The Forrest City times., 1892-02-26

out, and bankrupied the farmers; and as the tax levied under our state laws tn raise funds for levee purposes must nee essarily lie heaviest upon the improved lands. and as farmers are absolutely unable to pay sueh tax as under other circumstances they would willingly sub init to, yet it has come to this with the farming interest--this front must be ieveed or the farms abandoned.
 Hence, our organization and this me morial and our prayer that in this work you will not place upon us greater bur den than we are able to bear, but will make specific appropriation for the levee of this front of Sl, 800, 900 to be expended within three years, the citizens contribut- ing within the same time $I, loo. 900. All arguments in favor of the levee sys- tem are applicable to the levee of this front and apply with greatly increased force in this. that the levee system Is in- complete without it, that this great reser- yoir being left open is standing menace to the levees below; for the flood In that basin being obstructed by the dense growth of cane and timber accumulates to a height much above high water mark III the river at points opposite, reaches Ilele- na fifteen to twenty days behind time, and requires fifteen or twenty days more to draw of, thus giving the leveeS below thirty or forty days more of high water than if the basin was closed, and 1t Is a we.l-known fact to those whose duties have made them familiar with the effect of water upon levees that it is not the height of the water so much as the long continued pressure that breaks levees. The possibilities of break increasing with each succeeding day Of high water.
 Heiice, to protect the levees below 1t IS necessary to complete the systems by building this levee.
 In assisting to build this system Of levees the government will not only ac- complish its purpose of maintaining low water navigation, but will have also incl dentally assisted to reclaim from the de- vastating floods of the river vast areas Of lands of great fertility, thereby making homes for thousands of families and em- ployment for millions of laborers possible. Nor do the benefits of the levee system stop here.
 Under the protection of the levees net work of railroads will continue to be spread over these lands, saw mills and other industries following, aiding and ac- cclerating the construction of homes and the opening of farms, increasing the de- mand for mules, farming utensils, plan tation, supplies, steam engines, cotton gins, presses, etc., thus giving employ ment to thousands of laborers In the Northern factories, and on the farms Tn the grain and meat producing states, while commercial interests flourish In the the interchange of productions. and the national wealth largely increased annually.
 On motion, it was ordered that . copy of this memorial be sent to Hon. w. II. Cate, member of congress from Arkasas, and to Hon. Marshal Arnold from Missouri, with request that they submit the memorial to congress and urge an appropriation for our relief.
 It was moved that copy of these proceedings be furnished the Memphis papers, and the county papers in the levee district for publication.
 On motion. the convention adjourned to meet at Jonesboro, Ark, on the first Monday in May next.