The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-09
PLANS ARE SUGGESTED
For Preventing the Overflow of the
Bottoms by Brazos Floods.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL DONOrHING
Congressman Ball Expressed His Views
at q Conference Held at Navasota
and They viii Be Acted On.

Navasota, Texas August s-As was re.
quested several days since by mass meet
| ing OF citizens OF Navasota Congressman
I. II Ball arrived here this morning for
the purpose of comforting upon a scheme
FOR protecting the fertile Brazos bottoms
from the disastrous overnows to which they
have recently been subjected. rnat a
larger number of people might he acoua,nt
ed and familiarized with what the con.
gresham had to otter as counsel ana ad.
vice public meeting was called for the
afternoon In the opera house.
Mr.. Ban stated that he came here 10
learn what the people wanted, holding him
self az the service Of the people 10 do ne
they commanded not as he himself liked
when he could not longer obey their man
dates conScientlously he would certainly
step aside. Then graphing with the scheme
that was now of very vital Importance to
people OF ne BrazoS, Mr. Bal stated that
ne desired 10 hold out no false hope 10 the
sufferers and Concisey gave his reasons
why no aid from the National government
could be expected on a project to protect
property owners River and harbor work
was only done In the Interest OF com.
merce; the committee already had before
II more than SSOO,OuO,oUO worth OF np-
proved projects In Keeping with settled
pulCgs ana To reach out now to take IN
other work would open too wide the lati-
tgG? for expenditures. He cited instances
OF local people protecting themselves ana
now they dld it by local taxation; the only
river in the country he knew OF being pro.
tected 10y the Federal government was the
Mississippi, which was looked upon as an
nters,a ate stream, draining twenty seven
states aud Territories; stili the work done
was done with the view of futhering com
merce and that two-thirds OF the levees
along that stream were built by States ana
municipalities The Federal government
has already adopted a plan for the I'M.
proremcnt OF the navigation OF the BRACES
and to begin that work had appropriated
$4,000 to be expended along sections as
far as old Washington lie though the
clearing Of the stream OF Snags, dredging
Of the channel and widening OF bends
would do a great deal toward relieving
the bottom lands from the overhows. which
ne Thought were becoming more frequent
because SO much land was being cleared
for cultivation, the sands and logs washing
into the channel. That Is the extent OF
Federal aid to be expected.
Along the line OF suggestions he thought
1t best 10 appoint small committee or
representative citizens to call a conference
OF delegates from interested counties 10
consider the subject Of protecting the val
ley of the Bra2os from overdOws Wnat-
ever plan seemed most feasible would be
adopted, The necessary moneys could he
raised by remission of taxation, as was
extended the sufferers n Galveston TO pro
teCt ihelt property WnlCh tnt NhliOUHt
government would not do. Another plan
would be to organize leree districts and
impose local taxation so that the cost might
be borne by all evenly. To do this II
would he necessary to secure the adoption
Of an amendment to the state constitution
on the order Of he irrigation cnnni
amendment proposed by West Texas few
years since and voted down, ne thought,
through erroneous conception. lie always
believed to the fullest possible extent In
local self-government.
Mr.. Ball said In the meantime nc would
do nil he could for the river improvement
at Washington. II he did not get anything
he would worry somebody, He thanked
the people for the courtesy Of having been
called into conference and appreciated the
compliment implied.
On motion. the congressman was thanked
for prompt action on the peoples request
lengthy resolution was offered and
passed and the chair appointed commit
tee OF 1--WE and himself 10 take the sug
gested project up and at once secure
conference.
Mr. Ball stated that he thonght the work
on the river under the present appropria'
ton would begin In about four months.