Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1897-05-14
WaTERwA VS. CONVENTION

"A B-fTER WA VS. CONVENTION
The year 1897 viii be a memor-
able one in the annals of the Mis-
fissippf Valley, An unprecedent-
ed quantity Of water was poured
down through the Ohio River and
Us tributaries upon the States be-
low, and the levees they had been
able to- build up to this time we're
found inadequate and a great
overflow came upon MS. This re-
cult was not unlocked for when it
was found that the guage at Cairo
had marked a much higher point
than ever known since the records
were kept, except in 'S4, and the
people Of the lower Valley went to
work heroically to do all in human
power to hold the coming flood
within the lcvees.
This overflow, however, has not
shaken the faith of the people and
their leaders in the Ievee system
They know that dirt when piled
Eigh enough ON scientific prin-
cipIcs can hold back the Missis-
sippi floods. They also reflect
that they have not had such a
water since 1882 upon their lands,
md according to the law of aver
ages we-shonld not have another
for q number of years.
What we have to do IL to pull
together and repair the broken
Jevees and enlarge and strengthen
them all along the line. Our
Tcvee Boards are composed of the
best citizens; men of large and
valuable experience as to the bust
ness with which they are charged.
They are to man loyal to the
idea that the levee system is the
only means through which this
Mississippi Valley can be protect
sORgainst-rdin.
Considering that prompt action
must be had in the near future by
onr alsthevities for the purpose of
determining what shall be done,
we suggest that there will be held
At Vicksburg ss soon as the water
has passed away, o convention
composed of the members of the
various Levee Boards of Arkansas,
Mississippi and Louisiana, the OBJ
ject of the convention to be q
thorough canvassing of the situa-
ton within retrospective jurisdic
tions as to the ability of the prop
erty 1ho,ders to raise by taxation
fife money necessary to put an en-
tire levee system into a condition
to Withstand any flood, bas-
ing 1t on the records of 1897. If
they find they cannot do SO from
the resources at their command,
supplemented by what the Gov
rnment is to contribute through
the Mississippi River Commission,
the policy of wisdom will be to
fake. fle proper steps to bring the
matter Before Congress in Deem
ber ON the lines suggested by Gen.
r. G. Catchings, of Mississippi,
when he announced that at the
December session he would bring
forward a BILL authorizing the
Government to- take charge of the
ievees and perfect system which
would absolutely protect the Mis-
sissippi Valley against overfiows-
IF our own people, whose homes
would be protected, would show
n Willingness to help themselves
70 the fullest extent of their
ability, Congress would be more
apt to take the matter in Land.
Just now the leading journals of
<he North and East are advocating
She policy of Government control
the leveesy and this convention
would throw great light on the
question as to how far the people
here can aid IN the matter.
We wouId be glad to have the
views of the press of the Valley on
this important matter
----u-------
The Earl of Derby was offered
The ..-ovt of Greece wears AGO and