The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-27

might De secured from the dofeTH~
ment, a large and representative
delegation OF citizens made trip to
| Washington and after most strenu-
ious and untiring efforts succeeded
In having the Commerce Committee
of the United States Senate insert
an amendment in the Rivers and
| Harbors Bill, clothed in the follow
| ing language: For the raising
and strengthening of the leyees in
4the City of Cairo, Illinois. on the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers and In
the Cairo drainage district two
hundred and fifty thousand dol
liars: Provided, That the City of
Cairo shall expend, or cause to be
expended, the same amount for the
same purpose. Conditions which
seem unavoidable have delayed CON
lclusive action upon the Rivers and
\ Harbors Bill, and 1t now looks as
though final action on II win moi
| be secured in Congress until the ear.
ly part of July, but the whole Bill
| is now in the hands of the Confer
| ence Committee, which is made up
| Of three members of the Commerce
| Committee from the Senate and
three members of the Rivers and
Harbors Committee from the House,
and have assurances which are en-
couraging to me that when this Bill
is finally adopted by Congress the
amount appropriated for use in ana
about Cairo will be retained as a
part of it. l, therefore, recommend
10 your Honorable Body that the
| City of Cairo, through its proper
| committee or committees, including
the Citizens Executive Committee
cooperate promptly with all other
parties interested, with the view Of
| placing all levees in a condition to
protect the city and Drainage Dis
trict against flood, measuring
| fifty-eight feet on the United States
Government gauge at Fourth street.
AS there is rise in the river of sew
eral inches to the mile, this will
mean that the levees at the extreme
north end of the territory protected
by them will be orrespondendingly
higher, probably about sixty feet, 81
that the people of this entire com.
munity will be thoroughly protected
| by a levee standing four feet above
the highest water that has ever been
Il recorded on the Government gauge.
feel confident that all detailed ar.
arrangements for this work can be
done and will be done early enough
to complete the greater portion OF
the work contemplated before an.
other high water period.
City Hall.
During the year a very stronr
public sentiment was developed
among the people of the city ir
favor Of putting up a suitable build
ing for the use of the city official;
without further delay, and for tina.
purpose very strong and foreefu
Committee was appointed during the
summer of 1911 to look into thu
matter Of providing ways and means
for building city hall, which. as
YOU know, eliminated in a special
election on the 18th day of March
1912, at which time very decided
vote was cast favoring the issue OF
bonds, with the proceeds of which
suitable city buildings could be con.
structed. Since that time, the flood
period has made raSages upon us
and caused the city officials
to halt and see what course
TO pursue to secure the best In
terests of the people of the city
lnasmuch as it seems reasonably
certain that the government is goina
to assist the city authorities and tn
Drainage District authorities in rails
Ing and strengthening the levees
the larger portion of the cost. which
VIII be paid out in labor, am d
the opinion that it will be best Il
continue the arrangements fo
the construction OF a cit,
hall without delay and havI
such building or buildings
constructed as will meet the needs O
the city during the present year.
: am not prepared to recommend un
der the circumstances the expendi
: ture of the entire $4,000 that ha
: been voted for this purpose, but
e do believe that 1t would be possihl
Z to make arrangements for putting u
0 building with such improve
: menfs as may be necessary a
,, an expenditure of about $4,000
's ana have whatever building
is that are constructed, SO constructe
y that they may be added to as nece,
e sity may require in the future. TIL,
t. recommendation is based upon tn
Nj l,., L. 4.