The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-05-06

| htiFO NJ OtuCi PiopCiiy dhu NO Otuci
means of support. 1t will become
utterly worthless, despite what some
may say to the contrary We have
two cases in this parish, Point Lookout
and Willow point, where large planta-
tons were thrown out and they have
been abandoned and desolate wastes
ever Since, the houses beng swept away
and the land grown up in cotton wood
and willows; and this valuable portion
of East Carroll will become a similar
desert. if not protected by you from its
threatened desolation.
| Now. if the revetment is extended
1000 feet up the river at total cost,
inclusive of the S35, 900 already appro-
prlated, of mol over 100000, the above
described twenty-oue plantations and
the people residing thereon will be
saved from ruin. Moreover, the revet-
ment, if extended that distance up the
river, will, beyond any per adventure
protect the portion of the revetment
already constructed. together with the
property back of it, together with the
town of Providence, and together with
the other property before mentioned
estimated as above stated at 81 ISL .9G0
and if it is not extended at least a
considerable distance up the river, all
of said property Will be greatly endan-
gered. In order to save the twenty one
plantations valued at $217,OS4, and to
make sure the other property and pub
lie works valued at and worth over
81 900, 900 it is only necessary for US to
extend the revetment ut a cost $780,
900. II you do this no levee will beIe-
duired and no property will be lost.
I If you fail to do it, large and expen-
siye levee must be built and if the short
line is adopted, the twenty-one planta-
tons above named will be lost. Ifyou
fail to do it, not less than 800 900 must
be expended at once to build levee
line in the rear of said caving, or $142,-
900 must be expended to build the short
line. 1t seems to me that every dictate
of business prudence and certainly
every consideration of equity demands
that the revetment be extended.
If this short line is built and the
property thrown out sufferers will re-
ceive no redress because no provision
is made by the law Of the State Of
Louisiana to pay for property thrown
out by the leyees 1t will be an abso-
iuto and total loss, and not one cent
will these poor people ever receive
for their property, unless Congress
should make special appropriation
to pay them for il. When the present
proprietors aud their ancestors acquir-
ed this property they did SO in good
faith thinking that they would enjoy il
forever, aud never dreaming that the
strong hand of our paternal govern
ment would snatch from them their all
without dollars compensation. II is
tue that when people own property
on caving bank they must expect to
loose ii or at least, 10 have the levee
moved back 10 safe distance, blu,
nearly all The property in controversy
| behind this short line IL located 10
! Bunci's Bend several miles from the
Mississippi river and far away from
any caving bank. 1t is perfectly safe
at tho present time and will, i'm all
probability, remain safe forever nuless
destroyed.
Another very important considera-
iion is that the amount of money for
levee purposes in the hands of oil the
levee authorities combined is not sUfff-
cient by long odds 10 do what work is
required to bring the levees in this
district up TO grade ofeven three feet
above The highest water, and to build
such new levees as may be required.
The work of eulargiug the levees from
the Arkansas line to Bedford's to- u
grade Of three feet above The water of
1897, not now under contract would
require 10000 cubic yards at o cost
of $4,000, and TO raise and enlarge
the baDquettes 10 oh estimated grade of
five feet below the water of '97 would
require 1920 cubic yards at cost
of about $4,000. Moreover, it is
certain that new levee will have TO
be constructed in several places before
The next high water, the cost of which,
while problematical, will doubtless
amount to considerable Gum. These
estimates are for the Upper Tensas
District, and there is, doubtless, con-
siderable amount of work required for
the lower portion.
A careful examination ofthe exports
and estimates furnished you by your
engineers, and by the Louisiana State
Board of Engineers, will convince you,
am sure, that vast amount of work
is required in this district which is far
more important for the general inter-
est of the district than the proposed
short line. If the short line is built
and $4,000 of levee funds used for
that purpose, many other places in The
district must suffer, thereby endanger-
ing the interest of the whole district
whereas If you extend The revetment
as suggested, there will be no loss or
detraction from the levee funds, aud
the large sums needed 10 build either
a large new levee back of the caviug
bend, above the revetment or the pro-
posed short line, can be used in other
places to a greater advantage.
Still another consideration is the
fact that the present revetment must
be kept intact in some way, and it is
surely cheaper TO extend ii above the
point OF caving, at once, thereby rend-
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