The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-06-20

but IeN engineers can now be fouhu
who dissent from the proposition that
II Is essential to e0niine the floods, and
1t goes without saying that when they
escape over the banks, the resultant
destruction of Property is enormous.
The value of the property interests in
the Mississippi Valley is almost iHcal-
eulable. Pardon me, gentlemen, for
taking as an Illustration, the district
which have the honor to represent in
the United States Congress. II con-
tains about four and half million
acres, being that portion of the alluvial
lands of the Valley, which lies within
the State of Mississippi, aud stretches
along the river substantially from the
Tennesses line TO Vicksburg. | wish
you could go down with me at this
very tima, and pass through it on the
railway from Memphis TO Vicksburg.
You would look out upon Gods own
country. There is nothing like it on
the face of the earth. have been all
over the United States, and have seen
many fertile lands, but none TO com
pare with those of the Mississippi Val
ley, of which my district is fair illus
tration. Talk about the Valley of the
Nile! We distance 1t easily. And If
to add TO its celebrity, it be pointed
out, that it was the home.Of that inn
mortal queen, whose charms destroyed
potentates and dismembered empires,
our answer is, that the Valley of the
Nile had but one queen, while in the
Valley of the Mississippi every lady is
queen. Of our four and half mil
hons of acres, only about one-third are
IN cultivation. We make bale of
cotton to the acre, and with careful
cultivation this yield can be greatly
increased. If the government will
protect US from the flood Of the river,
SO that we can subject the whole of it
to cultivation, we can very nearly pro-
duce in that district alone all the cot
ton needed for the worlds consump-
| lion.
In these modern days, when every
man assumes the role of political econ
omisi, we hear much said about the
value OF home markets. II, gentlemen,
you will and us 10 our efforts to have
this great and rich government redeem
the Mississippi Valley, and relieve us
from all danger of inundation, we will
provide you with such home market,
as you never dreamed of. Our staple
is cotton. Our corn cribs and smoke
houses are now and must ever largely
remain in the West. The alluvial
lands Of the Valley embrace about
forty thousand square miles Build
levees 10 protect it from overflow, and
It will soon all be occupied and reduced
to cultivation by dense and thrifty
population. We will turn our cotton
into gold and use it in purchasing
Your grain, flour, hay meat, horses
and mules. We will be your prompt
aud profitable customers for all time
to come.
There is still another aspect of this
question worthy Of consideration.
Within late years this great Valley
on both sides of the river has been
travcrsed aud interscctcd by inter-
State railways.
These are obstructed in periods OF
high water aud so the effect of an
overflow is by no means purely local
Along the banks of the Mississippi
and interior rivers, and along the lines
of railway, many thrifty and impor-
tant mercantile communities have
sprung up, which purchase all of their
commodities from you and the East
ern States.
The effect of All overflow is not
therefore, confined to the cotton plant.
ers, but is extended to these railways
and TO all who, directly, or indirectly
have business relations with that sec.
ton.
These considerations all combine to
make the control of that river pre-em.
inently a matter of National impor.
tance.
II is common saying that Provi
donce helps those who help themselves
| If the United States will extend its aid
TO us in accordance with the principl,
of this ancient proverb, we will bs
satisfied, for no people have ever done
more to help themselves than those
who have united their fortunes with
those of this great Vrlley. They have
contributed of their substance with
unstinted hands, to the erection ant
maintenance of levees, but they fee
that In view of the magnitude of th,
work, and its national consequence, il
should be taken from their shoulder;
and completed by the government.
know of nothing that your representa-
tives in Congress eau do, which woulc
so reduce the cost of transportation
as would the improvement of your
rivers and harbors. Approaching the
necessity for providing relief in thi
direction, many wise and thoughtful
men have advanced the proposition
that the government should purchase
and operate all the railways in tn,
country.
Would 1t not be the part of wisdom
for II first to improve and render Il
for navigation those natural highway
which it already owns! The cos
would be immeasurably less, and II
my Judgment, the result more satisfac
tory and profitable. What has beer
done by the people heretofore to Sc
cure cheaper facilities has been almos
wholly with regard to railroad trans
portation. But little real effort hal
been made to secure better facilities
by water. 1t is true we have had con
ventions but their work has gone it'll,
further than the passage of resolutions
Resolutions are well enough as far a
they go, but we must have somethin.
more than resolutions. What is need
cd is for those who are interested ii
, these questions to speak PERSISTENT
and constantly In Wellington befor
the committee on rivers and harbor
! and the Senate Commerce Committed
: and compel their representatives +
speak earnestly before Congress itscl
If this is Gone Systematically and Wig
: orously we may justly expect assis
ance from the National treasury.
Q Gentlemen of the congress, | cam
bere to exchange views and confe
with you, hoping that out of the mu
!, titude of counsel, we could devils
a some means which would effect Ii
t Improvement of this mighty rive