Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-12-02

vote was recorded declaring that II
 was the sentiment of the people of this city that the government levee
 be Cut and that the Arkansas river be made to flow away from Pine Bluff. Senator Clarke declared that |he would take the matter up with |the proper authorities at Washing ton, D. G. Monday, when he will ar rive there. and that he would do all in his power to give Pine Bluff some relief from the treacherous waters of the Arkansas.
 Cant Save Court HOMs..~A During the meeting City Engineer W. J. Parkes, who has studied the situation carefully and has made q thorough examination of the river bank all along the river front de- lclared without hesitation that in his opinion there was not the slightest chance of saving the big annex to the Jefferson county court house and in all probability, he said. tho Hotel Ieffersons rear wall would also go He did not mention that otaer prop erty ons either side of the hotel and court house would be damaged, but lit is reasonable to suppose that if the caving partially destroys these two buildings that other property on either side of them will sustain :, similar damage.
 Eating Away Point.
 According to City Engipeer Parkes statements, more than forty feet Of the point on the neck<of land oppo- site this city was earried away yes terday by the~vicious current of the swiftly flowing river. This will con- tinue from day to day until the water
 receds, Major Parkes says, and t Fmeans great damage to the south bank in the neighborhood of the ho- tel and Court house. All the fascincs in the world cannot save the court house annex, said the city engineer.
 COnnOrs Is to Blame.
 Major Parkes declared that the board of engineers, sent here by the
 United States government, did not recommend the building of the gov eminent levee on the north side of the river They recommended only a short levee there and Captain Con- nors, who was in charge of the Mem- phis office and this district at the time took the responsibility of eN- tending the leyee around the neck of land to the great detriment of the south bank. That levee," said Major Parkes, "has caused all this damage and it will Continue to do so until it is cut and permits the current to change it's Course" Dykes will not even protect this bank now. he said, because the point is giving way rap idly and the current strikes the end of the dykes on this side and it is not defected.
 Senator Clarke Heard.
 Senator James P. Clarke state1 that he was ready and willing to aid Pine Bluff in every way, but that he did not want to go to Washington and work for something where there was a difference of opinion or a di- vision of sentiment. The government made the appropriation for the levee, believing that it was wanted here, but it seems now that the levee is proving detrimental to property in- terests and that it is not wanted. It is question as to whether the peo- pie in Pine Bluff want the river or do not want the river He asked for an expression of the many at the mass meeting so that he might be backed by public sentiment in asking for something that was really wanted.
 Dr. J. L. Caldwell, County Judge Gould, D. c. Bell, Arthur Murray, Charles Well, W. L. Dewoody and City Engineer Parkes made brief talks. In the Course of their remarks 1t de- veloped that there was a general sen timent in favor of cutting the levee and sending the river away from Pine Bluff. Dr. Caldwell expressed him. self as being in favor of repairing the river front and keeping the river at our very door, if 1t could be ac- complished. He argued that flowing river meant much in freight rates and that it was of general benefit for a