The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-06-27
DISCUSS PLANS FOR
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Citizens Of Three Counties Gather in
Grenada and Organize to Drain
ldIObuShd River.

sosVeo0ss0 uubvNvs
There was held in Grenada Thursda,
of last week a meeting of probabl
/ greater Importance than any in recen
years, when representatives from lie
fore, Yalobusha Carroll and Grenad,
counties gathered to discuss plans TO
the reclamation of lands which are nov
annually overlooked by the Yalobush;
river, the drainage of said lands, tn,
widening and deepening of the channe
of the river, and the opening up of tn,
same to navigation for boats.
The meeting was held in the cour
house, with a goodly number of thu
most substantial planters and bushes.
men of this territory in attendance. A
temporary organization was effected
with Walter Crump of Parsons as chair
man and A. M. Carothers of Grenada
secretary.
w. B. Hoffa stated the object of the
meeting, and called attention to the
following significant facts: That there
are 60, 900 acres of ~uncleared and uncul.
tivated lands in Grenada county owing
to the annual overflow of the Yalobu,
sha river, and that these lands. if re-
claimed, would add over a million dol
lars annually to the agricultural wealth
of the county, and that said lands could
be reclaimed if the proper steps were
taken to open the river; that the old,
land lines show the river at present is
not as wide and that it does not possess
as great water carrying capacity as rs
years ago, due to the fact that the
river has been allowed to fill up. and
by failure to keep the underbrush and
small trees cut away from the banks;
that about four years ago an overflow
of the river destroyed in Grenada coun-
ty alone over $500 bales of cotton.
which, at an average price of $50 per
bale for cotton and seed-the prevailing
average price at that time-meant q
loss Of over $500, 900; that the opening
up of the river to navigation would
make every bale of cotton, handled
through the local compress, brig Is of
a cent per pound more, and give a low
er freight rate, owing to water compe-
tition, on all classes of products.
w. M. Dubard, ore of the largest
land owners in this section, briefly
called attention to the fact that the
greater portion of the water which falls
in this territory is drained by the Yalo-
busha river; that the river is becoming
more and more engorged all the time.
and that it was a suicidal policy to
longer neglect it. He mentioned one
of the most prosperous cities in Missis-
sippi which is supported almost entire
ly by reclaimed lands, and stressed the
Importance of the reclamation work.
A permanent organization was mex
fected uuder the name of the Yalobu-
sha River Improvement Association,
with the following officers: j. H.
Brown. president; w. r. Burroughs.
LIST vice president; Walter Crump, End
vice president; John P. Jones, secre-
tary; J. c. Perry, treasurer.
The following resolution was offered
by W. M. Dubard and adopted:
Resolved, That j. H. Brown, A, C.
Neil, Jno. P. Jones, j. C. Perry, TN,
Kirby and w. M. Dubard are hereby
made and constituted a committee, or
board of control, to have charge of the
improvement work of the Yalobusha
river from Grenada to its junction with
the Tallahatchie river, north of Green
wood.
This committee, or board, is empow-
cred to make all necessary arrange
ments and contracts for such work and
improvements as in its judgment the
circumstances and conditions will war
rant and the amount of money at their
disposal will allow, and pay for the
same.
No work shall be done, or obligation
assumed, until at least $500 has been
subscribed and paid in, and if by the
18th day of November, 1918, that sum
has not beer collected and paid in, then
the committee, or board, shall return 10
aoph Snhcprihar ~ chic f.r --A
which has been paid in by him or her,
less such pro rata share of the EXPENSES
as have been incurred.
1t is further provided that if this
committee, or board, when more fully
informed of the condition of the river.
finds that the aforesaid sum of $500 is
inadequate to do any effective and ad.
vantageous Improvement, it shall en-
deavor to have the fund increased until
it is sufficient for some good and eff
fective work; and if this effort to suff-
GENTLY increase this fund fails, then
the amount paid in may be returned to
the contributors to this fund, less the
expenses incurred pro rata, and the
duties of this committee, or board. will
have been fully met:
A committee was appointed to write
to Congressman SissOn, notifying him
of the action of this meeting and adyis-
ing that his constituents expect him to
put forth every effort to secure an ap-
preparation for the Yalobusha river
work, and the temporary secretary was
instructed to furnish Mr.. Sisson a cow
of the proceedings of this meeting, and
to send the Grenada Sentinel and the
Commercial Appeal a copy each.
The executive committee will entar
actively upon its duties Immediately.
and the launching of this movement
marks another step forward in the nro-
gress of this section of the state.