The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-08-25
Citizens in Mass Meeting Made a Strong Pro-
test Against Removing the Government
Fleet to the City of VchsBurg
Reasons Why the Govern
ment Fleet Should Remain
Here to be Presented Be
fore the River Commission

\ meeting OF the citizens was held
at the Cotton Exchange last night to
consider and protest against the NOV
ing of the Government Fleet from this
city to Vicksburg as has been author
lied by the River Commission
The meeting was called to order
by President T. c. Holmes. of the
GreenviIle Business Mems League,
who, after stating the object Of the
gathering called for any remarks that
might be made upon the important
question
Congressman Ben @ Humphreys
then read a letter received from Col
Sears. Chairman of the River Com
mission. which stated that tile Com
mission. after dcIiberating. had. for
administrative and economical rea-
sons, authorized the transportation on
the fleet from Grceuvilie 10 Nicksburg.
Col Sears added that If there were
any objections to be made they
should be presented before the meet
ing Of the Commission i'm St Louis
on next Monday.
After reading this letter. a number
Of speeches were made in protest to
the removal Tt WAS brought ont in
the remarks made that everyone OF
The arguments and facts made BY
Capt. Hoffman, IT, 8. Engineer at
Nicksburg. could be met by better
arguments on behalf OF the fleet re-
naming here. and the facts Of Mr.
Hoffman were each and everyone re
futed
Capt Huffman claims that the har,
hor here Is unsafe. where, as matter
81 fact the fleet has been located here
since 1880 and through all the storms,
cyclones and high waters. no damage
has come to it.
Capt Hoffman claims that the fleet
can be more economically maintained
at Vicksburg than here. River and rail
road freight rates are the same here
as to VIcksburg, except in coal ana
the rate here IS 50 cents cheaper by
river and from 500 to SI.25 cheaper
by rail, and coal is the biggest expense
in maintaining the fleet.
The Third Mississippi River Levee
District Is 2I3 miles long and Green
willie Is as centrally located as could
possibly be To move the fleet to
Lake Centennial, near Vicksburg.
would place it eight miles from the
South end. and in case of caving,
high water and overflow at any North
ern point. it would be impossible for
the feet. were il located at Vicks-
burg, to reach the damaged point
quickly to make the necessary re-
pairs.
This was the most important point
brought out in the meeting All com
mercialism was lost sight of in the
importance Of having the feet located
where it can do the quickest and best
good So important is this that the
whole fight against the removal will
be made on this one point. Had the
fleet been located at Vicksburg when
the Huntington and Leland. Arkansas
breaks occurred irreparable damage
wonld have been done before the f1eer
could have arrived.
Another point brought out was that
shrimps do more damage to the boats
in still water than III moving bodies
of water, and if the fleet is moved to
VIcksburg, III Lake Centennial, the
bulls of the boats will be totally de-
stroyed in two or three years
At the close of the meeting the fol-
lowing resolution was unanimously
adopted:
Whereas, The interests of the
people of the Third Mississippi
River District demand the reten-
ton of the Government Fleet at
the city of Greenville; therefore
be it
Resolved, By the planters and tax
payers generally, here assembled,
that the Hon. B. G.. Humphreys,
Congressman from the Third
Congressional District of Missis-
sippi; Hon. John l. Hebron,
President of the Board of Missis-
sippi Levee Commissioners, and
Capt Charles H. West, Chief En-
gineer of the Board of Missis-
sippI Levee Commissioners, be
requested to appear before the
Mississippi River Commission at
its meeting TO be held in St Louis,
Monday, August ~, 1906, to pro-
fest against the proposed removal
of the Fleet from Greenville and
present reasons why the interests
OF the people behind the levees
on both sides of the River in the
Third Mississippi River District
require the Fleet to remain where
it is now located
Messrs Humphreys and West vii
go and present in substance the abov,
arguments and protest against the re
moval of the fleet The citizens 0
Arkansas, who are as vitality inter
ested as the people of this district, will
be asked to cooperate with us agains
the removal
Mr.. Humphreys promised to pu
forth his best efforts. but should h
fail. the people of this district vii
fight for the retention of the fleet an,
through the proper channels get tn
matter before the Secretary of War
1t is strongly hoped that the Rive
Commission will see the justice of TIL
arguments made before them and a
once issue the order canceling thei
authorization for the removal of til
fleet to Vicksburg.