The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-26
SISSIPPI ASKS FOR A LIBERAL
APPORTIONMENT.
NORTHWEST HELD TO BLAME.
FLOODS THE RESULT OF CUTTING
AWAY THE FORESTS AT THE
HEADWATERS.
SUGAR PLANTERS SPECIAL PLEA.
Always in the Past Been willing
to Help Themselves.

NEW YORK, June 25.-The MiSSis-
sippi river commission resumed it's ses-
sion in this city today. The first dele
WhitehiI, of Arkansas City, Ark. Mr.
Whitehill merely pointed out the merits
of the levee system, asked for fair
apportionment for his district and de-
clared that the government was prac-
ticing false economy in regard to the
protection of the people living on the
Mississippi's banks. Gen. D. II. Rey-
holds, of Chico, Ark, denied that there
was any acrimony or jealousy between
the various districts as to appropria
tions. Gen Reynolds declared that
most of the levees were makeshift af-
fairs.
Murray Smith, of Vicksburg, Miss,
stated that eighteen miles from Vicks-
burg, north towards Greenville, there
was stretch of riparian land unpro-
tected by levees. James Clinton, of
Natchez, Miss, confirmed Mr.. Smiths
statements He said it would require
$1,000 to put the unprotected districts
in condition to defend the levees al
ready built The people of his district
had raised $4,000 to preserve the
levees, much Of which money was vast
ed on account of the foundations Of
lands inside the levees.
Mr.. Halliday, delegate from Arkan-
sas, said in part: Il venture to say
that the recent floods have clearly
proved the success of the general idea
Of our levee system. 1t is only where
our levees were imperfectly constructed
that they failed to afford protection,
and where this was the case the un-
happy sufferers have been greatly dis
couraged, and have to some extent lost
faith in the system upon which they
have previously, relied with so much
confidence.
Under the constitution of the United
States continued Mr.. Halliday, I'VE
are guaranteed protection of life and
property. Our great government has
never been mean or niggardly under
any trial, or in any period of it's his
tory, and no expenditure, therefore,
however great should be spared, if our
fertile lands can be protected or re-
claimed, or our citizens protected
against any threatened peril. This
measure of protection to the residents
along the Mississippi river is demanded,
not only by considerations of humanity,
but of the public interest as WE'LL
William S. Leavell, of the Palmyra,
La, district, said in part: I'VE
have expended large amounts on our
levees, with but little aid from any
one, only $3,413 from the government
in 1890. We now propose to put $4,000
more on our levees this year. One year
individuals subscribed $4,000. 1t will
take several years to recover from the
I, go
the Mississippi river needs assistance
we most aSsuredly do"
Congressman S. T. Baird, of the Fifth
Louisiana district, appeared for the
Kenesaw basin, Arkansas district. Th1
district represented by Mr.. Baird is
protected by this basin Mr.. Baird
pointed out the disasters that have re-
suited from permitting the Kenesaw
basin levees to go unprotected. He
said that the population was as thick
there as anywhere on the Mississippi.
He asked for a liberal apportionment.
John Diamond, wealthy sugar
planter, representing the Lake Borgne
district. made an eloquent speech He
said that he represented the sugar
planters, who had suffered greatly
from overfiows. The last flood, coming
AS 1t did on the heels OF a depreciation
in sugar and sorghum, made their
troubles all the harder to bear. In
this country" continued Mr. Diamond,
the people living along the riparian
lands of the Mississippi were too proud
to ask for assistance. They built the
levees themselves. For many years
they have done this work and done 1t
valiantly If the same conditions pre-
vailed today as when the levees were
first constructed, the government would
not be called upon to assist us. The
civilization of the North and the de-
nudation of the Northern forests and
other causes have all operated to swell
the current Of the great father OF
waters Land that was once two or
three feet above high water is now
below what is called average water.
But we dc not complain of the levees.
All we want is that the commission
will recognize our condition and help
us, hard working and energetic peo-
pie, who have always been willing to
help ourselves.
The apportionment will probably be decided
upon either tomorrow morning or late this
evening Col. Gillespie president of the
commission. said soon as the report was
completed 1t would be at once transmitted to
the war department at Washington. 1t is
said that the report may not be completed
until Monday or Tuesday next.