The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1910-02-19
Answer To IS Years On the
Spot.

Editor Mes6enger:-
In the last issue Of the Messenger "25
years on the spot" wrote an article in an
swer to the Views of the Farmers PrOtec-
tive Association and their high water
and levee proposition in our district.
In answer will state:
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and assumption of
power OF the Atchafalaya Protective AS
ISOLATION. at the expense of the land
owners and taxpayers residing in the
Atchafalafaya Basin Levee District, is
selfevident, when they refused the Farm.
ers Protective Association their cOnsti.
tuted right to even speak to the Atcha-
falaya Basin Levee Board on the day
they met here. because it was their meet.
ing. Fortunately this is not mandatory
at least not as yet. The Farmers Pro-
tective Association will be heard In due
time. and you will then see plainly
enough, the combined ideas of the tax
payers residing in the Atchafalaya Ba-
sin Levee District. in concrete shape,
united as one man. clamOring for one
thing, the first great institution of the
United States of America. Their cOnsti-
tuted right. that knows no barriers, and
will not be dictated to by disgruntled
few who are not land owners nor tax
payers, suffering in our district.
% years Oh thes spot. Please refer to
the names Of the members of the Farm
ers Protective Association, organized at
Isle Liable the 3rd ward. j. L. Durand,
President, the 4th ward jos. Pellerin,
President, the 9Th ward POlin Latiolais,
President, with two more organization
to be organized. near Arnaudville and
Port Barre. La, and at LOreeuyille. La,
with DIR. Guy Shaw as President. The
character of the signers and our char
tered members. represents the land Ow.
ners and taxpayers. residing in the dis
trict ami facing the high water disaster
encroaching on their lands inch by inch
higher every wear, due TO the contested
conditions of the outlets of the Atchafa-
lava. also by the water Hyacinth ha-
wing taken our swamp lands almost
completely. and the Hyacinth has now
taken land few years that was cult.
waited. besides the building of levees on
the Atchafalaya and the securing of the
river.
"25 years on the spot" has failed to
take consideration the 70 per cent. of
the best informed people In our Parish
belonging to the Atchafalaya Protective
Association are not farmers residing in
the District. and paying a heavy levee
acreage and produce tax to the Atchafa-
laya Basin Levee Board for 10 years to
reclaim lands Oh the west side of the |
Atchafalaya River and not cent spent
to protect them.
"25 years Oh the spot" represent per
ceDt. and he may not be resident and
at least l presume so, from
his conclusions, and the poor cOnsidera-
tiOns he has given this matter.
Taxpayer has not missed the mark
in his assertions, nor does he want to
keep water on his swamp lands, which
has no timber, he has been in the swamp
observing the waters of the Atchafalaya
River over % years, the winter wind, of
that time has blown his hair silver gray.
but 1t has not blown his brain away. Ii
have not simply GONE ON THE SPOT and
get information as some has, before
my plans. have years of OBJ
servatiOn, which coupled with the ideas
Of our best state and other engineers of
note, based a plan of action, that | chan-
lie nge any laymen to offer better plan,
would appreciate il any one could. or
would offer solution that is better
than the back leyee project, from Port
Barre back of Jeanerette. Your cOnten-
ton of making fun and redicule this
project as pet scheme up the sleeves.
Is simply selfevident showing the mar
row view taken in the matter. | pre-
sumo because it is not pet scheme of
yours. You discredit our able chief state
Engineer Col. Kerr. and his corps of en-.
yineers. /, on the contrary base nv
plans OF action OH engineers advice
opinion and their conclusion. | will
not do as "25 on the spot" criticize our
Method and Offor M s,Uoootion Va,