Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-31
Fifth District levee Board Appeals To Govern.
lnent For Adequate Flood Protection.
Psat 0 That SlsN h s,e1 Tr..,s n
Government E Its Corps OF Influence OF Fled c.,uJ c-aa

Legislature OF this State bonds amount
ing to $1,000, 600, which draw 5 per cent
interest. The Board owes. based on it,
certificates OF indebtedness, s34, 3S6. "a
an annual interest charge of $50, 900, and
has just expended in the recent high wa.
ter fight approximately $4,000 in its ef.
forts to preserve the integrity of the levee
line in this district. The bond issue oil
this Board is about as great az its re-
sources and the assessed valuation Of the
property within it would justify. 1t is
therefore impossible for it to derive any
further sums to be expended on levees
from these sources. Its people are 50
bnrdened that it would be impossible to
Increase in any way the portion Of tax
alton for levee purposes, which is now
cheerful,y born by them. We therefore
appeal to your committee to take such
action as will bring to completion in Sec
ton and grade i'm accordance with the
plans OF the Mississippi River Commis-
sion the 240.9 miles of levees already con
structed in tins district. We do not ask
that the burden now cheerfully borne BY
this district in an effort to maintain these
levees be reduced. We are willing and
able to continne the efforts we are now
making and to contribute to the fulfill
nlent OF the objects and purposes OF this
Board the full amount which we now
furnish, but We think the figures given
above will readily show that we are able
to do no more. We are willing and able
to continue this work in cooperation and
collaboration with the Mississippi River
Commission, or such other organization
as your committee may see1it to recon,
niends on basis of 34 Of the expenses to
be borne by the government and IA by
this Board, and this we are able to do.
We realize that the first essential to
flood control is adequate means to carry
out the work OF levee construction under
continuing contract plan that will guar
antee work done in the most economical
manner-the sectional grade as recon-
mended by the Mississippi River Commits
sion in 1914 as minimum, to be con-
structed in the least possible time. We
would recommend that in addition to this
section and grade, that in order to give
sufficient discharging capacity to the riv-
er ut flood stage, the necessary land be-
ing acquired and the levees set back ut
certain points to establish width be-
tween the controlling lines OF levees of
say three miles, so that at food stage the
river will not be eongested at any partic-
ular point, causing the food level to be
raised above that point; by increase Of
the width of the river at these congested
points, its carrying capacity will be in
creased, and its level reduced. In other
words, an outlet could be established in
the river itself.
While this new section and grade az
adopted by the Mississippi River Com
mission will probably be sufficient gen.
orally for complete protection from floods,
places will be found where on account of
increased porosity Of the soil, an increased
section will he required to prevent the
seepage through the levees. Then again,
on account of the defective material in
the foundation, especially where the ex-
isting line OF levees has been built over
lakes and sloughs, numNous sand boils
have appeared, the levees should be fur
Their strengthened by sub-levee being
built six to eight feet high, on the land
side OF the ievee at distance of about
200 to 300 feet, the space between being
filed with material pumped from the bed
Of the river, which would cause the sand
boils. il any appeared, to be forced back
to snch distance that there would be no
danger Of blowout from me foundation.
The committee will understand that
this is a mere suggestion OIL the part of
our Board in an effort to endeaver to
assist this committee in arriving at the
proper solution OF this problem. In the
past forty years we have increased the
rate OF taxation in our district, until now
t almost amounts to confiscation, and
till is insufficient to protect our lands
rom the foods Of drainage sent down on
Ne annually from the vast area tributary
% the Mississippi river.
1t is national problem that should BE-
solved by the National Government thru
ts able corps OF engineers. We appeal to
you TO use your influence in inducing our
government to recognize this as u ma
tional problem and take charge Of it.
Respectfully submitted,
E. e.. RHODES, President
B. F. YOUNG, Member
Board of Commissioners Fifth Louisiana
Levee District.