Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-05-22
ASHTON MACON LEVEE.

Il
Democrat of May 1. suggesting the
building of a levee from Ashton
leyee. west, to the West Carroll
highlands. has been productive OF
considerable comment. The dis
lance to he Levied is estimated to
be from two and a half to three and
a half miles, and from ten TO twelve
feet high. 1t is claimed for this
plan, that it would reclaim from
ten to twelve hundred thousand
acres of Land, now practically
abandoned, and would protect from
overflow, the parishes of East Car
roll, West Carroll, Madison, Ten
.as. Concordia and most of the
land east of the Ouaehita, in the
parishes of Richland, Franklin,
Ouachita and Catahoula.
There is one. and only one seri-
Gus objection to the plan, which is,
that it would damage Arkansas.
Such a leyee would protect the
sections named. and give us relief
from overflow, but it damages Ar
kansas, 80 II is said. Well just
for the sake of argument, suppose
lit does? Is that any reason why
1.-The plan should not be carried out =?
The only reason it would damage
Arkansas is because Arkansas don't
build levees on it's front. That
State don't care enough for its citi-
zens to protect them, and Louisiana
can hardly be expected to sacrifice
her people for a people that are
given over to destruction by theii
own State 1t is demanded that
Louisiana should help build Ar
kansas levees, because such leveet
are a help to Louisiana, and We
have to help.
Now instead of building leveei
for Arkansas, suppose we treat thu
Arkansas people as Arkansas treats
them-lst them rip. Thu
Government under New
York influence don't car
what happens to the Missis
sippi Valley. Arkansas don't car
how much water gets into Louisi
ana, and it is about time for Louis
lana not to care how much waite
gets into Arkansas. One thing i
certain, all the water Arkansas get
from this proposed levee, will b
water that itself permits to intrud
on its land. We just keep it bacl
from our land, and if it deluge
Arkansas it is their own fault. lie
|, them keep the river in the river
and they won't get hurt. But the
claim that all the country belo,
them are interested, and shout
!. help build Arkansas levees. We
lbuild the Ashton Macon levet
and it will be demonstrated that
e all the country below is not inter
q ested in Arkansas levees, and ths
they don't care two cents whethe
Arkansas builds its levees or no
:. Then the gentlemen from Arkanss
" will probably take some interest
their front levees.
% Louisiana has certainly rigl
n to keep back the water gratuitousl
furnished by Arkansas. Bull
this lsvee and keep it back. 1t
Is none of our business where it goe
" We keep up our front. Let A
kansas do the same, or suffer.
Of course Arkansas will howl ar
r, paw the air, and swear they wi
d cut the ievee. They will cut it to
if they are not stopped, but Il
Mississippians have good schen
!" to prevent levee cutting, and
nc could be adopted by Louisial
y with profit. A small army won
be required during high water, b
e that would come much cheap
O. than overflow. Have a small arm
ee or a large one, if necessary, al
at hold that levee. Outside help
u. mighty slow in coming. Let
help ourselves, by building t
Ashton-Macon levee, and qua
10 it we'll during high water. T
ry TINES is enthusiastically in fav
ut of the plan.
h. John Most, the terrible anart