The Green Forest tribune., 1893-06-15
GOVERNOR FISHBACK PROTESTS.
He Calls the Presidents Attention to
the Neglected Southern Rivers.

LITTLE Rock, June 10.-Governor
Fishback has sent the following address
to President Cleveland;
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, June 9.-To His
EXcelleney, Grover Cleveland: Mr.
PREsIDENT-The repeated and devastat-
ing oyerhows of half million acres of
farms in this State, Missouri, and Loui-
siana, in view Of the past history of our
national legislation, have assumed the
nature Of a national disgrace, if not a
national crime.
The Mississippi River and its tribu-
| taries, if properly managed, offer 49,
600 miles of free navigation to more
than half the people and two-t thirds of
the area of the United States, exclud-
ing Alaska. The States and Territories
drained by their waters are the most
fertile in the world and yield three
fourths of the agricultural and meat
products of the Union.
| These nayigable waters are, by our
laws, placed under the executive juris-
diction of the National Govern ment,
and are the free and natural outlets for
the enormous traffic of this vast area.
Yet during the past 80 or 40 years our
National Legislature has given nearly
two hundred million acres of our public
lands and nearly one hundred millions
of public money to private corporations
with which to construct artificial high
ways to be owned by private individuals,
while disgracefully neglecting these nat
ural water highways which belong to
all the people, and to foster which is
demanded by every obligation of Nat
ional duty as well as every consideration
of National policy.
Owing to this neglect the people OF
these States and Territories are not
only forced to transport the products
of their labor over these artificial and
private highways at such great cost to
both producer and consumer as, in
many instances, to amount to positive
inhibition, but all along the alluvial
lands bordering upon these streams,
the homes of the people are left with.
out protection against these frequent in
undatious which are producing so much
and such shocking destitution and dis
! treSs.
! 1t is estimated that SOC, 600 acres of cultivated
lands on the west bank Of the Mississippi River
are under water for the third time within Il
months and more than so, 600 people have been
! for the third time within this period, robbed ol
the products of their toll, until positive want
stares them in the face.
| If one-half the money which congress has Civ
en- to priYa ate railroads had been expended upor
| these natural highways, not only would We
have free and ample navigation along all these
navigable streams, throughout the year, but
these unhappy people would have been spared
these disastrous overfows.
Yet to the 25o miles along the ST. Francis front
in this State and Missouri, only 1924 200 have
been allotted for levees; q sum so ludicrously
| inadequate asto constitute a disgraceful mock
cry,
I l cannot but feel sir, that should be want
| ing in duty to the unfortunate victims of this
shameful neglect if Iwere to fail to call public
attention, as well as that.os your administration
| to this criminal derelction on the part of con-
gress, which seems to have legslated for many
years past in the interest of the various corpor-
ations, rather than in the interest of the people
who elect it Very Respectfully,
w. Nj. FISHBACK.
Governor of Arkansas