The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-30

wv, Orleans. October 27.-Resolved
10 appeal to the federal government
Cpr adequate aid to levee both banks
q the Mississippi river and TO maintain
sucn Ievees at maximum grade, the-c-
by making possible the reclamation
AMI protection of the ~alluvian lands
and improving navigation, the largest
and most influential levee convention
Yet held in the valley, here
today. when PresIdent-Charles Scott
rstlIed the Interstate Mississippi River
Improvement and Levee Association to
order
The occasion was made a notable one
By the announcement by the president
81 The United States Of his sympathy
with the movement which the convCn-
ton proposes to inaugurate. The del.
gates represented Is states of the
Mississippi and Ohio valleys and IN
Guided governors. senators, members
3 81 congress. 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 costitutiOnality,
the cEpedience. and the commercial
and military necessity of government
charge of the work. Mayor Capdevielle
and Governor Heard made addresses
Of welcome. Charles Scott was elected
permanent chairman of the convention
and John w. Bryant, of Louisiana,
and w. A Oyerman. of Mississippi,
As secretaries, and a committee on
resolutions, composed of two delegates
from each state represented and tell
at large We're provided for.
Before the convention took a recess.
Chairman Parker of the committee on
arrangements, read a letter from Pres
Ident Roosevelt. which aroused much
enthusiasm.
The president wrote:
My dear Mr.. Perkins: Permit lie
through you to express my very great
interest in the work of the Interstate
Levee Convention Exactly as 1 have
taken a keen interest in irrigation in
the arid regions. SO | feel that tie
movement fer thoroughly protecting
the Mississippi lowIands by Ievees IS
one of Importance to the whole QUIZ
trY. 10 less than to the people imme-
. ely adjoining the great river |
wish all success to your convention
and shall follow its proceedings with
close attention.
sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
When the letter had been read, Muir
ray. of Vicksburg. offered the follow
ing resolution which was unanimously
adopted:
Resolved. That the thanks of the
people of the Mississippi are hereby
rendered to President Roosevelt,
through this convention for his manly
and patriotic letter, endorsing the pur-
poses for which this convention has
been called to witness the deepening
and improving the hanne of the
Mississippi river and the protection
of the vast aera of alluvia1 and fertile
territory along the banks from deVaSt2-
ton by floods; thereby conserving and
facilitating the vast and growing IN
1er-state already transacted
through the medium of great railroad
systems behind the levees.
"Resolver further. That the chair
aan and secretary Of this convention
be required to wire these resolutions
10 the president
The convention took a recess until
: p. m.
At the opening of the night session
Judge n. q. Blanchard of Louisiana.
spoke. urging government control OF
the levees.
Secretary of Agriculture James Will
son following Judge Blanchard. was
welcomed with great cordially. He
said the question of government con-
troll of the leVees was a new one to
him. 1t interested him deeply and the
people of the lower valley had his
deepest sympathy in pursuing IT. Tne
secretary spoke for the new policy the
government had adopted in the matter
OF irrigation in the west He urgeH
imperative necessity of forest pre6eT-
! walton and Of dam construction. Tor
the Qua purposes of aiding agriculture
and reducing the volume OF water
poured through the great river Con
gresham J. F. Randall followed Sec
retary Wilson.
When Mr.. Randall concluded, Pr5Si-
cent scot announced the commute
OF resolutions with General T. c
CItchiugs. Of Mississippi. as chairman
and members from the following states
10 be presented in the
Indiana. ohio. Pennsylvania. Illinois
Mississippi. Missouri. Arkansas. Ten
ueSsee. Kentucky. New York. Ala
hama. California. Texas. Georgia and
Louisiana.
The convention adjourned until to,
morrow