The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-10-23
PROCEEDINGS Or lEveE BOARD
NOffice Board of Commissioners,
Fifth La. Levee District


Tallulah. La, Oct. 18th. 1915.
The Board of Commissioners for the
Fifth Louisiana Levee District met in
regular session at Tallulah, La, it,
dOmicile. this day.
President Rhodes called the meeting
to order at 1890 a. m, and directed
the Secretary to call the roll Of MEN,
bers. and the following Commissioners
answered roll call:
E. J. Hamley. X. L. Hill from East
Carroll.
]. M. johnson. T. P. Kell from
Madison.
F: L. Gurthrie. B. F. Young from
Tensas.
]. H. Lambdin, E. C. Rhodes, Pres
from Concordia.
The regular business of the meeting
was taken up as follows:
REPORT OF COMMITTEE
To the Honorable members of the
Fifth La. Levee Board, Tallulah. La.
Gentlemen:
We, your committee appointed to
investigate the merits Of the claim of
certain property holders in COncOrdia
parish for suspension acreage tax on
lands subject to overflow from back
water coming around the lower end of
the levee System, find the lands south
PIT Breeze are protected in a measure
by the high water stage from sweeping
down through the slOughs and Bayou,
and the high bank extending down the
river below the end Of the levee, which
reduces the level OF the back water
coming up below.
While these lands cannot adaquentiy
| be protected until the levee system is
extended on down and the red river is
divorced from the Mississippi. This
exposed area ID valued very low. conse-
quently pays very small ad-valorem tax
is held mostly for the timber that is
standing on it, purchased at a very -"
figure on account of existing conditions.
If taxes were RENTED on anv of these
lands. which has been done under extra
ordinary conditions. it would be very
difficult to establish an arbitrary line
that would do equal justice to all the
tax payers that are affected by the
back water. on account of the low
swamps extending for q great distance
I'D into the parish, with irregular depths
Of water standing over the land during
food season.
All the flooded area would be slightly
benefited from the fact that the head
water was cut off by the levee system.
thus reducing the depth and preventing
strong current from securing and wash
| ing the land. As was originally seen
| fit to include these land in ievee dis
trio, bonds being issued based on the
taxes derived from it. and pr :aent con-
ditions are unchanged, We ctnnot rec
ommend that the taxes now suspen-
ded.
Respectfully submitted.
E. c. RHODES,
]. H. LAMBDIN.
Committee.
On motion of Commissioner H =, the
above report of committee wa, .spprUv-
ed and adopted
Reports of The president an secreta.
~ were approved and sdopte
| Hon. JeI Ii. Snyder appear | before
/ the Board with request TINT c Boar,
. grant the application of Doug ASS Alex
apder. resident of Madi IN Pari'h.
La, for q "Quit Claim" deed to GER
tain track of land in said parish, de-
scription of which, end all the facts be-
ing fully set out in the apple alton.
After considering the matter, actor
on the application was deferred unti
the next regular meeting.
On motion of Commissioner Johnson
seconded by Commissioner he the sec
retary of the Board was direct ii TO tint
copies of ntracts with certain parties
to nut lands on the assessment roll:
some twenty years since, and report u
the next meeting of the Board.
Mai. NJ. p. Robertson, of the Boar
of State Engineers, being present
made a report touching the presen
emergencies, and the general conGitIoI
of levees in the district. and submitted
to the Board certain emergency rei'ai
WORK aqreei upon ~ himself and TN
president, as important before anothe
high water.
On motion Of Commissioner Hamley
seconded by Commissio ier kell, tn
following resolution was iopted:
BE IT RESULVED, That the presl
dent Oh this Board be, and he is hereb
authorized to advertise for enlargement
the Holly Brook Levee in East Caro-
Parish and the; Punch Bowl" Ic'e
above the town of vidalis, Concord
parish, La, also the repair OF tn
Slides the Reid Biggs Levee in Madiso
parish, and search ditch at Rifle poir
: plantation, Conc~ndia parish.
In the matter Of the petition. of tn
, Bank of Yidalia, for refund Of tax.
for certain years collected by tn
Z sheriff. On motion of Commissions
: KeTl, seconded ny Commissioner Han
lev. the matter was deferred to Hol
Jeff B. Snyder, attorney for this Bear
for his legal opinion a to the prop
z steps in the matter. ~.
i On motion Of Commissioner HI
|, seconded by Commissioner kell, Il
: application of Maj. Il. +. Conner, f
k4feiund of acreage tax enormously
I sessed. for taxes for the year l9l
was referred to Commissioner Lam
din and President Ri ,des, anu Z
, members from Concordii Parish. a.
u committee, for their investigation a
e settlement
ON motion of Com missioner Youn
seconded by Commissioner Johnson. t
Following resolution was adopted:
BELT RESOLVED. That the of
: Of compromise and arbitration of I
= pvos in tho matt