The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-05-18
LEGISLATURE WILL SEEK
AID FROM GOVERNMENT
Administration Said to Favor Federal
Control of Levees-Will Take
Action on Resolution Asking Aid
Next Week.

The resolution introduced in the
Senate calling upon Congress to as
sumo control of the levees of the
Mississippi, will have the backing Of
the administration, it is said. The
resolution was presented at the re-
quest of John M. Parker, of New Or
leans. 1t was prepared by the Lou
lslana Reclamation Club. It was pre-
sented by Senator Barrow, of West
Feliciana. AS it failed to secure
unanimous consent for yesterday,
the measure will not be taken I'D I'm.
til after the appointment of commit
tees next week. The resolution fol.
lows:
Whereas, The great flood of 1912
has demonstrated that the national
government only can obviate a re-
currence of such overflow disasters
in the future by national policy, I'M
der which an adequate levee system
Will be built and maintained as ma.
tional Notifications against invasion
and destruction by the forces of ma.
ture, and
Whereas, The steadily increasing
volume of the floods in the lower
Mississippi Valley has been caused
largely by the changed condition of
the watershed i'm the States compris.
ing the drainage basin of the Ohio,
upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
and
Whereas, These causes and condi.
TONS are beyond the control of the
States bordering the Mississippi from
Cairo to the Gulf and can only be
controlled by the national govern
ment, now therefore, be it
Resolved, That the national gov
eminent should Immediately extend
such temporary relief as may be nee.
essary to repair the broken leyees
and to maintain them in future. and
TO control the river in its channel
by reVetments and bank protective
works, which will safeguard against
the destruction of levees by caving
banks and shifting channels.
Resolved further, That i'm working
out plans for flood prevention and
the protection of the lowlands of
the Mississippi Valley from overflow,
the Mississippi river and all it's trib.
utarles and source streams should he
treated as a unit, and a comprehen-
'ive and adequate levee system, to
be permanently maintained by the
national government, should be SUD
piementef by system OF reservoirs
IN the headwaters of the Ohio and
It's tributaries, and also on the upper
Mississippi, and by a system of flood
water canals and storage reservoirs
n the Missouri river valley, by
means of which the flood plane at
cairo would be at all times so redrc-
I'd that no combination of high wa
er in the three upper rivers would
'ver create a great flood in the low
'r Missi@ ippl Valley, and at the
'ame time prevent overflow and dam.
lge by floods in the valleys of the
ohio, the upper Mississippi and the
rivers.
Resolved further, That the nation
:annot longer afford to permit its
esources Of soil, of power, of water
md of navigation to be carried as
vasteful and destructive flood to the
ea, and that since the States them
elves cannot, in the general inter.
tst, prevent this waste, the Federal
government should conserve such
loods at their sources, and subject
he now wasted waters to beneficial
lse,
Resolved further, The Senate and
House of Representatives of the
state of Louisiana hereby request
he national government to assume
ontrol Of the levees of the Mtssis-
ippi river and its tributaries and
maintain and protect existing levee
ines"