The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-03-07
COST OF YALOBUSHA
RIVER OvERFLOWS.
Citizens Should StraIghten and Clean
Out River Says ". N. Dubard.

u;rt | allude to the improvement of |
!I,"YS ~" YSalobusha river. Right here it |
NV w he said that l, of course, think it |
n'n, w,atter of Importance on account of |
s.a \ fact that have property located |
W ,be river. That Is true, and perhaps |
~ .Sat is why my attention has been more |
S;rsctlv attracted to the import ance |
,i .nS necessity of its improvement. II
lave v quite lot of what ought to be !
,n,amable land along the river between
Cor ada and Greenwood, which on &C.
u o"nnt of The clogged condition of the |
.ver channel is practically .valueless.
prt many other persons own much land |
~ and out from said river which is
S;m;larly situated. And on account of
shs clogped, bad condition of the river. |
msny Of the creeks and bayous that en-
Ter into it are filling, and the flow of
sheir channels is obstructed for miles
hack from the river. In many instances
M permanent improvement on the
creek looking to protection from over
aow. or drainage, can be done until the
r;yer H has been improved by removing
the distractions which prevent the nat
m ,rsl washing and clearing by the unim-
needed water which flows through its
charnel. 49,.
rendition will grow worse along the riv-
~ and creeks, and the affected area
viii be greater year after year.
II is comparatively simple and in
expensive thing to improve the river
now, to put and keep it in such condi-
finn as to make it self-improving by un-
Instructed water flow; but in little
while, if let alone, it will become a
nrobem of vast magnitude.
We have tried for number of years
10 get the Government to do this work,
but up to this time have failed to do so.
We should continue this appeal to the
(oyemment, but in the meantime let
us begin and do something for our
selves; no help 10 80 effective as self
bep. In other sections of our state
thousands of dollars are being spent on
canals for drainage purposes, and vast
acreage has been, and is being re-
claimed. Some-notably one, of the
most prosperous towns in the state draw
their very life blood from these re-
deemed overfiowed lands, few years
since deemed almost wholly without
value.
In the face OF the fruits Of such ex-
amples, shall we sit still and let this
riyer-drsin which nature gave US not
oply hold from cultivation the rich allu-
vial land at present subject to overflow,
but year by year reach out for that
which has heretofore been free from
its ravages? This is q matter of inter-
est to all. The Yalobusha is the water
drain of our entire county; every creek
In the county empties its waters into
this stream, and with this improvement
al Of these creeks may in turn be more
Effectively improved than can be done
under present conditions.
Improvements will lower the high
water mark and shorten the duration of
The overflow period. On account of the
fact that the Yalobusha is shorter than
the Tallahatchie, if the Yalobusha was
opened and improved, as is the Talla-
hatchie, much of our present high wa
ter would be out and away by Green
wood before the bulk of the Talla-
hatchie water met it in the Tippoe's, as
1t present, to be held up by it and with
i by the engorged condition below.
II this is true, II is easy to see how the
Tippoe country is interested; and much
Of this TippOe section is IN Grenada
county, and the greater part of it has
practically no value Except for tim
ber under existing conditions, and no
drainage can be had for it except by
md through the Yalobusha river.
The improvement of the river would
mean an immense addition to the possi-
kltes of value and resources of Gren.
ada county and the parts of Carroll and
Lenore through which it runs; to which
may be added all the lowlands that lie
between the Yal0busha and the Talla'
hatchie rivers.
Another reason for the necessity Of
nver improvement is the fact that
large part of the water of number OF
Counties east. north and south of vi
lows via the Yalobusha. Under pres
ent conditions, much of the deposit
herefrOm is simply filing and choking
Up the channel. and the fact that in 9
number of localities east of US the rivel
and its tributaries are being canalet
md opened up, thus filling and choking
up in our part of the river will be more
md more emphasized. Open the chan
nel, cut bend here and there, AM
hls vast volume of water which is nov
ioing so much damage by frequent ant
esastrous 0verflows, will. scour out
eeepen and enlarge the stream. instead
now, filing and making more shal
ew its bed, and the rich deposits will
g carried into and left in the lov
places along the valley, making tina
.hich now has no value marvelousl!
nch and available soil.
Is there anything in the foregoing
9iopostions? Ii there any necessit.
i0f action in this matter? II SO, 1t Is
natter of interest to all. The peopl
Sho own the Immediately affected Ian
slye direct, special interest. Ever
aling and occupation has at least
Hsronage interest
That mo man liveth to himself"
aqe in every sphere Of life, but is nc
saere more emphasized than in the r.
aucn Of the town to the country. lti
0ssble to have . rich. prosperou
@entry section with Z mere shippin
ant, but in purely agricultural coun
IKE ours It II not possible to hav
liable and securely prosperous tow
saless the output Of its trade teyritor
WmcIent tn auDuoPt IL IL this SUI