The Forrest City times., 1893-06-16
St. Francis Levees

In an interview with Capt. $. w. Roessler, captain of United States engineers. it was learned that the gov erment will expend, during the coming summer season, for mattress work S25,000 at New Madrid, s400 ,000 at Plum Point and S100 900 at Hopetield Bend, just across the river from this city
 In levee work tue government will make an outlay of SIP ,, 5,0O0 on the west bank, between Helena and Laconia Circle, also SI00 900 on the east bank, at d point opposite Helena
 The St. Fransis basin has been allot- ted SSS, 900 per year, for three successive years, commencing this summer. Now, that this basin has decided in favor of the levee tax, the government, with the help of the landliolders, will be able to do some practical good.
 Capt. RoeSsler Is probably one of the best posted men concerning the Missis- Sippi river in this part of the country.
 In regard tO the outlet or fiOOdgate plan favored by many, he said that this theory has long since been exploded, from the facts that the large breaks in the levee, although letting out immense volumes of water, affect the river only at points below the outlet, and for few mics above, and further, that 1t would be an altogether immense undertaking to form reserve lakes and floOdg ates on the Upper Mississippi, where the sur rounding country is generally high above the level of the river.
 There isa large class who argue with some show of logic that if the river should be confined within levees on each bank. the bed of this mighty stream would gradually rise until the river, would be entirely above the surround ing country. As to this. the chief engineer saId that he knew of no proof which would justify this assumptions; that the gauge at Natchez, Miss, has remained unchanged for nearly half . century,an does not show any material variation in the bed of the river, al- though levees have been built therea- bouts.
 Capt. ROessler favors the present levee system, but with more careful watcl.- l ing and supervision in the time of high water. He says the levees should be pOrtioned off into short sections, and each section put in charge of some rela- ble man, who can tell when and where d evee begins to show weakness, SD that it could be strengthened in time. He pointed to the fact that the levees at Helena and Lacornia Circle, though not large or strong, by careful watch | ing and supervision, were made te hold both this year and last.
 It is Capt. RoeSslerS intention to hold | HOpefield Point where It now IS, so as | to keep the current of the river thrown as much as possible toward the sTenn. shore, which will prevent the sand bar | in front of the elevator from growing larger.
 1 As to the old theory, that the river | is liable at any time to cut through back of Hopetield and leave it's present | channel, he said that of course this IS 6 possibility but that fears on this subject have been exaggerated; that there IS only very remote probability of such a catastrophe, and that should any indications of such change in the river appear, the government would | certainly take steps to prevent It. l In connection with the purpose of | the government, indicated in the above interview with Captain Roessler, latest report from Arkansas indicate that the people have voted in favor of the two per cent tax upon the S2 better ment per acre placed on all lands within the district.
 The election was held last Saturday, the polls being kept open from pin to 6 p. m., and only landholders were
 allowed to vote.
 The result of this election will be that the board will commence to build leveeS about October l. Where they will begin is yet d question to be decld- ed at the next meeting of the levee board, which is subject to the call of
 President, II. F. Rodges.
 Between the first Monday in October and the first Monday in November taxes on the betterment of property will be collected. The following were named collectors of the taxes at the meeting of the board at West Memphis on May 10 last, viz: Phillips County, w. T.. Dawson; St. Francis, Riley Hendricks; Cross, T. l.. Gardner; Craighead, John H. Margrove; Crittenden, k. w. Barton; Mississippi, James Liston; Lee, John Il. Curtis, jr; Poinsett, Geo.H. Clark. Appeal Avalanche.
 The following is the official returns of the election held on the 10th inst, on the question of the levee tax:
 Phillips. flor tax. 10, against tax, none | St. trancis... 2I, none | Cross. Oo, = Poinsett. ;..... iti. :. |. l Craighead. .st. ' 1 Mississppi...... .O. .@ | Crittenden.. 2to, sN>
 Total m for tax, 1891. against tax. :ss
 The total vote cast is 2292, which IS d large majority of the land owners or