The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-05-24
Mississippi River improvement and
LeTee Association.
OFFICE or rHE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES,
MAsHISGTOs CIrY, ID. C., Nay Is, $50.

OFFICE or rHE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES,
MAsHINGTOS CRY, D. C.. May Is, $50.
The Executive Committee Of the
Interstate Mississippi River Improve
ment and Levee Association, which
was established on the 1st instant, by
action of large convention of repre-
sentative citizens of the States of Ar
kansas, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi. Missouri, and
Tennessee, then in session at Vicks-
burg, Mississippi, has been in the city
since the Sth instant, and has obtained
certain information concerning the in
terest it has in charge; which it feels
constrained to communicate to you
promptly in this manner.
The committee finds that the recent
floods in the Mississippi Valley, coupled
with the persistent efforts and misrep-
resentations by parties interested In
the outlet plan, have impressed Con-
gress and the general public outside of
the Valley with the belief that the
levee system is complete failure,
either as an Improvement to nayiga-
ton or to prevent destructive floods.
II is boldly asserted that the people
living in the Mississippi Valley do not
desire leyees, but regard the money
expended by the Mississippi River
Commission as positive injury to the
country.
The evidence recently adduced be-
fore the Congressional committees
shows that the River Commission and
the engineers in charge of their work
are more than ever convinced that le-
wees are essential for the improvement
of navigation, and that with sufficient
appropriations such permanent sys-
tenn Of levees can be constructed and
maintained by the GeneralGovernment
as will ensure absolute protection from
floods. II is believed that if the facts
are properly presented and impressed
upon Congress and the commercial
bodies of the Northwest, Congress will,
by appropriate legislation, assume con-
troll of the levees, and make the neces-
sary appropriations to construct and
maintain a complete system of levees
from Cairo to the Gulf as national
work. But, while the evidence is at
tainable, the greatest Ignorance and
misapprehcnsio as to the real situa-
tion prevails, and the desired result
cannot be secured without earnest,
systematic effort, not only with Con-
gress, but also through the press and
other means, to educate the people and
create such public sentiment as will
justify Congress in making the neces-
sary appropriation.
That such an effort will be success
full we have every reason to believe
and as an illustration call attention to
the success of the movement to secure
dccp-water harbor by the city Of
Galveston during the present session,
for which fund of over $4,000 was
raised and used to properly inform
the public as to the necessity and pro-
priety of such action, and which Sc
cured an appropriation of $6,500,O00
without objecticS 1t has been esti.
mated that an appropriation of &c.,
100000 to be expended by the Missis-
slppi River Commission, during pc
riod of ihree years, upon the levses,
win accomplish the purpose, 1t is un-
necessary to remind you that this Is
the most important matter that could
be presented to our people, and we
trust that the efforts of the Committee
will be promptlya nd literally sustain
ed by every one interested in the future
of the great alluvial valley.
In view of all these considerations
and of others that will be suggested
to your mind as matter of course,
this Committee earnestly requests that
yourself will subscribe to the proposed
expense fund promptly and literally
that you will solicit subscriptions to 1t
from your neighbors also, and that you
will not fail to do all that is possible
to induce the Police Juries or Boards
of Supervisors, the District Levee
Boards, the Boards of Trade or Cham
bers of Commerce, tho banking insti.
tutions, and other business associations
In your locality, TO make prompt and
liberal contributions TO the proposed
fund.
All the money raised in accordance
with the suggestions of this circular
letter Should be transmitted by draft
to the Delta Trust and Banking Com.
pany, at yicksburg, Mississippi, this
company being the Treasurer of the
Association.
Immediate and energetic action in
this matter is urged upon oil friends
of the Commission-plan OF river i'm.
provement.
Chas. Scott, Geo. G. Waddill,
Hiram r. Steele, j. 5. Richardson,
Patrick Henry, W. IL. Stovall,
N. Straub, W. q. Yerger,
d. II. Reynolds, T.. o. Stannard,
w. Z. Halliday, f. w. Gould,
Thos. W. Shields, Observation-Disclosures
Johu II. Oberly, Green Clay,
John II. Rice, Luke Sells,
w. w. Martin, R.C. Graves,
| III. z. Mcdonald, j. w. Clapp,
j. s. Brannin, W. Il. Moore,
| A. W. Crandall.
n. L.. 4. =