The Cairo bulletin., 1912-06-27
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL.
Council Chamber, Cairo, Illinois,
June IL, 1912.

adjourned from June II, 1879
Present: Hon. George Parsons,
mayor, and Alderman Cox, Faudree,
Ferguson, Fry, Greaney, Kelly, Mag
ner, Nicholson, Neff. Saup, Walsh.
Absent: Aldermen Flack, Hurd,
end Serbian.
The mayor called Aldermmafs
Greaney to the chair, took the floor
and read his annual message to the
council as follows:
To the Members of the City Council:
Gentlemen
The cause of the delay in present
ing to YOU the usual Annual Mess
age that is required by law is too
2 well known to require either expla-
nation or apology from me. We
ought to be thankful, it seems to
me, that we are here at all after
having met the disastrous floods
that have passed our doors and es-
capped serious harm from the threat
ened danger that confronted the
people of the city. The struggle of
the past few months seems to have
brought the, city officials and the
people generally closer together
and the work that has been done
has been prosecuted with greater
unanimity and earnestness than has
ever been manifested by the people
of the city. ! have thoroughly APP
preciated the forceful cooperation
that has been extended to me by the
members of this council during the
past year and am pleased to say to
you that the success that has at
tended the efforts of the city au-
thorities Is the result of your broad,
comprehensive and untiring efforts
In behalf of the city.
Floods.
The most important matter that
has been cared for during the year
was the successful control of the UNI
precedented floods in the rivers dur
ing the months of March and
April, and I might also say the re-
turning flood which came in the
month Of May. The Government.
gauge recorded stage of fifty
four feet above low water mark.
which is fraction less than two
feet higher than any stage of the
river that has been previously re-
corded.
MI ut Is mot necessary to review the
details of the work that was done
during this flood period to protect
people and property from being
ruined and swept away, for every
household In the city has recorded
In 1t a more vivid account of the
trials OF the citizens than could
ever hope to give you. and the ex-
periences of what the, people passed
through at that time will HI net seeH
be forgotten.
II il a pleasure to call to your
notice at this time the forceful CO.
operation and harmony that was "a
evidence at all times in the active
work that was prosecuted while the
water in7the rivers remained at their
highest stage, and also the generous
cooperation of the Executive Com
mittee, that was organized at that
time, with the city authorities in
their efforts to furnish ways and
means for handling the tremendous
task that was placed upon the peo-
pie and adjusting all claims for ser.
vice and material necessary to carry
on the protective work, aud | would
be glad to have the same commit.
tee continued In same capacity, &c
that the fcity authorities viii be
able to have Its valuable advice. at
least until the details have been set.
tied for meeting the extraordinary
expenses that have been incurred In
consequence of the floods and the
plans for providing necessary addit.
1onal protection to the people, BY
increasing the strength and height
OF the levees, have been completed
In view Of what the people hav,
suffered in connection with this nm
precedented high stage in the rivers
1t has become necessary to provide
ways and means for preventing a re
currence CT this disaster. The Uni
ted States Government during tn
past few years has been confirm,
the Mississippi river below here I
Its natural channel, thereby prevent
ing the waters, during flood period,
from spreading out over large area
that have heretofore been known a
overflow lands, and it is general
recognized that the great flood her
was caused, in large part at leas
by this work of the Government. {
course, other circumstances entpre
into making the situation more SO
ious, among which might be me,
ffDupd fha ,rd