The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29
Opposed the Proposition that the Fed
eral Government Take Control of
the Mississippi Levces.
CLOSE OF THE CONVENTION
PROPOSED WATERWAY FROM THE
GREAT LAKES ENDORSED.
Resolutions Adopted I'm Favor of Fed.
eraI Jurixdiction Over Protective
Banks of the Big River.


state Mississippi River Improvement and
night after adopting a series of resolutions
I'm favor of government jurisdiction OF
levees and adequate appropriations for
their speedy construction If government
control is not advisable, and indorsing the
proposed waterway from the great lakes
TO the gulf and the Chicago sanitary canal
as a part Of that project.
The feature of the morning session was
Judge Robert s. Taylor's appeal against
the proposed movement for government
ownership. He said in part:
''The records of the past establish with
substantial certainty the fact that
great floods on the Mississippi river
do not occur annually. They come
in groups OF two or three in imme-
date succession, or near together.
with intervals of several years of low
stages, not reaching the overflow line.
These variations of volume are undoubtedly
due to periodical variations of rainfall
the same variations which cause the we'll
established oscillations of level in the great
lakes. 1t is entirely safe to assume that
great floods do not and will not occur in
the lower Mississippi oftener than two years
out of FIVE upon an average. If the levees
would always do well as they have done
this year and never any better, they would
protect. on an average, taking all the years
together, 80 per cent. of all the lands
capable of such protection. People could
live and accumulate and civilization adj
vance under those conditions. In my opinion
our experience will be something like that
in the future. We shall never be able to
build unbreakable ,evees, but we can make
crevasses so few that the general expert
enoe of the people will be one OF immunity
ception-so rare that the sum or IL dis
tributed over the years and the area will
represent only small per cent. of the
whole"
Judge Taylor created considerable of a
stir in closing his speech by saying he felt
1t his duty as delegate to oppose the
proposition that had been advanced by
some Of. the delegates that the federal
government should take over the control of
the levees and complete them. Il am OPP
posed to this proposition because 1t cannot
be carried OUT he said. Judge Taylor said
there should continue to re cooperation
between the federal the state the district
and the county governments But" he
added. Il hope that this great convention
will not throw away its chance for in
creased help from the national government
by asking for something that Is beyond
reach. What We want is larger apprOpria-
lions along the old line of cooperation.
We can get this. But it would be impossi-
BILE 10 carry out the idea OF the federal
| ownership of levees. even IL the federal
government was ready and willing to ac-
quiesce."
The report of the committee on resolu-
tons was presented and adopted, as fol-
| lows:
Resolved, That i'm the judgment of this
convention the protection of the Missis-
| sppi valley from floods Is of such national
| Importance as not only to justify. but to
make it the duty of the general government
| TO undertake 1t and press 1t to the speediesI
| possible completion. If for any reason the
| exercise of the sole jurisdiction at this time
by the general government should not be
| deemed advisable, then this convention
| urges most earnestly that Congress make
| at its approaching session such apprOpria-
| tons as are recommended by the MISSISSIPPI
| pi River Commission in it's recent report.
Resolved, further, That the system OF
Mississippi from it's head waters to the
gulf, and in the valley of the Ohio and
| other tributaries now provided for and
those which may hereafter be provided FOL
| by Congress, under the supervision of the
! United States engineers. meets our hearty
| commentator and should be pressed u
completion without unnecessary delay;
| Resolved. That the attention of Con
gresS is invited TO the serious disasters
which have befalen those residing at OF
near st. Louis. Kansas City and other 10
calities by reason of the recent great floods
and the secretary of war Is respectfully re-
quested 10 cause an inquiry to be made
with view TO the preparation of suitabl,
| plans for the prevention of d recurrence
| of such injuries. BE it
| Resolved, That the convention of dele
gates representing the States of the great
| Mississippi valley, from Duluth to the Gull
| OF Mexico, gives its unqualified approval &c
| the movement for the construction of 6
waterway connecting the great lakes a
| the north with the Mississippi river anC
| the Gulf of Mexico at the south.
| I'VE recognize the expenditure of S35, 000
| coo by the sanitary district of Chicago as
| practical demonstration in the furtherancs
! of this project. We express tho hope tina
| the senators and representatives i'm Con
| gress of the various States represented il
| this convention will give their encourage
! ment and assistance to congressional leg
| islatlon in favor of the completion of tn,
| deep waterway to which the Mississippi
valley States have already given their ap
/ prevail and to which the State of Illinoi:
| and the sanitary district officers are com
! mitted as a matter of policy on the grea
| financial expenditures already made