The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-06-16
GREENVILLETIMES.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE e6, 1897
THE LETEE CONVENTION.

The movement now on foot TO cal
great levee convention il one II
which all the people of the dis'rlc
subieo; to overflow, and the markets
10 which their products are carried
are actively interested There has
never been time N the history o.
lsvee building WHOM the subject hal
excited an interest ~ general, or Whel
an organized and intelligent effort fol
stfectuAl protection seemed so neal
realization In such matter it Is nee
sssAry 10 strike while the iron Is hot
The wonderful rocuperatlve power OF
the overlooked country and the elastic
and sAnguine character of its people
has the effect of producing speedy for
getfulneSs of these great cslamitles
which oYerwhelm us periodically, and
for q time appear to work ruin to the
country aud bring despair TO its poo
pie, but which changes, III short
time, to a feeling of Indifference and
unWGrrAntsd security.
Until some strong ana definite sys-
tenn of protection is decided upon we
have nothing moro TO expect than
yearly recurrence OF the disastrous OK
perience OF the past spring, now being
forgotten, although scarcely Il month
has elapsed since the whole country
WREA waste of water and cut of from
the world as completely as if it were
not part Of 1t. The sentiment is grow
ing and rapidly taking shape among
thoughtful people that a great con-
ventIon should be held, at which the
needs of the valley, the means OF pro-
lection, and every subject bearing Oh
the levee question should receive full
consideration.
The movement embraces the thought
and enterprise of the whole country
from the Alleghsnies to the Rocky !
mountains, and from the lakes to the |
gulf 1t is urged by the press of
States az widely separated as Kansas
and Pennsylvania, and endorsed by |
thinkers aud men of business the !
country over. Ii is not the local in
terest Of few cotton and sugar plant
ers which ia being considered, but
that of the region recognized as being
the most important agricultural dis
trict of the Union,-sn empire in it.
self, and capable of furnishing a great
part Of the wealth and sustenauce of
the nation. What such a convention
should do is not a matter for discus
sion except by themselves. AT pres
ent our system of defense against
Goods is entirely inadequate, being
carried on by number of local boards
each having its own ideas and eugi-
nsers, each provided with limited
means, eked out by appropriations
from tho general government which
cannot be distributed in severalty to
the districts without detriment to
some.
The first object of the convention
should be to secure cooperation. The
work Is gigantic one. 1t will re-
quire al the skill, the art and financial
strength that can be brought to bear
upon it; but the object is worthy of
the effort. The truth is that the coun-
try at large has never been properly
awakened TO the importance of the
protection-which Is the practical re-
demption-of these lands. The awak-
ening is now taking place. The pro-
posed levee convention, at whicn the
of all the country affected
will be represented, is proof that the
project iS beginning to be regarded in
ItS proper light The convention is
the frat step towards o solution of
the leVee problem.