The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-04-19

prevent floods in the middle West,
such as have devasted that territory
and are Low threatening vast areas
in the lower Mississippi, is one Of
the serious questions that faces Pres
ident Wilson. He considers it one
of the greatest problems confronting
the administration and it would not
be surprising if he should order his
Secretary of War to direct the engi-
neers of the department to prepare
detailed report on the question for
the regular session of Congress,
which meets in December next.
The biggest problem outside of
some comprehensive plan of flood
prevention, will be to finance the
undertaking. President Wilson has
been told by the Congressional lead
ers that the necessity for strict econ
omy in the government was never
so great as now.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, the chairman Of
the Appropriations Committee told
the President early in the week that
if only few of the bills already in
troduced in the House affecting the
flood situation were enacted into
law they would exhaust not alone
every dollar in the national treasury
but also all revenues that are in sight
One plan which has been brought
i to the attention Of the President
and which will receive serious con
sideration, is to have a genera
scheme of improvement planned
which would absolutely take care o.
all future floods in the Mississippi
Missouri, Ohio and their tribu
taries, and then to finance it with {
general issue of what would b,
known as flood bonds"
Part of the financing of the i'm
provement under this plan would b
met by the States benefited, anC
the remainder by the Government
In connection with this plan is to b,
considered the ACCESSIBILITY of bring
ling to this work Col. George f
Goethals and his entire Panama
Canal construction force. This or
ganization, the greatest of its kline
the world ever saw, is to be idlt
very soon. 1t has been suggested
that it be sent to Alaska to develops
the resources of that country wher,
obstacles are to be encountered.
But the flood situation may
change that plan. The Lower Mis-
sissippi Improvement Association
has been working to have the cana
workers sent to care for the Mis-
sissippi, and it is possible that tn
force will be utilized to place tn
rivers of the Middle West in sucl
condition that further disastrou
| floods will be impossible.
i Preparations are rapidly bein
concluded for what gives promise G
being the greatest reunion of Civi
War Veterans ever held in thi
country, and which is to he held Of
J the historic field of Gettysburg
June 80 to July6 inclusive. Accom-
modations will be provided for 40,
600 persons. 1t is announced tina
a tent capable OF holding from 10,
} 600 to u, 900 persons will be erect
ed on the battle field and that with
, in will take place the exercises to b
held, eliminating in great peac
jubilee on July 4, when the chic
orator of the occasion will be Pres
dent Woodrow Wilson, Chief jus
} tice White to preside over the excl
cises.
The camp will cover $50 acre
and will be maintained only for tt
veterans of the civil war. The CO..
: of the anniversary celebration, tt
: fiftieth since one of the greatest ba
: ties in the worlds history W;
} fought, will be borne by the feeders
government and the State of Penn
sylvania, 100000 having been al
+, propriated for the occasion.