The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-11-05
IN AID OF LEVEES
A Letter From President Roosevelt is
Read
THE CONVENTION AT NEW ORLEANS
One of the nost Important Gather
ings Ever Held In the Valley of the
Mississippi.

New Orleans, Special.-Resolved to
appeal to the Federal government for
adequate aid to levee both banks OF
the Mississippi river and to maintain
such levees at maximum grade, there
by making possible the reclamation
and protection of the alluvial lands
and improving navigation, the largest
and most influential levee convention
held in the valley convened here Tues
day, when President Chas. Scott called
the Interstate Mississippi River I'M
provement and Levee Association to
order.
The occasion was otherwise a not.
able one, by the direct announcement
by the President of the United States
of his sympathy with the movement
which the convention proposes to in
augurate Tkc delegates represented
eight or ten States of the Mississippi
and Ohio valleys and included Gov
ernors, Senators, Members Of Con-
gress. high railroad officials and
representatives of commercial ex-
changes and levee boards.
In calling the convention to order
President Scott defended the levee
system and urged the constitutional
ity, the expedience and the CONNER
cial and military necessity OF gov
ernment charge Of the river. Mayor
CapeGeville and Governor Heard made
addresses Of welcome. Chas. Scott
wa-s made permanent chairman Of the
convention. and John w. Bryant, OF
Louisiana. and W. A. Everman, of Mis-
sissippi. secretaries. and committee
on resolutions composed Of two dele
gates from each State representing
the ten-at-large We're provided for.
Before the convention took a re-
cess, Chairman Parker, Of the COM
mittee on arrangements, read a let
ter from President Roosevelt which
aroused much enthusiasm. The
President wrote:
"My dear Mr.. Parker: Permit me,
through you. to express my very great
interest in the work OF the Interstate
levee convention. Exactly as | have
taken a keen interest in irrigation IN
the arid regions, so l feel that the
movement for thoroughly protecting
the Mississippi low lands by levees is
one of importance to the whole coun-
try. no less than to the people imme-
diately adjoining the great river. |
wish all success to your convention
and shall follow its proceedings with
close attention.
Sincerely yours.
(Sig.) THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
When the letter had been read, Muir
ray F. Smith, of Vicksburg. offered
the following resolution which was
unanimously adopted:
Resolved: That the thanks Of the
people Of the Mississippi valley are
hereby rendered to President Roose-
velt, through this convention. for his
manly and patriotic letter. endorsing
the improvement Of the channel Of
the Mississippi river and the protec'
tion Of the vast area Of alluyial and
fertile territory along its banks from
devastation by floods; thereby con-
serving and facilitatingg the vast and
growing interstate commerce already
transacted through the medium OF
great railroad systems behind the ie'
wees
1T is requested that these resolu-
tions be wired to the President
The convention took recess until
Thursday.
At the opening Of the night session
Judge N. G.. Blanchard. of Louisiana,
spoke, urging government control OF
the leyees.
Secretary Of Agriculture James Will.
son. following Judge Blanchard. was
welcomed with great cordiallty. He
said the question Of government con-
troll Of the levees was new one to
him. 1t interested him deeply and the
people of the lover valley had his
deepest sympathy in pushing it.
The Secretary spoke for the new
policy the government had adopted, a
matter of irrigation in the West. He
urged the imperative necessity OF
forest preservation and Of dam coi-
struction for the dual purposes of
adding agriculture and reducing the
volume of water poured through the
great river.
Congressman ]. E. Ransdell, fol-
lowed Secretary Wilson.