The Forrest City times., 1893-06-16
FlSHBACk TO GROVER.

"s' the Governor of Arkansas Said to s"o rresident of the United States-Gov- erhmental Neglect of Southern River. n National Disgrace-Thou.ands of Acre. or Rich Lands on Which the PeopIe ara Starving.
 uov. Flshback has sent the following address to President Cleveland:
 EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Juneo TO Hts Ereetency, Grorer Clereland:
 "H' PhEsIDENT-The repeated and devastat .ns overnows Of half million acres of farms in tnis state, Missouri and Louisiana in view of the past history of our national legislation. nave assumed the nature of a national disgrace II not of national crime
 The Mississippi river and it's tributaries if properly managed, offer I5OO miles of free navigation to more than half of the people and nearly two-thirds of the area of the United states, excluding Alaska. The states and territories drained by their waters are the most fertile in the world and yield three-four union. '' oi o"A inese navlgable waters are by our laws placed under the executive jurisdiction 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 va siU'ooooOo of public money to private corpora lions with which to construct artificial high ways to be owned by private individuals while disgracefully neglecting these natural water highways which belong to all the peo- pie. and to foster which is demanded by every obligation of national 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 a positive in- hibition, but all along the alluvial lands bordering upon these streams the homes of the people are left without protection against these frequent inundations which are produc- ing so much and such shocking Restitution and distress.
 It is estimated that 800 900 acres of cultivated lands on the west bank of the Mississippi river arc under water for the third time within Is months and more than 50, 900 people have been, for the third time within this period, robbed Of the products of their toll, until positive want stares them in the fac
 If one-half the money which congress has given to private railroads had been expended upon 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 overiows.
 Yet to the e5o miles along the St. Francis front, in this state and Missouri only S264, ,00C have been allotted for levees: sum so Judi crously inadequate as to constitute disgrace ful mockery.
 l can not but feel, sir. that should be want ing in duty to the unfortunate victims of this shameful neglect if were to fail to call public attention. as we'll as that of your administra- tion to this criminal dereliction on the part of congress. which seems to have legisated for many years past in the interest Of the various corporations. rather than in the interest of the people who elect 1t. Very respectfully,
 w. Nj. FIsHBACK,
 Governor of Arkansas.