The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-08-02
FLOOD PROTECTION URGED.
Representatives from Five Parishes
Call on National Government to
Take Charge of Mississippi River
People of Valley Should Unite
in Appeal.

/. Is
Citizens of the aHuvial region of
Louisiana, in mass meeting here last
Saturday afternoon, appealed to con-
gress to enact legislation looking to
floods which have devastated this
section for many years, and express
ed themselves forcibly as believing
protection from inundation to be the
paramount issue, with all considera-
tons of methods and systems of
secondary Importance. A heavy rain
which set in about 2 o'clock and con-
tinued until after the hour fixed for
the opening of the meeting, following
greatly interfered with the attend
ance at the gathering; but while
small, the audience was intelligent
and representative, comprising dele
gates from five parishes of this sec
ton of the state-Ascension, As
sumption, Lafourche, Iberyille and St.
James.
Mayor Walter Lemann called the
assemblage to order and stated its
object. He presented Hon. John
Marks, of Napoleonville, as the pre-
siding officer, and Frank K. Sims,
of Donaldsonville, acted as secretary.
w. B. Thompson, former president
Of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange,
and at present commissioner of pub
lie utilities of that city, was the
first speaker and declared that the
protection Of the fertile Mississippi
Delta from overflow is the primary
consideration of our people.
eve are all united on the point
that the Mississippi river, draining
as it does very large part of the
United States, is a national asset,
therefore its care and protection
should be a national liability said
Mr.. Thompson.
eve may differ as to the most
feasible plan for Harvesting the
mighty stream and keeping it within
its banks, but that the problem is.
one for the nation to handle is
agreed by all. The people of the
valley should unite, since congress
will not arbitrate their differences
OF opinion or settle their dispute. and
decide on plan for protection to be
submitted to the national govern
ment. The Mississippi River Com
mission, composed of some of the
leading engineers of the nation, and
best equipped than any other body
to handle the problem, has been at
work on the river for the past thirty
years, and it must be conceded they
have accomplished excellent results.
While they may have failed to solve
the problem entirely, it has been due
mainly to lack of funds, and not to
lack Of knowledge
Mr. Thompson said he would hesi-
tate to express an opinion as to
the best method Of eontrol ling the
floods, but he thought the most log
ical course would be to follow what
has been demonstrated and to i'm
prove on the experience.
$ The first duty is to keep the
water off the land, and the only
way to do this now is to strengthen
our levees and enlarge our banks.
We can experiment with other meth
DDS at. our leisure
Mr.. Thompson made it plain that
he does not care which bill for riv-
er regulation may be favored in con-
gress, nor does he advocate the pass
age of any particular measure.
Whatever offers the most sensi-
Bile, practical promise of relief is
the measure shall advocate and the
one / shall support said he.
Trv nF
sissippi River Levee Association,
was introduced as the next speaker
and made an interesting address.
He said he had served as a levee
engineer from Red river to the Gulf
under Major Richardson some years
ago, and is thoroughly acquainted
with every foot Of land bordering
the river in this territory, and is
conyersant with the needs of the
state from q flood protection stand
point. Mr.. Fox gave a history of le-
wee engineering along the Missis-
sippi river from 1860 to the present
day, and told of the work being
done by the Mississippi River Leyee
Association toward securing federal
control of the floods on the river.
He showed what had already been
accomplished along this line, and
said the whole alluvial Delta is be-
ing brought into the movement to
secure the S60,0O0,0O0 appropriation
from congress needed to complete
the system of levees and revet the
caVing banks. He exhibited samples
of the reports Of flood damage that
are being complied III every parish
and county of the six states affected
by the recurrent overflows, and read
letter from Gen. w. H. Bixby,
chief of engineers Of the United
States army, indorsing the plans Of
the Mississippi River Commission
to control the floods by levees and
reVetments. Mr.. Fox advocated turn
ing the ty-million-d dollar appro-
priation from congress over to the
engineers, So they may be able to
do the work required as their
knowledge prompts them. eff the
engineers are to be the doctors,