The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-03-10
MEETING IS HELD AT
SECOND WARD SCHOOL
w. H. West Is Made Commit.
tee Chairman First Meet
ing Friday Evening
NAME MEMBERS OF
coNSERvANcY COMMITTEE
i w. n. West, chairman.
c. 3. Vail,
+. Charles Seottie
George Lepley
E. c. Van Nostrand.

\ u
I e.. c. Van Nostrand.
At meeting Of citizens Of Mt. Yer.
non, property owners and residents
concerned in securing protection
against future floods, gathering in the
auditorium of the Second ward school
on Wednesday, evening announcement
was made by Chairman Walter Jones
Of the membership Of the Conservan.
cy committee he had been instructed
to appoint. To the members of this
committee is to be entrusted much Of
the very important preliminary work
that must be done as prerequisite.
The number of those present was
not as large as the importance Of the
matter at hand would have justified.
The auditorium was, perhaps, two
thirds filled. Had Mt Vernon just
passed through flood or misfor-
tune akin to that happening recently
at Painesville at railroad grade
crossing the, building would have been
filled to suffocation and the air filled
with clamor for immediate protection.
The number OF those present at We'd
nesday evenings meeting is signif-
cant Of the real concern and the abid.
ing strength Of the desire for protec-
ton on the part of those who live
within the menace Of damage and loss
by invasion Of the waters Of the Ko-
kOsing river.
Chairman Jones at the opening Of
the meeting invited Mr.. George A.
Thompson, city editor of the Banner,
to describe to the company present
what is being done in the Miami val.
ley to protect the people there under
the Conservancy law from death and
loss from flood. Mr.. Thompson in 1913
was a. resident Of Piqua, O., living
within the section of the city suffer
ing from the visitation of the waters.
Having entertained 1S feet of water in
his own home at that time and exper-
fencing personally all the thrills and
sensations of being flood sufferer he
was able to give an interesting first
hand account of what flood is.
He gave also an account of the first
futile efforts of the communities and
counties separately to protect them
selves against flood in the future. He
told in simple language how the peo-
pie had sat for months after the flood
in March of 1918, in the midst of the
wreckage the waters had brought.
Under the leadership of men at Day.
ton the Conservancy law was drafted
and made into law by the legisla-
ture. The statute has been tested in
all the courts, state and federal, and
has been found to be unassailable and
workable. s.
1t is incorrect, Mr.. Thompson indi.
Gated. to refer to the law as the Mi
ami Conservancy law. Its title is "The
Conservancy Law of Ohio" The work
now being brought to completion in
the Miami vailey in the Miami Con-
servancy district embracing nine
counties from Hamilton county at the
north of the Great Miami river to and
including Shelby county, near the
source of that river, is perhaps the
most important work now being done
under the law Other conservancy dis
tricts have been formed, it is under
stood, in Ohio under this law. 1t
would be quite as correct and as ac-
curate to refer to the law as the Knox
Conservancy law because the people
here are contemplating proceeding un-
der it.J 70 tA, -
The statute merely is means and
vehicle that may be used il the peo-
pie. cpncer4eA desire. 10, (qsei IT, Both
city and county are unable by, reason
of ifinanciaf Situation to u aff6rd tie
measureI OF, relief to which the people
are entitled. Under the law 1t is equal.
ly possible to carry on work upon a
very large and comprehensive scale
as is being done in the Miami valley
or upon scale greatly smaller as
would seem to be called for here.
Mr.. Thompson urged careful ex-
animation and study of the Conserv.
ancy law. II steps are, taken under 1t
it will be possible for the people to
secure for themselves protection,
naaca of mind and, a return of their