Tensas gazette., 1909-03-19
the IAlIulAH DRAINAGE CONVENTION

of the Fifth Louisiana Levee District
Board, pursuant to resolution adopted
at the January meeting of that Board,
for the purpose of considering a compre-
hensive drainage system for the Fifth
Levee District, convened at the Madison
Parish Court House, in Tallulah, at noon
to-day, with President Mcclellan a.
Chairman and Edwin Donovan Of
Mounds, La, as Secretary.
Mayor Powell and the Board of Alder
men of Lake Providence, Mayor David
son and the Board of Aldermen of st.
Joseph, and Mayor Dale and the Board
Of Aldermen of Vidalia, with large
number of prominent and representative
planters and business men representing
the four parishes, Madison, East Car
roll, Concordia and Tensas, comprising
the district, and representatives of the
two railroads traversing the district, were
present and everyone was in full accord
with the purpose Of the meeting, which
Is conceded to be the most momentous
one ever held in the district. Mayor e..
II. Ogbourne, of Tallulah, and his Board
acted rs Reception Committee.
President Mcclellan outlined the pur-
pose of the meeting and read communi-
cations from public men of prominence
indorsing the purpose Of the meeting
and pledging themselves to its support.
Among the letters resd was one from
Governor Sanders, expressing regret that
absence from the State had made it inn
possible for him to attend, but pledged
his support.
DRAINAGE THE CRY.
Major T. g. Dabney, Chief Engineer
in charge of the Tallahatchie Drainage
District, in the Yazoo delta of Mississip-
pi, made the opening address, his sub
ject being, Drainage, the Basic Require
Inent of which is Thorough Topograph-
ical Survey" He said that heretofore
the battle cry had been levees: hence
forth it will be drainage. Not only will
the cultivated area be increased, but the
productiveness of that already under cul-
tivation will be increased 80 per cent OF
more. In forming a drainage law there
are two essentials: First, TO lodge suf-
fcient power in the controlling body
second to give this body funds to work
with. He dwelt in detail rs to necessary
preliminary steps to be taken, the prob
able cost and the best means of starting
the work.
Major Frank Kerr, Chief of the State
Board OF Engineers, next spoke on "The
Necessity of Drainage for Building and
Maintenance Of Levees." The integrity
OF the levee system despends upon the
question OF drainage, as the strongest
levees are worthless if undermined with
seep water, the speaker declared. He
emphasized the fact that any project
treating separately any limited area in
any common basin in opposition to a
general project covering an entire basin
would sooner or later involve serious
complications, and stated that co-opera-
ton work along comprehensive and
defined scale was necessary.
GOVERNMENT TO COOPERATE.
Hon. George Otis Smith, Director of
the United States Geological Survey from
Washington, ID. c., spoke along the line
OF the cooperation Of the United States
with the local authorities to secure sur
veys and drainage. He outlined the
terms upon which the department would
assist in making the necessary prelimi.
nary surveys. His department usually
shares half the monetary cost of the sur
veys with the local authorities and makes
no charge for the use OF the different in
struments used and engraves and furn-
ishes the necessary maps free.
Van s. Manning, topographer of the
United States Geological Survey, demon
strated the scope of the surveys being
made by the department which he rep
resents. He furnished figures showing
that in the Fifth Levee District there are
l,40l,U ,U73 acres and that of this vast
acreage only about one-iiith is or can lie
cultivated because of the lack of drain
age.
5. c. Elliott, representing the United
States Department of Agriculture, spoke
on the subject OF "a Drainage Practice
and Policy for Louisiana" He said that
the State is entering into the most i'm
portant epoch of the development of her
resources, and that as the wealth OF the
State is in her soil, her strength lies in
lie intelligent development of it. He
n emphasized the necessity of giving
control TO competent commits
ion, and stated that there is difference
,ciween drainage and levee work, as
evee is Of equal benefit to all protected
,y it. and tire expense is borne equally
" all, but the cost of drainage must be
10 the benefits received by
he individual.
JUMPING WATT r FOR IRRIGATION |
Prof. w. u. Gregory, of the Depart
.ent OF Irrigation Investigations of the
'nited States Department of Agriculture, ]
,oke Of the Problem of Pumping Wa
n for Irrigation" and his remarks were {