Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-06-13
A NATIONAL DISGRACE.
Governor Fishback's Address t,
President Cleveland.


Governor Fishback, Arkansas pro-
gressive chief executive, with his Gus
tomary insight into public affairs and
able understanding of the needs of
his country, has addressed the follow
ing important letter to President
Cleveland
To His Excellency, the President.
Mr. PREsIDENT.-The repeated and
devastating overhows of half a million
acres of farms in this State, Missouri
and Louisiana, in view of past history
of our National legislation, have as
sumed the nature Of National crime.
The Mississippi River and its tribu-
taries, if properly managed, offer 49,
900 miles of free navigation to more
than half the people, and nearly two
thirds of the area of the United States
includingSsA 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 navlgable waters are by our
laws placed under the exclusive juris-
diction of the National Government,
and are the free and natural outlets
for the enormous traffic of this vast
area. Yet during the past thirty or
forty years our National Legislature
has given nearly 20O,OOO,000 acres of
our public lands and nearly $100,000,-
900 of public money to private cor
porations with which to construct
artificial highways to be owned by
private individuals, while disgrace
fully neglecting these natural water
highways which belong to all the
people and to foster which is de-
manded by every obligation of Nation
al 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 posi-
tive inhibition, but all along the alluvi-
al lands bordering upon these streams,
the homes of the people are left with
out protection against these frequent
inundations which are producing SO
much and such shocking destitution
and distress.
1t is estimated that half q million
acres of cultivated lands on the west
bank of the Mississippi River are un-
der water for the third time within
fifteen months, and more than fifty
thousand people have been, for the
third time within this period, robbed
of the products of their toll, until pos
tive want stares them in the face.
If one-half the money which Con
gress has given to private railroads
had been expended upon these natura
highways, not only would we hav'
free and ample navigation along al
these navigable streams, Throughout
the year, but these unhappy peopl
would have been spared these disas
trous overnows.
Yet to the 252 miles along the ST
Francis front in this State and Mis-
souri,, only $284,O00 have been alotet
for levees; sum 80 ludicrously made
quate as to constitute a disgracefu
mockery.
/ cannot but feel, sir, that shoult
be wanting in duty to the unfortunate
victims of this shameful neglect, if
failed to call public attention as wei
as that Of your administration to thi
criminal dereliction on the part o
Congress, which seems to have legis
lated for many years past in the in
terest of the various corporation
rather than in the interest of the peo
pie who elect it. Respectfully,
w. M. FIsHBAcK,
Governor of Arkansas.