Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-09-30


Of the various states the mayors Of
1900 cities, and the different CONNER
cial organizations throughout the coun
try, the bankers are unanimously fol
the control of the lower Mississippi
river floods by the government. Sew
eral are strongly In favor OF the levee
proposition while others do not commit
themselves to a plan of food protec
ton but agree that immediate action
by the government is necessary.
To Aid Passage Of Bill.
Several of these bankers will assist
the Mississippi River Levee associa
ton in aiding the Ransdell-Humphreys
measure to pass. Offers to do what
they could and their services at the
direction of the association were con.
tanned in several letters received re.
Gently by the association.
The Atlanta Clearing House associa.
ton sent letter signed by all Of the
members. 1t endorsed the levee propo-
sition in strong terms.
believing, as we do" say the At
lantans, that the United States gov.
eminent should contribute largely, II
not solely, to the protection Of the
property through which the great Mis-.
sissippi river flows, we earnestly de-
sire to lend our cooperation in push
ing to a successful issue the bill which
the people living in the states adjacent
to the Mississippi have introduced IN
congress.
Since the people living in these
states have already spent nearly S70.-
100000 in their efforts to cope with
the floods. we feel that it Is only right
md just for the government to come
forth and furnish the necessary $780,
100000 to complete the levee system
which will bring into cultivation mil.
lions of acres of the richest land In
the world, now undeveloped, and which
will add to the wealth of the nation
annually eight times the amount Of
the expenditure necessary to protect
these lands. .s.s ...,s,l... .5
We, the undersigned members Of the
Atlanta Clearing House, sincerely
trust the United States government
will take hand in this important
problem and work it out to success
full termination, as we feel 1t matter
of supreme interest to the nation at
large"
Wndt 6dnkeF Gays.
Here are some of the bankers let
tiers:
Here is what Frank A. Vanderlip.
president of the National City bank. Of
New York, one of the strongest finan-
cial institutions in the country has to
say. Mr.. Vanderlip was formerly as
sistant secretary Of the treasury when
Franklin MacVaegh, of Detroit, held
that Office under President Taft. He
writes as follows:
& 81 consider it of great Importance
that speedy action be taken toward
obviating the annual danger from
floods on the lower Mississippi The
damage done is so extensive, and the
suffering and financial loss so great
that it is national calamity whenever
these floods occur. Affecting as it does
the whole country both from a business
and humanitarian standpoint, I be-
lieve the matter very properly comes
within the scope Of congressional &C
ton and hope congress will see fit
in the near future to make adequate
for the great work that
needs to be done there"
Among other prominent bankers who
themselves in favor Of gov
eminent control Of flood prevention
methods are: William j. Gray, vice
president of the First National bank of
Detroit, Thomas B. Beal, president Of
the Second National bank of Boston,
John A. Lynch, president of the Nation
al bank of the Republic at Chicago,
and A. L. Mills, president Of the First
National bank of Portland. Ore.