Semi=weekly graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1895-1902, 1897-05-05
ACTION At LAST
rs TAKEN TO SECURE GOVERN
MENT AID TO PROTECT
OUR RIVER FRONT.
The Constatly Gazing Bank Has
Alarmed the Citizens "A Mass
Meeting Held.

1t has been many months since
the Government engineers bavt
done any work tending TO protect
the Gazing banks of the Arkansas
River at this place. and the work
already done is threatened with
destruction unless it is given
attention a. once. Now the work
is also failing to properly perform
those functions for which it was
erected, due probably to its uneom-
pleted state.
The channel of the river is rapidly
changing and the water and wash is
threatening much valuable Pine
Bluff property with destruction.
Our people, for many days have
been cognizant of the matter, but,
with patience utterly out of pro-
portion to the risk they run, have
taken no action in the matter, and
have simply waited the pleasure of
the Government Engineer in charge
of this division of the river, to begin
work tending to their protection
and the protection of their property.
The dagger has increased almost
daily, until it is now 50 alarming
that all our citizens are interested,
and are forced, in self-defense, to
do something in their own interest.
As a starter in this direction, on
Saturday afternoon mass meeting
was called by President ]. B. John
son, of the Pine Bluff Board OF
Trade.
The meeting was held in the
Board of Trade rooms, and at 5
o'clock large number of cur most
Influential business men had assem-
bled to take part in the proceedings.
The meeting was called to order
by Capt. ]. B. Johnson, who stated
the object of the meeting to be for
the purpose of taking steps to have
the Arkansas River banks at this
place protected, and to have reports
as to conditions of levees below
Pine Bluff
On molten. Mr. ]. b. Trulock was
elected chairman and Mr. E. c.
Howell secretary. Mr. r. M. Gal
-braith was asked to state to the
meeting the news he had received
concerning threatened high waters
in the Arkansas River.
Mr.. Galbraith stated that he had
received letter from Srperintend4
emit Edison, of the Cotton Belt Ry.,
dated Tyler, Texas. April 20, which
said that an immense amount OF
water had fallen in Oklahoma and
Kansas, and that this water would
swell the Arkansas River and cause
an overflow. Mr. Galbraith was
requested to notify the people OF
Pine Bluff of the fact and urge those
Interested to put the levees in good
condition and get ready for the high
water. Mr.. Galbraith said that MIR.
Edison, daily, received report that
were reliable concerning the amount
of rainfall in the Arkansas valley,
and he thought it would be wise to
heed Mr.. Edson's warning and fol-
low his advice.
Capt. Geisreiter stated that some
months ago fund of $500 had been
raised by subscription TO build and
repair levee at Frenchtowni that
local engineer had made survey
and staked out the ground, but that
no further work had been done.
However, he had been Informed that
in case of high water enough work
work could be done on the levee to
prevent an overflow of the low-lands
1t was built to protect.
In regard to the caving of the
banks, Capt. Geisreiter read the
memorial to Cong ess adopted at the
Arkansas River Convention. recent
~ held at Fort Smith, and he made
some pertinent and timely remarks
in regard TO improvements needed
on the river. He said that it be
hooyed our citizens to take steps tc
protect themselves and their prop,
erty; that the people living on the
upper portion of the river had cap
tured the Arkansas River Conven.
ton, and that unless Pine Bluff as
serted itself, this portion Of tht
river might be overlooked IN tht
distribution of money for improve
ments.
Capt. Johnson endorsed the re
marks of Capt. Geisreiter, and sait
rLat our people did not act enough
IN concert, and that we could neve
accomplish much good by individual
but divided, efforts. He related