The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-05-12
the MISSISSIPPI lEyrrs,
A Book Descriptive Of the crest River j.
AbOut to be Issued.

reference 10 Tie SUBJECT, in view of
three recent conditions and happen.
ings, will be timely. These are: /.
The flood Of waters now passing down
the Mississippi river. 2. The recent
converting Of the Mississippi river
commission in New York and the al
lotment of the so-called $50, O0O..
600 contract appropriation" 3. The
announcement of the preparation of
a costly and comprehensive literary
work OF the subject by Mr.. Frank II.
Tompkins, a Louisianian aud an au.
thority on such matters.
The flood of 1897 broke the Ieyees
in several places in Mississippi and
did much damage to the magnificent
cotton plantations Of the Yazoo- Mis-
sissippi delta. Breaks in the levee
line in Southern Missouri, Northern
Arkansas and Northern Louisiana
did some damage, but the extent was
limited. The levees in the southern
part of Louisiana which protect the
fertile sugar and rice plantations were
held intact and no damage was done.
In the summer following the breaks
were all repaired and the entire levee
line raised and strengthened to meet
the new flood level. The national
governmentaided largely in this work.
The spring freshet of 1898 attained
almost the height of the 1897 flood,
but the improved levee conditions
were such that not a single break oc-
Cured, thus demonstrating the sue
cess Of the levees as without them
there was water enough to have caused
IA general overflow Throughout the al
section. 1t is impossible to
determine at this writing what will
he the height and duration of the
flood now coming down, but unless it
be unprecedented it is safe to say that
these improved leyee conditions will
it to the gulf without serious
damage.
The final allotment of appropria-
tons for the levees and the improve
nent of the channels leaves this work
without further national aid except
through new appropriations. This
lllotment, however, added to the
large expenditure in the different
will, unless there Is disaster
rom the present flood, put the entire
evee line in very admirable condition.
The book by Mr.. Frank II. Temp.
ilns will be an elaborate description
the Mississippi valley : its present
commercial Importance, and its vast
possibility of development; also the
liver, its levee system, its burdens of
commerce. and the jetties at its
mouth. In addition to the concrete
of ali these questions,
very phase and incident will be pic.
ORALLY illustrated. This work is de.
lgned by the people of the valley to
'e an exposition To congress aud the
ountry of all the facts on which they
'a>e their claim to government aid
q the right 10 have their levee sys-
eni absolutely secure against any Dos
ible flood.
III VIII be remembered that the
enaie commerce committee gave its
10 the estimate of the
nited States engineers that SlS,.
$1,000 or $40, 900, 900 would be ample
ir this purpose. The jetty item, for
Inch Il preliminary appropriation
as made in the last river and harbor
w. will cost about sl2, 900, 900 and
III Affect shipping rates throughout
ne entire central west. These an.
while seeming large, are
'ally small compared to the possible
following safety from
q d IN tile valley aud the CONNER.
al advantages vi deep water at the
ouih oi our great iatiunal river.
Tue people who are ~ prominently I
with the above work in the