The Forrest City times., 1892-11-04
St. Francis Levee District.


 The directors of this district, with quite number of land owners met al the Peabody Hotel yesterday in Mem phis. Every county in the district was represented. MT. l.. A. Fitzpatrick of this city, who represented Phillips county returned home last night and is much pleasee with the result of the meeting.
 Among those present were Col. Geo. Dodge, of Dodge & Johnson, Little Rock, who represents the Iron Moun- tain railroad. Mir. Nettleton. brother of president Nettleton, of the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis road. President Fink of the Memphis and Little Rock sent letter regretti ng his inability to be present and express ing his willingness to cooperate with the work.
 A large number of the prominent business men of Memphis were in at tendance, and considerable interest was felt in the meeting. It is well known that it is the desire to levCe the west bank of the river from New Madrid. Mo-, down to the mouth of the St. Francis. When this is done thousands of acres of fine farming lands will be reclaimed ~m overflow.
 Those interested think there should be some change in the levee laws of this state, and the meeting at Mem phis was held in order to discuss q bill that has been proposed by Capt. II. N. Pharr, President of the St. Francis leyee district. add which it is desired to have enacted by our next legislature.
 The bill proposes three directors from each of the eight counties in the basin section, these to be appointed and to hold office for one, two and three years respectively. This was objected to on the ground that it would create an unwieldy body and make considerable expense. aS each director is to receive five dollars day when in active service,
 An amendment was proposed to re- duce the number to one from each county, that the counties be numbered and that the term of office be two years. In order however that clean sweeps be not made the directors first appointed from the odd number coun- ties to serve but one year under such appointment. It was also decided to permit the three railroad companies interested to have representa- on on the board.
 This bill also provides for the ap- pointment by the board of an assessor in each county, who is to be land owner, whose duty shall be to assess the value of the land protected by levee as against it's value when not protected and upon this betterment tax levy not exceeding five per cent IS to be made, provided it is agreed to by ma | jority of the land owners in the re- | spective counties.
 The board is also to appoint it's own | collectors of this tax in each county. with full authority to proceed as other | tax collectors. In addition to the reg ular levee tax thus provided for. the | bill proposes and additional tax of not exceeding five mills on the dollar for repairing levees already constructed and defraying expenses of the board This is also subject to ratification by a majority of the land owners in meet | ing provided for the purpose.
 There is also provision in the meas ure that enables tie Arkansas board to consolidate with the Missiouri board under conditions to be agreed upon. Capt. Pharr states that the St. Francis | district desires to obtain the entire con- gressional appropriation of S284 ,000, designed to be expended in three years, next year. If successful it will be enabled to close the gap between Point Pleasant, Mo, and Plum Point Reach. | The entire levee front of the district is about lS0 miles. Work is to be begun at Point Pleasant and work south.