The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1898-02-05
OUR ONLY HOPE.


.e Wanting from the Bolivar
d Democrat, which is published in
IS The TINES, is an emphatic express
= SION of the sentiment which has
i grown by degrees until it has cul-
# minated in public discomfort ut
the imminent danger to which the
+ district has been recently subject
= ed through the dilatory action of
the Levee Board-a mode Of pro-
q cedure for which some excuse
might perhaps be found, but
= which, nevertheless, has certainly
had the effect of gravely imperill-
: ing the country, and bringing
/ upon the Board the severest crit
: cism. When the Board ceases TO
be supported by public spirit, its
usefulness, and indeed even it's
existence must necessarily cease.
} 1t Is merely the crystalization or
concentration of public thought
and effort in the matter of protec-
ton from overfow-the instru-
ment selected by the people gen
orally to achieve, through its or
ganization, the results whi6i
would be impossible to Individual
or even unorganized collec6,se orl
deavors.
In the beginning, and until
within recent years, the personnel
of the Board included, with rare
exceptions, men whose personalin-
terest in the maintenance of the
levees was large. They were Sc
lected for the extent of their indi-
vidual holdings, as well as for
their personal qualifications. Poll
tical factional feeling and petty
jealousies had little Or no place in
the district, and the confidence of
the people in their representatives
on the Board was complete. The
well remembered defalcatlon by
treasurer of the Board was the
first circumstance to shake public
confidence in the institution; and
since that time dissatisfaction has
grown steadily until it has reached
the height indicated by the edi-
torial mentioned. Public senti-
ment against the Board has be-
come so widespread and intense
that it is today more reproach
and bone of contention than a use
full and honored body. The signs
point incontestably to the assump1
tion of its functions by the national
Governments condition. fore
shadowed in the bill prepared by
Congressman Catchings, and pub
lished in full elsewhere in this
paper. This consummation is
most earnestly wished by the en-
tire district-indeed, upon it de
pends almost entirely the future
prosperity and continued develop
ment OF the country. 1t is mani
festly impossible for the people Of
the Delta, unaided, to keep up the |
vast defense system necessary for |
the protection Of all the valuable :
region lately opened to the East
of Deer Creek and trayersed By
the Y, & M. Y, Railroad. Local
taxation could keep up sma
leyee which would protect the
high land on the river, provided |
there was no leyee on the Arkan- d
sas side, and the ''swamps' of the |
Yazoo were left open; but our
present alternative appears to be c
eithera returnto ant6-beflum con I
ditions, when the few high ridges h
only we're available for settlement t
and cultivation, and all the rest of e
the Delta must be abandoned, or $
else the entire control of the levee Il
system by the Government, which i
alone could make it effective. S
The bill proposed is the first e
definite promise of relief from a fl
condition which threatens, unless |
50 relieved, to become insupport- r
able, Either the succour must be v
obtained, or great part of the Ii
district, which has been brought a
to its present state of development
by an incredible expenditure of n
money and labor, must he virtual fp
" abandoT,N TO the mercy of the a
river. 1t can not be denied that Il
he local board of this district is I
unable to cope successfully with W
.he difficulties which confront it. Il
Even with the great increase in L
productive area, the resources Of d
The district. however literally n
1rawn upon, are inadequate TO v
moot the demand. Another and a