Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-03-31

he IouOwinS appeal has been sent to
the flood control committee at Wasliing-
ton by the Fifth Louisiana Levee Board /:
To the IIon'l Chairman and Members of
the Commission on Flood Control
We have been directed by the Board
Of Commissioners for the Fifth louisiana
Levee District to place before you the
following facts:
The Fifth Louisiana Levee District, or
ganized by special act Of the Legislature
Of the State oil Louisiana, in 1856, ex-
tends from the Arkansas line to the
mouth of Red River, distance Of 253
miles. This entire distance, with the ex-
ception Of IL miles, in now under levees,
there being 204.9 miles from the Arkan-
-as line to Point Breeze, which is thirteen
miles from the mouth OF Red River.
Tie parishes of East Carroll, Madison,
rensas and Concordia comprise this dis
trict, having an acreage Of 1898, $3.50
ares, and being Inhabited 10y approx
mately $1,000 individuals OF the above
acreage there are now in cultivation 302,-
1893 acres, or about 81 per cent of the
total acreage. This land is all alluvial
formation uf inexhaustible fertility and
wonderful productiveness While we now
cultivate only 81 per cent of this land
fully so per cent OF the above mentioned
area could and would I've placed in cult
! walton were the levees in this district con-
strncted up to commission grade and Sec
ton, and the people were confident that
there wou!d be no constant danger Of de-
s;ructive and ruinous foods. While we
have now a population OF only 5000,
this section would make homes and sup
port in comparative comfort and luxury
approximately 20O, 900 people.
The total assessment in the district for
the year 1914 is Sl2, 743. 34S, and our
lands are now assessed at an average val
uation of 50. 10 per acre. These valua-
tons being placed upon approximately
60 per cent total cash value. Were the
levees completed up to commission grade
aud section and security against overflow
assured, with the fertility and product
iveness OF this soil, it should and would
be worth S75 to 500 per acre.
The revenues of this Board, which are
Expended in the building and mainten-
ance OF levees, amount to, based on 1914
returns, $237, 1888. This sum is de-
rived from an advalorem tax Of ten mills
assessed exclusively for levee purposes.
An acreage tax of five cents per acre on
all the lands in this district, whether cul-
tivated or uncultivated; a produce tax of
81 90 per bale on all-cotton; five cents a
bag ON all rice, onecent per bushel OH
all corn and oats; Is cents ton all hay !;
$1,000 on ali standard gauge railroads.
Beside the taxes just mentioned, We in
our district pay IL mills more. covering
state, parish and school taxes, making a
total tax throughout the Fifth Louisiana
Levee District OF about per cent on the
value of our lands. of which fully three
per cent goes exclusively to the building
and maintenance Of the levees in the dis
trict.
Besides the sum above mentioned, de-
rived from the sources just enumerated,
there is a further tax of 1870 of a mill,
which goes to levee purposes, and is ex-
pended throughout the State, the district
which we have the honor to represent re-
ceivlng about SIS, 10000 per year from
this source. There being thus expended
by this Board and the State Of Louisiana
on the construction and maintenance Of
levees about 500, 900 per year.
Since the organization OF this Board i'm
1886 it has spent on building and repair
ing the levees and cutting the weeds
therefrom about five and half million
dollars, making the total of approximate
" six million dollars. The cost OF ad-
niinistration is exceedingly small, rs the
members of this Board serve without SAL
airy, and pay only a chief Inspector, sub
inspectors and secretary. Its interest
charge is $1,000 per year. During the
time al high water fights which have oc-
CURED frequently during the last five
years, from $40. 900 to $50, coo is expend-
ed each time. While large sum is ex-
pented in the proper policing and caring
for the levees throughout the district,
there has been spent in actual construc-
ton, that is permanent, the levees for
which it was spent being now standing
within this district, $40, 5l2.2S, every
cent Of this sum having been spent by
this district alone, and this over and
above the $4,000 year spent by the
State in this district
This board has under authority of the