The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-29

New York, June 24.-The Mississippi
river commission convened in the army
building today and Immediately went
into executive session to deliberate and
possibly make some changes in the
annual report of the commission. The
report, as soon as it has been put in the
desired form, will be forwarded to Sec
rotary of the Navy Long, some time
between the 1st and 10th of July. Until
the report reaches Secretary Long the
commission will not disclose it's tenor.
The congressional appropriation for
damages to property from the overflow
of the Mississippi river amount to
81, 933, 333 for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1898. This sum will be dis
tributed by the commission after the
hearing of testimony or damages sus-
tanned in the three districts, EXTEND
ing from Cairo to the gulf and under
the executive and disbursing supervi-
sion of the commissions secretary,
Captain H. E. Waterman, of st. Louis,
and district officers, Captain George
Nice. Derby, of New Orleans, and Lieu
tenants H. c.. Newcomer and NJ. NJ.
Patrick, of Memphis. These officers
are in attendance on the meeting of the
commission. OF the commission there
were present Colonel George L. Giles
pie, of New York, president; Major 3.
M. Hariod. of New Orleans: Colonies
Henry F1ad and Amos Stickney, of ST.
Louis, and Majors G.. H. Handbury and
H. l.. Marinden, of Washington. D. c..
Only one membe of the commission,
former Judge r. S. Taylor, of Fort
Wayne, Ind, was absent.
When the commission went into open
session, Senator Berry, from Arkansas,
addressed the MEMBERS. He said that
the future Of the Mississippi river de-
pended upon the report which this COM
mission would make. If the report was
favorable a sufficient sum of money
would be appropriated to protect the
banks. He reviewed the action of con-
gress in its appropriation and said that
it was only the most strenuous efforts
that s., 1888, 333 had been granted. He
was not there to tell the commission
how. to make the appOrtionment, but
to emphasize the necessity that the
money should be so distributed as to
cause no charge of Partially.
Governor McLaurin, of Mississippi.
said it vas as much the duty of the
government to protect one side of the
river as the other. The people of the
levee district themselves had expend-
ed a large mount of money. Two dis
tricts alone had spent about 81, 900, 900
up to date and he declared the people
were taxed to the limit to protect the
leVee.
Congrssmen Catchings, of Mississippi
pi: Baird, of Louisiana; McRea, McCul-
lOch and Brunrige, of Arkansas; Dicer.
of Missouri, Levy and Williams, of
Mississippi also addressed the COM
mission.
Nearly all the delegates who address,
ed the board this afternoon dilated on
the millions hat had been expended
since the levees were constructed. They
told of the enormous amount Of taxes
raised to defray the expense of keeping
the levees and nearly all of them com
planned of empty treasures, devastated
lands and an impaired credit. They all
stated they had gone to the limit of
taxation.
Each delegation nae engineers with
it, many of whom had made evees a
life study. One delegation said that
they had skill n energy, in fact,
everything but money. The meeting
adjourned until tomorrow morning.