The Caucasian., 1913-08-05
The Noted Sagacious Finaneiers OF
the LeVee Board Of 1898.

lne NOteQ SaUactDuS ElHsHcltl'S Ol
the Levee Board Of 1898.
West Carroll Gazette August i,
1913: The historic deal between the
Tensas Basin LeVee Board and the
lTensas Delta Land Co. Ltd, by
! which the Levee Board ceded to the
land company a domain of 100000
acres Of State land for and in con-
sideration of the sum of $4,000, AT
the wholesome rate of 1870 per
acre. Take the relative value of all
the lands in the State upon the
same basis of valuation of 1898, how
many miles of levee would the pro-
ceeds build? Ask the boy of the
common school to tell you. Every
citizen in the State should read the
history of this stupendous deal, this
remarkable piece of financiering for
their loved State. The people of the
great State of Louisiana should un-
derstand every lineament that went
to make up that deal Of 1898, when
they were implicitly trusting their
trusted officials with the guardian
ship of their interests, which decided
away 100000 acres of their domain
for 1870 per acre, the value Of
which is over s5,ooG0oo today, only
fifteen years since the sale. The
cunning dog when he wants to de-
YOUR flock of sheep goes away
from home, finds a flock, then
makes a dicker with their watch
dogs giving them a share in the
spoils and the flock is surrendered.
So this little body Of resourceful
minds formed their predacious plan
and moved down into Louisiana.
After investigation and estimating
the domain they wish to besiege
and take, then gave themselves a
big name, The Tensas Delta Land
Company Limited. The plan is in
complete yet, but in shape for per
feetion, but to perfect the rich
scheme they must now put on their
velvet shoes and go quietly to the
Levee Board officials, who are in
trusted with this domain and with
power to dispose of it for the wei
fare and interest of the State, and
make a dicker with them by ferti-
lizing their pockets on the side and
by giving them stock in this big
company, which they could very
we'll afford to do when this big
named company is to have a deed
from them to this little 100000 acre
domain at 1870 pei. acre, every 800
put into which would soon swell to
thousands-a self-sharpening ma
chine, far ahead Of any process of
compounding interest. If the sale Of
these bodies Of land to the land
company by the Levee Board were
clean and square, why should the
land company be of compromising
disposition and pay 100000 back to
the State to keep out of the equity
courts, although the sum of 100000
is an infnitesimal part Of their
great gains? Is it the spirit Of COM
panies or. corporations to sympa-
thize with or feel solicitous for the
people or State? No, it is not and
never has been. They are cool, de-
liberate and impervious to all else
but their. own special welfare. The
Attorney General is perfectly geo
metric In his proud stand. You may
condone a wrong, but you have no
way to compromise wrong. The
famous case could not be settled
rightfully outside of the courts
What a reproachful history for the
historian to record for Louisiana!
What plea Of exculpation could the
Tensas Basin Levee Board of 1898
have who were deputed by the peo-
pie and trusted with power to util-
ize this resourceful domain for the
good Of the State? While the great
moral rule Of right condemns them,
the wanting cries Of the babes in the
cradle must haunt them.