The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-05-15
THE FLOOD PROBLEM.

Iae resolution introduced 10y Se9a
to- NesI has b en- adal ted by lIe Sen
a'e sud referred 10 ihu c,mmlteo ol
commerce The resolution provides
for a committee the duty Of which
shall be to investigate thoroughly the
causes of floods, aud ihe. best meani
OF protecting the county affected by
them from their annual ravages. The
committee 10 which The resolution
has been referred represents almost
all the country affected by the floods
from the Mississippi aud its tributar-
les, and which includes two thirds of
the extent of the United States, en-
braciug the enormous area included
between the Allegheny and Rocky
Mountains, the great lakes of the
north and gulf of Mexico. A sub
committee will be appointed 10 sit
during recess, which will include
Senator's Vest, of Missouri, Gallery of
Louisiana, Berry of Arkansas, and
Nelson of Minnesota. The commit
tee will report to the Senate III De-
cember. 1t Is argued that the work
Of the committee will be superhuous.
Certainly the Investigations already
made have been exhaustive, shd It
would appear that there remains but
little 10 be found out; while ii seems
that there are but Two methods of
protecting the lower valley from in
undation which are of sufficient i'm
portance TO deserve tho attention of
tho committec-the levee system and
that of outlets, The advocates of the
latter are in a small minority, aud it
is not probable that the scheme will
receive serious consideration What
ever The effect of the investigation
may be, it points more definitely than
any indication has yet done TO the
eventual control of the system of
river improvement by the government.
The question has already been taken
out OF the hands of its local advocates
and its wide reaching significance
acknowledged formally. The appoint
ment of the investigating committees
is the first Of a series of moves which
eau lead 10 but one resull-thc as
sumption of The entire control of the
river by thg government.
The following are the matters to be
Inquired into
Frst-What are 4he causes Of the
disastrous floods iu the Mississippi
river and its tributaries, and how can
such Hoods be prevented or dimiu-
iShed?
Secoud-If such floods are the re-
,ult to any extent Of the destruction
Of timber upon or near the headwalers
Of said river ana its tributaries, what
measures should be adopted to pre-
vent such destruction, and whether
reservoirs to hold the water caused by
rain or the rapid melting of snow on
or near said headwaters should be
constructed to prevent the flood
caused by the sudden precipitation OF
the rain or snow water into the
streams flowing from the regions
where the sources of the Mississippi
and its tributaries are located,
Third-Whether said reservoirs, If
their construction should be deemed
necessary for the purposes before set
forth, could not also be utilized for
the irrigation Of arid lands in the
vicinity of such reservoirs.
Fourth-Whether the outlet system
by which it is proposed TO furnish
avenues through which the waters of
The Mississippi River can escape in
times of food Is practicable or cxpedi-
cnt.
Flfth--Whether the present system
of improving the Mississippi ana Mis-
souri, Rivers, under which il is sought
to confiue the water within the banks
of said rivers by means of levees, and
by such levees, together with jetties at
different localities, TO Increase the
arosive power of the current 80 as TO
protect the banks and deepen the
channel, should be continued.
SiXth-Whht has been the effect up
on navigation snd commerce OF the
ietties at the mouth of the Mississippi
River, and what is tue present cOndi-
tiou of said jetlies, and their probable
future?
Seveuth-Whether the Mississippi
and Missouri River Commissions
should be continued in existence, aud
if continued, what amendments should
be made to the statuee creating such
Commissions aud defining their du-
ties aud powers?
Eighth-Whst legislation is neCes-
sary 10 prevent the enormous destruc-
ton of property by tloods' in the Mis-
sissippi River aud Its tributaries, aud
what amount of U.oney should be ap-
propriated by Congress for the es-
tablshmeut and maintenance of sys.
tematic improvements and safeguards
for said purposes.
NOTICE TO CREDITORS.