The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-05-06
Hon. J. E. Ransdell's Address Be.
fore the Mississippi River
Commission.
To the Honorable President and Members
ofthe Mississippi, River Commission:

4
ofthe Mississippi. River Commission
Gentiemen:-On behalf of the ciii-
zens of East Carroll parish. desire to
lay before you, some suggestions rela-
tive 10 the extension of the revetment
on the Mississippi river above the town
of Providence. and also relative to
short line of levee from a point. near
the head of said revetment to the Glen
Mary plantation in Bunch's Bend. The
present bank revetment above the town
of Providence is ,140 feet in length,
and was constructed by you in 1898
and subsequently. at cost Of 1854. 900.
You also expended on levees in the
rear of said revetment and near it, the
sum of $S1 900, and the State OF Louis
lana has expended on levees at the
same point some 81 10000, making
total expenditure by the United States
for reyetments and levees at that point
of $435. 900. and by the State of Louis
lana of $116. 600. and by both combined
of 1851, 900 This revetment and the
levees back of it furnish protection from
the waters Of the Mississippi river to
the town of Providence in which the
property is worth $3.50. 600, and to
twenty-one plantations in East Car
roll parish which are worth $250,000.
all of which property worth 5000 900
would be irretrievably lost il said
revetment is destroyed, because the
town, in that event, would cave into
the river. and new levee would neces-
sariIy throw out said town and twenty
one plantations. unless built across
Lake Providence at an enormous ex-
pensc. There has been considerable
caving of the banks just above said re-
vetment. which endangers it serious
~, and q portion of it has caved into
the river already. Said revetment and
levees will be lost II something is not
done in the near future to stop said
caving. thereby entaiiing loss TO the
United States of public works which
cost $435. 800, and to the State of Louis
lana OF works which cost SIG. 900. and
to the citizens of the Union of property
worth 100000. making a total direct
loss of 81 ,151 300 in addition to enor-
nous incidental loss to the parish and
State. On December last your Honor
able Body appropriated $4,000 for the
purpose OF holding the upper end Of
the revetment. and at your last meet
ing you appropriated $4,000 for the
same purpose, thereby making a total
appropriation of $35 600. The citizens
of this parish in mass meeting assem-
bled together with the Board of Alder
men of the town of Providence and the
Police Jury of East Carroll. addressed
memorials to you in December last, in
which they asked for an appropriation
OF $3.50, 900 for the purpose of extend.
ing said revetment 1000 feet up the
river and they we're greatly disappoint-
ed when you appropriated only $50 900
for the purpose instead Of the amount
asked for.
Since said memorials were addressed
TO you last December the bank above
said revetment has continued to cave
for distance of 1000 feet. above said
revetment down to the reyetment. max
ing total caving bend of 1000 feet.
the worse cave being about 22D0 feet
above the upper end of the revetment,
where it is within 400 feet of tho levee.
abovethe revetment where the leyee is
within 800 feet OF the bank. At the
present rate of caviDg the leyee will go
in at these two points before another
high water hence it is apparent that
the revetment must be extended, or a
new levee must be built. aud the pres
ent point for US to decide is whether to
build the levee or extend the revetment.
Before discussing the question. |
wish to refer to the proposed short line
of levee which is to run from station
1878. some 2300 feet below the upper
end Of the revetment, to station 500 on
Old River, u distance of over four
miles, with an approximate estimate OF
$4,000 cubic yards. at cost of $142.-
600. This proposed line of leyse. if
constructed, will throw out twenty-one
plantations containing some 1918
acres of which 1924 acres are in cult
walton. and which plantations with the
personal property thereon. are assessed
for taxation at $144,723. This valua-
ton Is less than two-tbirds of the
actual value of said property. but If we
accept two-thirds as proper basis of
valuation of said property 1T is worth
$2l7,0S4. During the year 1897 this
property produced 1922 bales OF cotton.
1910 bushels of corn, and 500 tons of
hay, which produce is worth a gross
valuation of $123.266. The total tax
actually collected on this property in
1897 was Sc, n46.1l. but the cotton-tax
for the year 1897 was only Scots per
bale. whereas it is now 81 90 per bale
aud will remain 81 90 for many years,
hence o proper. annual estimate of the
taxes on said property is $7,S9l.22, of
which sum $5,720.3S are used exclu-
sively for levees and tho remainder
for the ordinary expenses of the state
and parochial governments. 1t will
thus be seen that the property which
this proposed short line of levee will
throw out and render absolutely worth
less is actually worth $2l7.0S4; pro-
duces crops annually which are worth
$l23. 266; aud pays taxes annually
amounting to 50. S91.22.
The total annual assessment OF the
parish af East Carroll in 1897 was
e. ~ 0ee. thu tntal cnftpn crop for