The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-12-04
"sONk ONE MAS BIUNnKRED."

necessity Of Juilding levee aruuu
the city, we expressed ourselves i
apprehenslye Ia regard to the coma
ton or the contracts for levee enlarge
ment IN this district. We learn TIA
those apprehensions were but to-
we'll founded
II isA matter OF history as recent a
II Is painful that Capt. Newcomer, th
Government Engineer In charge 4
this district, in advertising for bid
for levee work 10 be paid out Of M,
last allotment Of government tund
for The district, advertised for Ion,
ana short time bids, and let the worl
under the long time bids, the d der
suce In said bids aggregatlng le-
tlsn $4,000.
Under lbese bids the contractor,
arc given until January 1899 To com
plete their work. 1t is tor completion
by this time that they are liable on
Ihelr bonds, and such compilations th,
government eau enforce under thelr
rtusl contracts, allowing additions
force 10 be put on the work a. the OK
pense of the contractor, when deemrO
admissible by the engineer. The eNcr
else ofths power. Wost dreaded %.
contractors, furnishes tire grearrst i
reu'ive Tor them 10 uu-h their won't
aud no bid = even considered fN.
il not accompanied by the rDqgH..
bond.
Tho Lsyeo Board has attempted ID
avert the grave dI-a-Iers that mIgU.
result 90 the Dis rct by thI- cnaru.
lneut work not being placed upou 90
levees in time 20 meet The next htgt
water ard has agreed with the cu
rhctor- 10 pay them bonus, IT,.
agreeing 10 complete the work
Isrch 1898.
But tbis agr' en- nj H. secured by
pond aud s enforceable b, no pr
Vision authorizing the Board tn pa,
force upon the work to insure 90.
completion. Il rests upon the self
Interest and pecuniary responsibility
Of the contractors.
With a large amount of work under
contract, much of it hardly started,
comparatively no work done upon
the Miller's bend levee, probably the
most insecure on the line north of
GresnYille, and the bad weather upon
us, there is nothing upon which
reasonable hope can rest that the
work will be completed so as to afford
profession against the spring water.
Our safety lies in the chance that there
nay be no extreme high water, other |
wise we can look forward TO rccur
renee OF the expensive struggle. hear |
sickening anxiety, cruel djsappom |
msut and widespread disaster. that +. |
still so fresh III our memories
The magnificent allotment Of The |
commission seems ike apples OF |
SOdOm 10 have turned 10 ashes on on
lips This would have been bad |
enough if unavoidable, The though |
that it might have been otherwis,
renders it CALLING Tie facts, so far
as The TIMES can learn them. "nOth- |
ing extennsting, nor setting down
Rught in malice, are as follows:
We all remember the feeling of Sc.
curity ana qualification exp" rieuced in
the District when the allotment of the
Commission WAS known. The long
sought safety seemed almost in react.
and we also recall how quickly III.
feeling wac succeeded be the way
of absolute alarm that swept the DIS
triCt when it was known that Can
Newcomer, for the sake of raising
few thousand dollars, had lei the en-
largement work on long time, there
b y exposing our leVees. sadly proven
10 be pinlully weak; without en-
lsrgsment to the chance of another
high water, A The urgent soicita
ton of hastily assembled meeting
our citizens, Gen. Catchings wrote to
the Secretary of War, earnestly re-
questing that he reverse the action
taken aud that upon the Board paying
the difference the short time CONTRACTS {
be made and Gen. Walthal approved l
Of the situation, always all earnest c
friend of the Delta, addressed a letter /
pnrport to that official.
So reasonable request so strongly q
urged, could hardly have met with un- g
favorable action, but the before Secre- c
AIRY Of War had acted IN the matter; he G
vas advised by Capt Newcomer thai q
f his action in letting the long time .
contracts was approved, bat the Leyee {
Board would arrange with the con
FACTORS for the completion OF the work 4
IA short time; aud of this the LeVee 81
Board was advised: and TO it offered D
10 objection; and 80 the long time p
lids we're approved. u
And the people we're assured that q
hort time contracts would be made, u
he Board paying bonus, aud they q
ested upon the assurance only now | o
o aud that they have leaned upon a.
iroken reed. Instead of the proper Il
ontract for the short time work hav- "
ng been arranged for before opposi. W
ION was Withdrawn the matter for d
months until upon a verbal under L
landing with number OF Contrac. m
Ors, aud now the attorney of the "a
'oErd presumably has proposed the III
has signed contracts afford. CT
~ little or no guarantee for the tc
'ork being done, and go far as we al
an learn no efforts we're made TO lie
ct contracts with the usual safe W
uard signed; in fact only the ones al
nat have been signed, were prepar- =
d. If we escape disaster, as is dcvout- 10
TO be hoped, it will hardly be said u
be on the principle that God helps OF
lose who nelp themselves, 81
Dress Goods, prices cut in half.
CHARLES HALTER. lpJ