Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1900-05-29
THE BRAzos PROBLEM.
Address by +. n. Brown Advo-
eating the Strengthening
of the River.

The Eagle has been requested 20
publish the following address 20 the
South Texas Planters Association
by 7. II. Brown, president. The adj
dress will repay careful reading by
all those who are affected by the dis
astrous overfows or interested in
Brazos navigation. President Brown .
said: This body Is mostly composed |
of planters within and along the
Brazos river bottom. The recent
floods In this district caused |
immense damage To farming inter-
ests. The flood Of 1889, caused al
most an entire destruction Of all
products and In many eases great
numbers of live stock. Floods prior
10 that date make Il necessary that
We take some step looking to the
amelioration of this evil. We have
had six overilows since 1886. The
damage resulting from these over
flows amounts 10 millions Of dollars.
The territory embraced in the Brazos
bottom from the mouth 10 the city of
Waco, Is the richest and most pro-
lgstive body of land In the world.
1t Is from ten to fifteen miles in
width by about $50 or 100 miles In
length or In round figures 23,OOO,OoO
acres, capable of producing nearly
one-third ~ the cotton crop of the
world, II all planted In cotton enough
corn, II all planted In corn, to load
10000 ears. There is u question
fraught with the greatest Of import
To the planters Of this fertile valley,
valley whose products affect the
markets of the world The question
is the most feasible and certain way
Of restraining the surplus water
that fall In the upper valleys NJ tho
stream. The United States govern
ment has spent millions upon mill
ions of dollars In improvements on
the Mississippi, and other rivers
Let us, gentlemen, 20 before IN,
rivers and harbors committee Ia con
e gress. Let us lay the naked fact
:, before them. Let rs show them by
;. actual figures that the actual los
+, within the last fifteen wears amount
: to double what would be- required u
: straighten and dredge this stream
p Let W. show them that II this wer
q done IL would make this stream nav
= igablc for several hundred miles
J. Let Ms show them that unless this !
e done a great part Of this rich vale
e must he abandoned, and given owe
J., To the flood waters. Let MS shO'
II them that we do not ask for eXper
l. sive levees, for we want no repet
h tion Of the Mississippi river disa'
d ter here. That We feel that II th
x Brazos river j. Strengthened an
~ dredged, that the immense voluu
II Of water rushing towards the :,
n will continue 10 cut the channe
b, deeper year after year That II
~ its great number Of IS" shaped ben,
n that rctard It's flow, mi up its be-
re- and cause Il To overflow the adjOil
ing territory. Let Us ask those Il
teresting themselves i'm the navig
ton of said river to cooperate wi
d. us in this grand beneficial underta
~ ing. Let us request every planter
IL said Braz0s bottom from Waco
its mouth 10 become members OF III
I'll organization and help us In th,
w work. This il q paramount questi'
''s to every one of Us. Let Us unite al
e' act In harmony, and We will succec
This territory Is worth more to {
hu United States than all the Phil
III pines. Already we read where /
oN laborer citizens Of the United stat
y" are abandoning their homes on 4
count of the two recent floods. '
all know what this means, gent
m men. We know that II means lar
ed areas Of this productive valley abs
~ dOned 10 the thistle and the coo
'p- lebur. We know, too, Of prosp
OF Gus planters driven 10 bankruptcy
he these two consecutive floods I
. food Of 1870 following close on to
heels Of the great food Of 1899.
me MS petition our congressman aud :,
md ators 10 take this matter up.
them request that competent
re- gineer be appointed by the Natlol
RON government to make a survey Of
Brazos river from Waco To
mouth, and make estimates Of
cost ~ such work. II they be
doubt rs to the necessity existing
i'u such action, let Us invite them
travel up and down this, the rich
. valley In the world, and they v
. see plantation after plantation ly
IN waste, ovcrrun with the cowi
a vine and cocklebur. They will h
no field song Of the darkies at wa
4 No prattle of the little pickaninr
y at play, all Is hushed and silent,
u tenant house, with doors wasl
q away, pieces Of broken furniture,
4 food mark high upon the trees, pc