New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1903-10-31
A GRAND WORK.

ators, business men and scientist
from twenty-three states Of thi
union were assembled to discus
the protection by leyees of til
people Of the Mississippi Vale,
from the ravages Of the yellow SCI
that flows along the borders 0
these states. This Convention j
the outcome of sentiment whicl
has been forming for years, ant
eliminated in the expression con
tanned in the resolutions of tn
Convention, which unequivocabI,
demand that the Federal Govern
ment Ia ke charge Of the levee.
from Cairo to the Gulf. Much en-
couragementwas given the delegates
by expressions of approval Of pro
minent men from all points, in
ending President Roosevelt Wit
announced himself as being il
favor of Federal control. Tn,
South and Louisiana III particular
can congratulate themselves on tht
work Of this great Convention
which is certain to rebound to thu
benefit of the entire Mississippi
Valley, and the great Crescen'
City which will become the greetest
of the Union by reason Of its posi-
ton, through which must flow the
commerce Of future 100 millions
of people.
The delegates 10 this Convention
for Iberia were Capts. E. L King,
John t. White, and Hons. A. B.
Murray, W NJ Gates. Following
are the rolntions prepared by Capt.
King for submission to the con-
vention, which will be ut once re-
cognized rs very timely and i'm
portant.
Whereas, there is great danger of
the Mississippi River taking the
shortest and most direct route to
the Gulf Of Mexico by the Atcha-
falaya River, through the month
of the Red and Old Rivers. The
distance by the Atchafalya from
its head on direct line TO the
nearest polut Of the Gulf being 86
miles and by its channel and that
of its numerous outlets and Lakes
by Berwick Bay to the Gulf, 125
miles. The distance from mouth
Of the Red by the Mississippi to
he Gulf Of Mexico being 315
miles, proving that route more
han one third shorter, endanger-
ing large number OF the richest
Parishes in the State, lying on the
west bank of the Lafourche, and
including the beautiful Teche and
Vermilion Parishes and flooding
If it's valley and basin containing
100 square miles or 5,l84 900
acres of the richest land in the
world of which only one-third has
,een improved and pnt in cultiva-
ion where protected by levees on
he Mississippi and upper Atchafa-
ava Rivers.
Whereas, the floods of the Mis-
issippi pouring into the mouth Of
he Red and 261a miles Of ahan-
Toned levees it seems for the ex-
,ress purpose of throwing its flood
waters into the Red and Atchafa-
ava Rivers, daming up the Red,
he Black and the Ouachita Rivers.
The Tensas and other Bayous that
rain the Tensas basin, thereby
topping the drainage from rain
nd from crevasses and causing
immense damage to the lands un-
er cultivation and rendering the
portion of 3,436,800 acres
nfit for improvement and cultiva-
ion. By entirely diyorcing the
Mississippi from the Red and let
ing it discharge it's waters into the |
4tchafaiaya, you will relieve the
hole Tensas basin and at the same |
me not endanger the Atchafalaya
alley and basin for it has been
stimated by the United States
ngineers that it takes ne-sixth
the food waters Of the Missis-
ppi to endanger or fioo9 the lands
: the Atchafalaya valley or basin.
y doing this one-half of $780, I
10 that is now flooded and rem
cred unfit for cultivation can be
'claimed and rendered fit for i'm
.ovement and cultivation with
tile or no expense for levees. It i
i'll not only do this but it will
event all danger of the Missis-
ppi from taking the short aud
rect route to the Gulf, leaving ,
@ great city of New Orleans with
! immense commerce without a
lver. By the completion of the
ocks at Bayou Paquemine and
Q improvement Of the navigation
e whole waters Of western
)uisiaua will have a certain COM [
with the Mississippi s
d New Orleans at low water and Z