The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-01-26
MORE COMPLIMENTS FOR CON.
GRESHAM RANSDELL.

4
Mr.. Ransdell of the Fifth Loulsiana
District appointed on the rivers and
| harbors committee, to succeed zen.
Catchings of Mississippi, who will
retire from Congress after this SEES
sion. The people of the alluvlal
districts of Louisiana and Missis
sippi owe much to Gen. Catchings
for the splendid fight he has made
in the House for the Improvement
of our waterways. He mastered
the subject thoroughly, and was
able to. present the arguments in
favor of liberal appropriations fol-
the levees so well that he won over
all those who were weakened or in
doubt, and this carried through the
measures that have eliminated in
the splendid levees which now line
the river from Memphis down, pre-
venting the destructive crevasses
and overhows that had formerly pre-
vailed.
But Gen. Catchings was not able
to carry through the entire plan.
An ardent advocate of the doctrine
that the Mississippi, being nation
al river, into which twenty-seven
States empty their drainage. he in,
sisted that the Federal government
was responsible for the restraint OF
the river within its banks and the
construction of the levees that would
prevent Louisiana, Arkansas and
Mississippi from being flooded by
the waters poured down on them
from above.
This proposition he broacbed be
fore Congress, TO find it well re
ceived by Congressman who were
thoroughly disinterested. But be
fore the matter could be brought to
a conclusion, however; that is be
fore Congress definitely put its ap
proval on Gen. Catchings' plan, the
Spanish war and the, issues that
grew out of it took SO much of the
time of the House that all such
questions as levees, river improve
ment, etc., were left over. The
Improvement and leveeing of the
Mississippi cannot, therefore, be
considered as finally and definitely
settled. Much has been done, and
the levees have been carried TO the
highest state OF perfection ever
known in our history, but the hund.
reds of thousands of people who are
protected from overflow by these
dikes cannot afford. to give up their
campaign. They must keep the
matter constantly before Congress,
make sure that the work is carried
on, and finally secure from the Fed
eral government the recognition of
its responsibility for the construct
ion and maintenance of the levees,
as Gen. Catchings insisted on.
To accomplish all this the people
of the alluvial States must be well
represented on the committee on
rivers and harbors by strong man,
and one who understands this sub
ject thoroughly. They have been
fortunate IN this respect in the past
in having such men as Gen. Randall
Gibson and Gen. Catehings to speak
for them; and in looking around for
successor for the latter, who has
decided on retiring from congress
ional life, Mr.. Ransdel of Louis
lana has been selected as man best
suited for the position. There are
very few members that can repre-
sent the levee districts on the COM
mittee. The districts directly and
Immediately concerned in levees are
few, in spite of the large number of
people interested and the immense
property at stake. Gen. Catchings'
district, which includes so large a
part of the Yazoo delta, is perhaps
the most concerned; but the Tensas
Basin District, represented by Mr..
Ransdell, comes next. 1t has a
large river frontage. To the ripa-
rian parishes and those lying be-
hind them in the valley of the Qua
chita the maintenance of the levees
is the question of the greatest mo-
ment, affecting every interest. Mr..
Ransdell, coming from one of the
river parishes, has made the levee
question a special study, understands
it thoroughly and will be able to do
good work for the people of the
lower Mississippi Valley in Con
gress. For these reasons he would
make an admirable member of the
rivers and harbors committee, and
it, is to be hoped that the movement
looking to his selection for that
committee will prove success.
Times Democrat.
WANTED.-Cabable, reliable per-
son in every country to represent