The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-07-23
RESIGNATION OF THREE LEyEE
COMMISSIONERS.


to bid on, or contract for any work TO
be done on the state leyees. This en-
actment caused Col f. l. Maxwell, and
Messrs. A. s. Coltharp and j. Stein.
Levee Commissioners for Madison aud
East Carroll, 10 forward their resigna-
ton 10 the Governor last Monday
after the meeting of the Levee Board.
The. 9th District La, Levee Board
was created by act A of The Legisla-
ture of 1886, aud If we mistake not.
Messrs. Maxwell and Coltharp have
ever since represented Madison parish
on the board, with the exception of a
brief period of time In 1892, on the
advent OF Gov Foster. If we mistake
not also, Col. Maxwell was the first
President of The Board and has re-
NAMED such ever since with the ex-
ception of the brief period of time re-
ferred 10 above. Mr.. Stein has been a
me alber of the Board only for the last
two years, having been appointed
after the reelection of Gov. Foster.
The law enacted by the Constitu-
llonal Convention, forbidding all men,
bers of all levee boards to have any
thing to do on any State leyee, is no
doubt wise one; but, oil the same,
We deeply and sincerely regret that it
will cause us to lose the valuable az
sistance of these three members of the
board.
The Office of Levee Commissioner,
as every one knows, is purely an
honorifc office, and, to say the least a
very ungraieful one. A Leyee Commits
sioner gets no salary, but simply a
mileage fee, that barely pays his ex-
penses, TO attend the meeting of the
board. lie must totally abandon his
business for two or three days each
time the board is called together in
order 10 devote his all 10
the levees of the district. But this
alone would scarcely deserve any
cncomium, for it is nothing moresthan
what a public spirited man should do
for public afIairs. The work of true
Levee Commissioner comes in time OF
high water; then be closes up his BUSH
ness in order TO lead, to direct, to en-
courage every one, to forsee everything
in his district, TO be al all times either
a subject of praise or of blame, aud of
the keenest criticism of all, interested
or not interested. To be severely cri-
ticized he must expect, whether he
docs his duty or not, and he may as
well open his eyes, close up his ears,
go ahead, and do what he think is
right.
Although the retiring Levee Com
lnissioners were no exception to the
rule and were all sometimes severely
criticized, yet there is now but one
voice to say that the three of them
acted nobly, spared not themselves,
worked hard, and led most CALAMITY in
every high water fight we ever had.
Who in these parts will ever forget
Maxwell, leaving his family and his
comfortable home during every high
water fight, to go 10 Vicksburg aud
direct from there the whole work of
the district and provide material for
every threatened levee? And that he
did not once, but every year since he
was appointed on the board. Who
will forget CoItharp day after day
knee-deep in water and mud at the
head of bis men, the first on the work
in the morning aud the last to leave ii
at night? This he did every high
water, when he was getting nothing
for II aud entirely neglecting his own
business. Who will forget the noble
fight Stein made last year in the lower
part of this parish, when Illawara.and
other levees were momentarily expect.
ed to break? Day and night be
worked, taking only a few hours OF
rest; but, thanks TO his valuable assist.
ance, 10 levces broke in his district
1t to-day the levees OF the upper part
of the district are in such fine condi.
ton, it is solely due to the united
work and efforts of Commissioners
Maxwell, Coltharp and Stein, aud last
but not least Ransdell.
We understand that the Governor
has been petitioned to appoint Messrs
A. I. Mcclellan of Tallnlah, and A. S
Ward, of Ashley, to succeed Messrs
Maxwell and Coltharp; the appoint.
ment if made, is good one. Mr.. w
H. Benjamin of Homestead Is rec6El,
mended for Mr.. Stems place, and thu
Governor has been petitioned to ap