The Greenville times., 1899-02-25
a Work of Vast Importance to the
Mississippi Valley.

3 Mississippi Valley.
+ The prospectus of Frank +
. Iompkin,s forthcoming book O
= the Riparian Lands of the Missl.
> sippi River, Past, Present and Prol
. pective," is out, and serves {
affirm the favorable estimates q
the projected volume based upo
the earlier announce meuts of 1t
preparation and our know ledge 0
The authors conspicuous abilit,
and thorough familiarity with hi
subject in all its details and ramifi-
cations. The Chief has heretofer,
commended the work as ION,
which promises to proYa af ines
tlmable value and interest to the
people of the Mississippi valley, -
and we take occasion now to reit,
crate and emph4size this ouinion
1t was to the presentation Of Just
such tacts and arguments as are 10
be contained in this book that the
passage by congress of the $40,
1000, 900 contract bill was largely
due, and the substantial aid we
have received from the government
under that measure ought to insure
united public Endorsement of NJ
Iompkins task and a general de-
termination to Encourage and sup
n9r' II ~ the utmost, The two
fold purpose of the volume, as stat
ed IN the prospectus, will he
!, 10 encourage the growth of the
popular view that the general GOV.
ernment should take immediate
control of the levee system TO G5r-
feet it,
2. 10 give +" the people of this
1efn!Cc region a luminous descrip-
ton of their beautiful valley as it
exists today, how it has been devel-
oped, and by whom, and a boros-
cope of its future. 1t will trace
the leyee system from It's deception,
and the general improvement Of
the valley in pace with it.
The book will contain fully 1900
pages of ordinary law size, beau
titully printed and imbellished
with hundreds Of tine engrayings
illustrative of every phase Of nat
ural condition, life and labor in
what is correctly termed 1.-THE
greatest alluvial delta in the world.
In tbs writing and compilation of
the work Mr.. Tompkins will have |
the assistance of many of the |
students of the pro blems |
presented, hence It's merit, ability |
and accuracy may he safely taken
for granted in advance. Every
,rade channel in the United States
will be utilized for the circulation
If the volume, and we can imagine
10 more potent agency for bring
NO the status, needs and claims of
he levee protected Mississippi
ALLEY before congress and the ma
ion. The press of all this region
,ught to combine its great inhu-
nee IN support of the interprlse,
dr. Tompkins-himself an eX-ed-
tor and newspaper man-has es-
aged pro bono pubhco, and we
eel confident our Louisiana con.
will deem it apleasant
Iuty to bend their energies in this
To accomplish a task of such
magnitude as the one in which the
author of this book is en-
aged the expenditure of many
of dollars will be requir-
d, but when we consider that the
thus cast upon the wa
srs are more than likely to return
| the shape of millions through |
he medium Of the CatGhings bill
7 some other carrying out the
recommendation of the senate COM
leroe committee, our people
lould be more than willing to in
est in the project by purchasing
lr, Tompkin's book and aiding in |
widespread dissemination. |
vice within the past seven or
Ght years the police jury of this
lrish has made appropriations of
500 to assist the levee association /
which Mr.. Tompkins has always
zen one of the most active menl-
rs, and the results attained have /
nplY Justified the commendable :
isctom and public spirit that .
the action in each in
anee. The examples are worthy
repetition here and of imitation
all tbo ,o,r;e hos o,,J o.,,,,4;os, IS