Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-06-21

ly interested In ana CLOSELY connectou
with a movement on foot in his State to
influence Congress to take over the levees
protecting our alluvial lands from inun-
dation from the Mississippi and maintain
them at such grades as to guarantee to
jewellers of the Valley immunity from
foods henceforth, and toward this end
Mr.. Cassingham has labored in effectiDg
the organization of the Mississippi Valley
Improvement Association, an organiza-
ton of citizens of the United States, who
believe that the control of the waters
which find their outlet through the chan
mel of the Lower Mississippi River is
national and not local problem, and
hence should come under national con-
troll. Mr.. Cassingham writes:
In reply to your valued favor CT May
9th, beg to say that was very glad to
hear from you on the subject of the over
flow and the probable action of your au-
thorities in reference to repairs, etc.
In reply to the question as to how the
people in this section regard the lands in
our section of the overhowed district, the
only sentiment hear expressed now is
that the problem is too great for Levee
Boards, or even States, to handle, and
the only way to make the lower Missis-
sippi Valley immune from such disturb
ances is to place the whole matter in the
hands of the National Government.
OF course something ought to be done
this year, and it is necessary for us to
shoulder the expense of repairs, well and
good. 1 do not think, however, that this
will be necessary, Il the subject is prop
erly handled at Washington.
The people of this State Illinois) have
the utmost confidence in Congressman
Ransdell and the general sentiment here
is that something different will have to
be done from what has been done in the
past. To this end our organization here
is working, and ! think you people would
do well to have representatives at the
Chicago meeting August 10th.
The sentiment among land owners who
have holdings in our Levee District is
against the proposed issue Of $500, 900. 90
in bonds for levee purposes. The feeling
is that appropriations already made or
that maybe secured from this present
Congress of the United States can be
made available for that purpose in ample
time.
am sending you marked copy paper
containing resolutions adopted by the
Legislature of this State few days ago.
The resolutions adopted by the Illinois
Legislature, to which Mr.. Cassingham
refers, are given below:
Resolutions of the Illinois Legislature.
A significant and very important en-
dorsement of the objects of the Missis-
sippi Valley Improvement Association,
lately organized here, was furnished yes
terday in the adoption by the Illinois leg
islature of the following joint resolution,
introduced in the upper House by Sen
ator H. NJ. Dunlap, and in the lower
house by Representative Joseph Carter:
"Whereas The people of the Lower
Mississippi Valley have again this year
been great sufferers from the overflow OF
the Mississippi river, entailing immense
losses in life and property and III many
instances the destruction of the crop pros
poets OF the year; and
| Whereas, The government of the in
dividual States along the Lower Missis-
sippi, and numerous levee districts con-
| tiguous to its banks have, in the aggre-
gate, expended millions upon millions of
dollars within the past forty years, in the
hope of preventing overfiows and re-
claiming the rich lands of that import
ant region; and
Whereas, This year, and frequently
in the past, new high-water marks
have been successfully made and new
areas inundated, thus continuing the
losses and disappointing the hopes Of the
people; and
Whereas, The Lower Mississippi Val
ley is the natural outlet to the sea for the
waters of nearly half the area of the en-
tire country, the vast plain lying between
the Allegheny mountains on the east and
the Rocky mountains on the west, all the
northern portion of which, through tile
and farm drains and the reclamation OF
swamps, is steadily pouring an increased
volume of water into the great central
stream; and
Whereas, Justice requires that the
Lower Mississippi Valley States should
not be burdened with the task of of pro-
viding outlet for all the water of the
more northern portion; and
Whereas, The time is at hand when
the millions of people in this country will
greatly need the vast increase of products
of which the overflow and swamp land
of the Lower Valley is capable, when
once reclaimed and made secure against
floods; therefore be it
Resolved by the House of Represent
atives, the Senate concurring herein,
That it is the sense of the Legislature of
the State of Illinois that the control of
the waterways of the Lower Mississippi
Valley is a national problem and should
be dealt with by the general government
on plans broad and comprehensive
enough to prevent overfiows, reclaim the
waste areas and make them available for
the production of food for the millions of
people they are capable of supporting.
Resolved, That the clerk of the House
is directed to send copies of this resolu-
ton to the Senators and Representatives
from Illinois in the Congress of the Unit
ed States, and they are hereby urged to
use their best efforts TO secure action by