The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-12-21
70 THE PEOPLE OF THE Mlssis-
SiPPt VALLEY.
By DR.. G. H. Tichenor:

cussing the levee problems. Men
from all parts of the country assem-
bled, the pros and cons were debal-
ed by Engineers of reputation, also
our respected General Beauregard
was present, aiding in every posi-
BILE way to deide on an untried prob.
lem. II is human to err and make
mistakes. We all know what a terri
bic mistake the convention made
when it resolved that by building
levees and closing outlets, the river
bed would cut out and deepen so
muh in a few years, that there would
be no need for levees; further COM
ment is not necessary. The fruition
OF the thing hoped for; We find 10
be direct opposite conditions.
Is it not time to call a halt? Are
not 2s years long enough to expert
ment? The people have suffered a
loss of millions of dollars in the val
ley, houses destroyed, plantations
submerged. and helpless people beg.
ging for bread; all brought about by
our people not protecting against a
violation of natural laws.
We find many leading men OF the
valley that insist that the engineers
are in control and their wishes and
dictatlons must be respected. When
you call upon one to speak he will
tell you he Is not permitted to dis
cuss problems that are of vital ill.,
terest in the treatment of the levee
and outlets. We learn nothing from
them, yet many think they are de.
voting all their skill to the best in
terest OF the people that are over
flowed every flood year. They will
tell you: I'VE are doing what the
government and the congressman or
DER. II we dissent We lose our jobs"
Who can tell their secret opinion?
why so muh stress placed upon their
having absolute control when in fact
they are not consulted, as supposed,
by the people, as to common sense
treatment of a problem that is alb.
solutely simple. Many ADMIT the
fact.
l do not hold the engineers respon-
slble for present conditions. They
are controlled by the congressman,
who secure appropriations for them
to spend as directed.
Every business man and property
owner in New Orleans will feel a loss
from the great flood disaster of 1912.
A decreased Volume of business, de-
ferred collections, reduced property
values, stagnation of trade, and les
sened demand for real estate and the
danger Of recurrence of such dis
asters is a menace to the property
growth and development of New Or
leans. How long will the people sub
NIT to conditions staring us in the
lace? Such dangers can only be per-
manently removed through the adop.
ton, by the Congress of the United
States, of a policy under which the
government will in the future guar
aztec protection against overflow,
and by making over and maintain
Ing the levee system with outlets suf-
fclend to draw the flood waters at
such points that would give a rapid
outflow, will a permanent protection
be secured.
There may be grave misunderstood
lngs on the part of the people as to
what the levee advocates want done.
Perhaps they want to find out how
high they can build levees with the
outflow Of the flood waters held up
eight months every flood water.
Again, they may desire to know how
many crevasses will take place when
waters are three feet below the top
or crown Of the levee. Why build
leVees mountain high il they will
break before the waters rise to he
top? If the flood wave is free to go
forward to the Gulf inside Of nine,
ty days would not the levees remain
dry and firm? The channel would he
deepened by drawing the water to
the Gulf from the beginning Of the
Hood season until the end. Less cav
ing banks and levees would be seen.
We have fifteen caves now where we
had only one when the original out.
lets were open and drawing the flood
waters to the Gulf at the rate of
nine miles per hour.
Levees we must have, or abandon
the richest fertile valley in the
world. insist every aid should be
adopted in order to secure the pro-
lection the DeODle demand We can.