The Jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 18??-1907, 1906-05-19
BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE
DEEP BLUE SEA.

favorable Report.
Washington, May IL. Gen. MacKen-
zie transmitted to Congress today with
his Endorsement the adverse report of
Capt. Wooten and the Board Of Engi-
neers on the proposition to build lock
and dam in Cypress Bayou for the pur-
psse of affording six foot navigation for
eight months in the year between
Shreveport and Jefferson. The esti-
mated cost of the proposed work is
$525,00 The essential objection is
contained in this paragraph of Gen.
MacKenzie's letter of transmittance:
1T is believed that an effective line
Of water communication into Northeast
ern Texas would have material effect on
freight rates, but the further opinion is
expressed by the district officer, the di-
vision engineer and by the Board of
Engineers for rivers and harbors, whose
duty it is under the law to review all
reports of this character, that the work
proposed would not furnish such sat-
isfactory line of NAVIGATION as would &C
complish the results desired to be Sc
cured, and it is therefore reported that
it is not worthy Of being undertaken by
the United States. In this opinion l
must concur. dallas News.
1t is evident from the above that
the Refusing Board Git is a misno-
mer to call it Reviewing Board)
was to use an everyday expression
put up tree, for reason or an
excuse, for not recommending the
improvement of Cypress river.
Capt. Wooten had depended on
that thread bare gag that the com.
merce did not justify the expendi
ture, that he admitted the project
was feasible; he felt sure he could
safely go that far without danger,
as he had the old gag to insert,
that in his opinion, the commerce
would not justify the expenditure.
The Capt. thought Jefferson would
permit it to rest there, and his
word on 80 important question
would be accepted, and that would
end it. In this he was doomed to
be sadly disappointed and mis-
taken. 1t would appear to the
JIMpLEcUTE that it is the duty of
Congress to pass on the question
of Commerce-to give such power
to any one person is too much.
Let the Engineering department
pass solely on the question coming
strictly under the jurisdiction of
the Engineering department. In
any event. the progressive citizens
of Jefferson undertook to disprove
the assertion of Capt Wooten as to
the question of commerce. com.
mittee was sent to each county
within one hundred miles of this
point and the tonnage of the in
comming and out going freight was
gotten from absolutely reliable
sources. This was nicely tabulat-
ed by counties so that the Review
ing Board could if they questioned
the figures either verify or disprove
them; the total was so immense
the com mittee could scarcely be.
lieve it themselves. No error could
be detected. The papers being
ready were sent to Senator Culber,
son and Congressman Shepherd,
The saving to the people by max.
ing Jefferson water point, in one
year, would have paid for the i'm,
provement twice. This was in,
deed startling, the old gag of the
comm cree was gone, the Engineer.
ing department was unexpected y
square up against a real PROPOSE,
ton. The old hobby horse was al
asst dead. The old nag had serv'
ed them well since the raft wa.
removed and the navigation ir
Cypress river stolen. But like al
old animals SO long used had made
its last fight, AS before stated
they were up against real propo
sition, which was this, which would
the board do, let the people in thu
territory save each year in freigh
81 100000 or not, Think of it
one million and fifty thousand dol
lars saved each year. Into whose