Tensas gazette., 1910-05-27
THE DRAINAGE MEETING At TAllUlAH.


were run to accommodate the visitors.
Hon. J. I. Mcclellan was elected pres
ident, and secretaries from the four par
ishes comprising the district. The chief
government engineer &C.. G. Elliott made
his report as to the preparatory work done
in the outlying section to be drained.
His report consumed over an hour in
reading 1t was not a perfect report, ow-
ing to the short intervening time in
which to prepare it. There are some one
and half million acres in the district,
embracing portion OF Franklin west of
the Macon. The approximate cost OF
thoroughly draining this was estimated
at about $4,000, 900, and leaving out
Concordia it would be something over
six millions. The engineer advocated the
enforcement of the Red from the Mis-
sissippi river. After this Mr. Morgan,
the engineer who had the work in his
special charge, gave a short talk, show
ing the great benefit of drainage in To-
calities ne had visited.
Hon. jeff b. Snyder was then called
on as the chairman of the legislative
committee, who had prepared the bill
and gave very forceful and interesting
talk on the labor the committee had eX-
pended in its preparation.
Mr.. Kerr of the State Board of Engi
neers, also gave a short talk on drainage.
After this the president announced that
it was up to the meeting to take such
action rs it deemed necessary. At this
iuncture Judge Jno. S. Boatncr of Con-
cordia, rose and introduced the follow
ing resolution, which was unanimously
adopted:
"Whereas, sat meeting held at the
| town of Tallulah, OH the llth of March,
1909, composed OF the most repre- senta-
tive citizens of our section of the State,
and attended and addressed by skilled
engineers and practical and experienced
experts on drainage, comprehensive
system of drainage for the four parishes
of East Carroll, Madison, Tensas and
L
| "Whereas, at said meeting, resolu-
ton was adopted calling for the appoint
ment of committee to draw bill for
enactment by the Legislature, providing
| for the creation of drainage district and
for the carrying into effect of said COM
prehensive drainage project; and,
| Whereas, in pursuance of said reso-
luton, said committee, appointed, has
1 1,
labor, prepared an act which il is pro-
posed to introduce at the present session
of the Legislature; and
Whereas, a mass meeting has been
called to convene at Tallulah, on this,
the 23d day of May, 1910, for the pur-
pose of discussing and celebrating upon
the provisions OF this act, and ascertain
ing the sentiment OF the people affected
thereby as to whether or not said pro
posed act shall become law; and,
Whereas, for the reason that said bill
is local i'm its nature, the Legislature will
be governed as to its passage by the peo-
pie to be affected thereby III the proposed
d al iage district; and,
Whereas, since the said meeting at
lTallulah endorsing said drainage project
and providing for the appointment of the
lcommttee to prepare said act, our coun-
try has been devastated by the boil wee
vii: business has become dSorganized,
labor mas gone to other fields to seek EN-
ployment, the revenues of many of our
planters have been reduced below actual
expenses, large amount of fertile land
has been abandoned, and become un-
productive, and the prices of agricultural
implements, food stuff, food and clothin,
has greatly increased; and,
/, Whereas, the cause of these conditions
now existing in the territory comprised
within the proposed district, it has be
come eXpedient and practically impos
sible at this time to meet the large eX-
penses necessary to carry on the CRANE
scheme OF drainage, as proposed i'll saiC
act; and,
Whereas, while greatly deploring thes,
conditions and while greatly appreciating
the great benefits, which this meeting
would ultimately receive from the pas
sage of the proposed act, we are impelle,
, by necessity for our self-preservation t,
oppose the enactment thereof into Law
at this time; and
: Whereas, the parish of Concordia, sit
, uated in the lower end of the proposed
, district, lies in close proximity to tn,
mouth of Red river and is bounded oil
/, the south by it, and is annually subject
ed to overflow, by the waters whicl
| come through the Red out of the Niissis
sippi into the Black and Tensas river
and into Bayou Cocodra and other bayous
1 and the lakes and low lands i'm said par
ish; and
S Whereas, on account of opening tin
= mouth of Red river and of Tensas tn,
! annual overflow of the bayous, lakes an,
lowlands of Concordia parish by tn,
: back water, which comes through sal,
opening, it will be impossible to perfec
any system of drainage which will he O
! benefit to said parish until the mouth O
e Red river shall have been closed, and TIN
Q Red river divorced from the Mississippi
i, by the action of the national government
Therefore be it Resolved, that we com
mend the enthusiasm and wisdom whicl
b. prompted our citizens in inauguratin,
I this comprehensive scheme of scientif
, drainage; that we believe the said schem
to be the only ultimate means by whicl
stable value can be given to our prbpert,
: and permanent prosperity to our people
, that at some future time, when our peo
, Pile can better stand the burden of taxa
ton, and when the national government
: shall have closed the mouth of Red river
| so as to furnish adequate drainage for tin,
whole district, this act ought to be re
, vised and put into practical operation
!, except a. to the objection hereinafter Sc
forth.
, Be it further Resolved, that while W,
! believe the said act as whole to be ably
and wisalv prpnara1 yat NO haliava tb a