The Caucasian., 1913-11-02
The Cssss Lake IssW.

As indicated from information, GU
thenticated somewhat officially, tlsel
leasing of that portion of Cross cake
not now covered with water, is being
seriously considered by the state
Land Office. which is not surprising,
anA which may become sery lively
issue.
The Caucasian having fullg re-
viewed the conditions under which
Cross Lake is reserved to the City
of Shreveport, there is little left tor
argument.
The tract embraced, designated
and titled as Cross Lake, is to De
Geld not for the exploitation OF gas
and oil but as source OF supply
of aure and wholesome water for
the use of the people. This very
fact should negative every sugges-
ton of minerals, which if exploited,
would contaminate and destroy the
very purpose for which Cross Lake
is wanted by the progressive citizens
Of Shreveport.
Possibly in a strictly technical
sense the State may urge its right TO
lease that part Of the lake now dry
to exploiters of gas and oil, but from
the broad view of equity, any de-
parture from the reasonably implied
contract between the State and the
City of Shreveport, would be dishon-
crable.
Assuming, figuratively, that the
State, occupying the attitude OF .
man who reserved a splendid horse
for the use of the community, would
cripple the animal so as to defeat its
original purpose, could the State
defend its act as justifiable?' 81,
In this instance applying to Cross
Lake there may be injected the spu-
rious plea that the City Of Shreve-
rort has not liquidated its indebted
ness of $1,000 for the 1900 acres
embraced in the Cross alike tract,
bat such plea could not be tenable
fairly since no date has been fixed
for such payment, but the city
should acquire title without de-
lay. and as stipulated in the
act granting the area to the
City of Shreveport, is to revert to the
State after term of ten years OF its
date. if it be not used by the City OF
Shreveport. as implied, for reser-
yoir for the supply Of pure and
wholesome water for the use OF the
people.
The City Of Shreveport as an evil
dence Of good faith in it's dealings
with the State, hase voted bond is
sue Of $4,000 to meet this liability,
and which is at any time convertible
into money, at least as soon as the
financial stringency throughout the
United States is relieved.
And there is another view whlcn
the State should consider: Which IS
OF the greatest value to a commun-
ity, a reservoir of pure and whole
some water or the leasing OF min
eIal rights that would contaminate
and destroy the water supply for the
use of the community
Is the financial needs of the State
so great that it would, for a paitry
$4,000, destroy a supply of water
that would prove to be invaluable to
a community of loyal and progress
i've citizens.
It may be true that in this pro-
gressive community there may be
the citizens who are antagOnlstlc to
the proposed Gross Lake reservoir,
but the greatest number should
dominate the few who perhaps may
be interested directly and indirectly
in the waterworks whose source OF
supply is from Red River.
It matters little what are the tech
nicalities. It is the plain and the
imperative duty Of the Mayor and
the City Commissioners to stand
firm. Upon them rest the response
biiity. Possibly. and it is to be hoped,
that after hearing has been held as
expressed as being desirable by the
State, that the right sof the City of
Shreveport to the area Of Cross
Lake will be conceded without lid-
a2fiOu