The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-01-27
SUNFLOWER RIVER
DEEP WATERWAY

thursday dispatches from Wash
ington conveyed the intelligence that
Congressman Humphreys, from this
district, had appeared before the
River and Harbor committee with his
bill for the improvement of the Sun
flower river from its mouth to the
city OF Clarksdale The dispatches
further stated that Mr.. Humphreys
had so favorably impressed the conl-
mitee with his presentation that II
was reasonably certain tina tan appro-
priation for that purpose would be
made
1t will be recalled that "Our Ben"
during the past summer made an in
spection trip up the Sunhower for
the express purpose of ascertaining
the benefits that would ensue from
It's Improvement and the probable
cost OF the same He had with him a
competent engineer whose calcula-
tons forestalled that the work could
! be done a minimum expense. and
at the same time the benefits re-
sulting from the Improvement Of
equal, II not greater value. than thosa
Iusually obtained in similar improve
ments. Mr. Humphreys had contend
ed since his election that the i'm
provement Of this stream was one
OF the very important things effect
ing the people of his district, and his
assignment to the River and Harbor
committee seemed to open the way
tor the consideration of the measure.
From Clarksdale to the mouth Of
the Sunhower river is a distance o,
nearly $50 miles, and the stream ira
verses the middle section of the
great Y22oo-Mississippi Delta.
these lands are the very richest in
the Delta and on the globe. The
opening of this stream for naviga-
ton would be of inca1cu1able benefit
TO the people of the entire section
with reasonable expenditure This
stream could be made navigable for
. lighter craft the year around. afford
ing means of import and export
10 the people that is sorely needed
lana at the same time giving an I'm
petus to the settlement and improve
inent OF this part of the Delta that
would, to alarge extent. compensate
Tor the want of railroads. The Sun
mower river is an ideal one for nav--
CATION, the banks being high and tn,
channel sufficiently wide for the pro
gress OF such craft as could ply the
waters with profit There is little t,
be done in its improvement, aside
from the removal of a few shoals
that have been made from the nu-
merous logs sunk in the channel.
We do not know whether Mr.
, Humphreys Improvement scheme
contemplates connection with tn,
Mississippi River or not. If it does
not 1t should, or at least this work
: should be taken UP later. Connection
| with the great river would not only
, insure volume of water the wear
d around, but could be made to relieve
E that river in times of high water
+ and danger to levees. Aside from
/, the benefits that would accrue to the
country in the matter of navigation
Z the sanitary condition of the entire
d territory would be greatly benefit
: ted. At its lowest stage the Sunflow
5 er IS a sluggish stream, and for thi.
t reason is held to be unsanitary 4
$ volume OF water that would keep tn,
channel clean at all seasons of tn,
year woald have. most salatary e
q feet upon the health Of the entir
: section.
! There is no service than Congress
man Humphreys could bender hi.
district OF greater importance or 0
more lasting benefit than the maxim
Of this stream navigable. A create