
The latter is of more recent origin,
having been enacted by the Legisla-
ture Of 1884 to protect a section of
country which has suffered greatly
from the overflow of 1882 and 1888,
and was largely under water when
the act was passed. That Board was
able, after some unavoidable delays,
to negotiate these bonds and to enter
on the active construction of levees
late in the fall of 1884. They were
able to put up a large amount of new
levees, that had been carried away
by the floods, and do much needed
repairs on the old. So that the
whole river front from the hills in
DeSoto county to the levees of the
lower district have been closed against
ordinary floods.
From this has sprung renewed con-
fidence in the people, large increase
Of their crops and reatimprovement
in their health, and these good results
have been followed by large immi-
grafton to the Delta, and great in
crease in the. acreage Of improved
lands. But it has been found that
still higher and larger levees are
needed to make permanent the i'm
provements already begun, and to in
sure the people against the devasta-
ton of former years. For this, more
money will have to be raised and
greater efforts put forth by the inhab-
itants, and further legislation will be
required.
l will be happy to cooperate with
you in giving them most favorable
legislation, to redeemthis great basin,
in my opinion not a local matter,
merely, but M affecting the interest
Of the whole State, an enterprise
among the most important in which
our people are now engaged.
Within the past two years there
has been an unmistakable improve
ment in the
STATE MILITIA.
There are a number of well equip
ped and splendidly drilled rifle COM
panies, some of which no doubt will
enter the competitive drills to be
holden during the year, and Il ar
tillery companies which will compare
favorably with any volunteer COM
panies in the country. number Of
States have annual encampments OF
the militia, and to these Congress APP
prOpriated $4,000 Tor the erection Of
land batteries, etc. The State could
secure this sum by providing the site
for the battery, or the Coast, and l
recommend necessary legislation to
that end.
On Saturday night, the third of
January, 1885,
HON. IL. II. CHALMERS,
Associate Judge of the Supreme
Court, died suddenly at his residence
in this city. He had served nine
years on the Bench, and vas M Of
its mo t conspicuous ornaments.
On the 18th January, following,
Hon. J. M. Arnold was appointed to
fill the vacancy, and on the 18th of
January thereafter Hon. VIM. M.
Rogers, of Oktibbeha county, was APP
pointed as circuit judge of the 9th
district to fill the vacancy created by
Judge ArnOld's resignation of the
position.
On the 9Th of March, 1885, Hon. l..
Q. G. Lamar resigned his seat as
UNITED STATES SENATOR
from this State to accept a position in
President Cleveland's Cabinet, and
on the 7th of March following, Gen.
f. c. Wa1thall was appointed to
succeed him. The duty will devolve
on your body to elect two United
States Senators during this session.
| desire to record an expression of
my indebtedness to the different
State officers, and their efficient dep
uties, for their valuable aid and CO.
operation in the administration of
the government, and to the retiring
officers, Messrs. Gwinn, Smith, My
ers and Ford, l beg to tender my
best wishes for their continued
health and prosperity.
Having given you all the informa-
ton in my possession touching the
administration of the government,
and having made such suggestions
and recommendation, as have oc-
CURED to me, | now respectfully
close this communication with the
earnest hope that vi joint labOrs
may advance the welfare of all the
people.
ROBERT LOWRY.
A WRITER, who signs himself
B." makes a very unjust attack on
the State Industrial Institute, in the
last issue of the C~hickasaw Messen
ger. lie attempts to create the i'm
preston that the College is a costly
luxury, and that the girls of poor pa.
rents will not be benefited by it. The
report Of the Institute in the Gov.
ernor's message proves the at
tempt of "B" a miserable fail
ure. The College is moi ex-
pensive to the State, and it is dlle(
with the daughters mostly ofipoor pa.
rents. 1t is just such an institution
as will prove a blessing to the poo
girls ofA Mississippi, for now it il
within their reach to give Themselves