The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-07-03
For LEvEEs.
N. o. Times-Democrat.-


One of the striking features of the
hearing before the Mississippi River
Commission in New York Thursday
was the unanimity with which every
one of the speakers declared in favor
OF levces. There were, as we have al
ssady noticed. an unusually large num-
Der Of representatives present from the
alluvial States.
Mis-, issippi had its Governor there.
three congressman, he engineers OF
both its levec districts. aud a. half
dozen others deeply interested in river
Improvement.
Arkansas delegation was headed by
Senator Berry. In addition there were
three Congressman present, and many
other prominent citizens from Eastern
Arkansas, which suffered SO much from
The overflow.
From Louisiana there were Congress
man Baird, representatives from the
State Levee Board and from each one
of the eight district leyee boards.
Finally, even Missouri had Con-
gresham and other prominent citizens
present to look after It's interests in the
New Madrid district.
These several delegations represented
all the diverse'interests of the alluyial
SECTIONS. They included men. deeply
interested IN the regulation Of the Mis-
sissippi, and who have had the best of
opportunities TO study it during the
greatest flood of recent times, and to
see the weakness OF value OF leyees.
Many of them came from districts
where there had been serious crcvasSes,
and heavy losses in consequence. 1t Is
impossible, therefore, to conceive OF a
gathering better able to speak on the
subject of river improvement IN the
alluyial districts and to know the exact
value oflevees.
When such a gathering, therefore.
speaks ont in favor of levees, not only
unanimously, but with more enthusi-
assn than heretofore-when. therefore,
these forty or fifty delegates, all thor
oughly acquainted with the subject,
who have made it their study. who
have been in the front throughout the
late struggle and watched all the
vagaries of the river, speak out con-
corning it, their voice must carry con-
viction to the country and set at rest
those few journalistic athletes who
declared for Cowdenism during the
heightof the food upon the vague and
sensational rumors sent out from here
and before they had any data of I'M
portance, or knew the full effect of the
flood.
1t was to be expected that Louisiana,
particularly Southern Louisiana, should
speak out for leyees and join with Con-
gresham Baird in declaring that "this
flood has demonstrated that the leyee
system has been the salvation of Louis.
iana,' but Mississippi and Arkansas
were differently situated. They had
suffered greatly from their levees
breaking; but they were found none
the less more than ever conceived, by
the experience of tho present flood. that
by means of levees and levees only
would The fury of the river be restrain
ed and the people of the lower Missis-
-sippi assured protection against over
flow.
Senator Berry, who comes from the
mountainous portion of Arkansas.
spoke earnestly for levees. and thought
that if n unanimously favorable report
conld be issued from the Senate inves.
tigating com mittee it would be posi-
bic to get from Congress a sufficient
appropriation TO carry through our
levee system, not piecemeal, but in its
entirety.
Gov. McLaurin and Congressman
Catch,ngs, of Mississippi, declared that
the confidence of their people in levees
had not been weakened. but only
strengthened by the experience of the
late food.
This is as we supposed. 1t is true
that the Cowdenites and outletters in
dulged in a great deal of shouting dur
ing the height of the flood; but they
shouted too soon and without any
knowledge of the facts. 1t is as though
we should propose to abolish railroads
because of an accident due to careless
ness. There have been several acct
dents with the levees this year, but
they were not prop ortionatelY larger
than with the rallroads or steamships.
The suggestion of one of the speak
ers that at least SO per cent of the
people in the alluvial sections of the
lower Mississippi are in favor of levees
is certainly no exaggeration; and as
all the speakers agreed, they are now
more strongly in favor of levees than
ever before.
A very strong showing was made be-
fore the Mississippi River Commission;
il is to be. hoped that the value of
levces will be demonstrated with equal
satisfaction before thelSenate commit
tee appointed to investigate the sub
ject. for if a strong report is secured
from that body it will, as Senator
Berry declares. aid materially in induc-
ing Congress to make an appropria-
ton for the river that will assure the
successful completion of our levee
system.