The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1913-09-12
SHIELDS PUTS IN PLEA.
Tennessee Senator Will Keep Idea
Before Congress.

Before Congress.
Washington, Sept. 6.-The three po-
litical parties having declared for it,
legislation providing for the control Of
the floods in the Mississippi River and
its tributaries will be among the most
important to be considered at the regu-
lar session Of Congress. Already there
are hundreds Of queer theories about
the way in which this control is to be
exercised. These include the source
reservoir system, contemplating an ex-
penditure of about $40, 900; the
sink-hole system and the levee system.
The Senate committee already is study
ing the question and will be prepared
to take up the matter of saving Ken
tucky and her neighbors from the loss
and desolation OF future high waters.
Senator Shields Of Tennessee, mem
Der of the committee, believes firmly in
the levee system, and, in a statement
issued to-day, said:
II am much interested in the pro-
posed legislation for the control oi the
floods in the Mississippi river and the
protection and reclamation Of the mill
lions of acres of valuable lands through
which it flows. shall devote much Of
my time and energy while in Congress
to this work. have already given the
subject much consideration, but moth
ing like that which it will require.
TWO BILLS BEFORE CONGRESS.
There are now two bills before Con-
gress covering the matter. One intro
duced by Senator Newlands, which pro-
vides vast scheme OF legislation for
the improvement, reclamation and irri-
cation Of lands in many parts Of the
United States, inclusive of the control
Of the waters of the Mississippi; and an
other known ais the Ransdell- -Humph-
reys bill, which relates solely the Mis-
sissippi. AS between the two ! favor
the latter. The control OF the annual
floods in this river, the protection of
the plantations in cultivation and the
reclamation OF the vast areas OF the
most valuable cotton lands in the world,
now unavailable, is work Of too great
magnitude and involves interests too
vast and important to be connected and
hampered with any other scheme of
public improvement. In my opinion
it is the greatest work of conservation
and reclamation now before the
American people, or with which Con-
gress win ever have to deal.
The Mississippi river, between Cairo
and its mouth, carries the waters Of 80
States, and drains about 40 per cent OF
the area Of the entire United States
There are, between Cairo and the heads
Of passes, about 20, 600, 900 acres Of the
finest cotton lands in the world, only
s, 900, 900 acres of which are now in
because Of the lack Of prop
er drainage and protection from over
flows.
LARGE INCREASE IN COTTON LAND.
III these 15,o0O,0OO acres are re-
the cotton producing area,
which is now about 35, 900, 900 acreas,
will be increased nearly one-half ia
acreage and more than that in produc-
live capacity This would easily and
permanently establish the control Of the
United States in the cotton production
II the world, and add greatly to the
wealth Of our whole country.
These considerations make the pro-
posed Improvements national want,
he expense OF which should be borne
BY the general government. This is
conceded. All three Of the
great political parties last year recog-
lized these facts, and pledged them
ielves to legislation to discharge the
lation's obligations in relation to them
/ believe the Democratic party still will |
'edeem this pledge, and have no doubt
President Wilson will give the matter
.ttention in his message to the next
congress.
7 cannot now safely predict what
cheme will be devised, but from the
United investigation I have been able
0 make, / believe that the leyee sys-
EN- is the only feasible and practicable
me by which to confine and control
be floods. The majority Of the able
nd experienced engineers who have
onsidered the problem in all its phases,
aking into consideration the peculiar
onditions and topography Of the gE 's, Is
iississippi Valley and the chagatures. t
les Of its great rivers, 10 novel ideas II
gith the experience Of otDtime, including
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