The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-06-03
ALL GUESS work.

within the present week more seri-
Gus and carr est thought in relation to
the river, fevec matters and proiec-
ton from overflow, than has ever been
INDUCED in before in such given
time. The present wide spreading
. f5oa has brought these questions
alarmingly close to home; it has tested
The financial endurance OF the wisesi
and most warey IN our midst, aud
brought things nearly TO the very last
issue.
ssTo BE, OR NOT TO BE; THAT is THE
QUESTION"
now to be answered.
All Of last high water and thus far
tins flood on the other side, the plan
tations and people have been high and
dry. They doubtless say levecs are
good things, on the principle that sue
cess is successful aud such things are
bound 10 be good but how is it with
the unfortunate individual who, living
behind The ieyee is aroused in the
middle OF the night with the rush of
waters and looking out. finds delage
of dcsoiation. lie surely viii not ex-
claim. leyces are good things. Thus
il is when the revcsses almost always
attendant upon nnienab.e scientific
theories that run counter to natural
laws, come upon us with Oil their Ae-
struciive force, we are compelled to
feslFngly conclude that the system
must be radically wrong that ca
dangers our industry aud safety IN
stead Of protecting tlrem.
We have heard number of per-
aons OF late repeatedly say that out
side of the taking of levels and
giving the cubic contents of earth
embellishments, the balance of the
scientific programe as to levees was
more or less mere guess work as fan
as the safety OF the country was con.
cerned; and our unfortunate condi-
ton to-day goes long way to sub
stantiate the truth of such utter
ances.
To further show up the lack OF
business methods and almost the
ruinous course being pursued, let us
glance at the financial features Of the
levee system as conducted in this
district.
TO illustrate and prove what we
mean and the position we take in the
premises, it is not by any means
necessary to drag into the account the
many thousands of dollars expended
upon the levess in the four parishes
by the government of the United
States, but we viii confne ourselves
strictly to the OUTLAWS and income OF
the district proper.
At the reorganization and extern
ton of the powers of the board 8
few years ago the board was duly au-
thorized to issue time bonds drawing
eight per cent interest per annum as
its necessities might require, to the
extent of 100000, for the redemp-
ton of which bonds the future revcn.
ues Of the district were duly pledged
Already We learn $4,000 Of these
bonds have been used, together witt
the revenues from the taxation in the
four parishes.
The annual levee taxes are 10 mill.
advalorem, five cents per acre or
land and fifty cents per bale on al
cotton raised in the district, and We
We are to-day in more deplorablt
plight than ever before, with $40,
600 in bonds drawing eight per cen
interest outstanding.
Last year a large number of til,
Taxpayers in this parish ayailed them
selves of the law giving an extension
for the payment of taxes on all ever
flowed lands, which curtailed The rev
enues of the Leyee Board considera
bly,. What will be the result thi
year? The water is nearly all over th
land in East Carroll and the crop
almost completely destroyed, wher
are the revenues to come from thi
ycarfor levee purposes ? This is vita
question. particularly when the dis
trict has constantly increasing deb
upon its hands, without even til
shadow of show for its liquidatio
For THERE is NO POSITIVE AssuRANc
WHATEVER OF SAFETY FROM DEsTRue
TIVE cKEvAssEs wITH THE PREsES
ORDER OF THINGS.
The first leses board organized j
this section was composed of th