Many landowners preserve accurate watermarks, which indicate changes in the status of their lands as related to high-water stages. Prior to the beginning of work on the Brunswick extension, engineers assumed that levels could be reduced from 2% to 3 feet by its construction. When less than one-half of it had been completed, landowners as far south as Onward found that a 22-inch lowering of the levels had been brought about. In other parts of the area a lowering of nearly 3 feet had been obtained. The engineers began to revise their estimates. In April 1926 Mr. J. S. Allen, chief engineer of the Board of Mississippi Levee Commissioners, wrote: "Since the work has been progressing, myself and other engineers have given the matter more careful study, and the conclusion is that the backwater plane will be lowered between 4 and 4% feet. Personally I am of the opinion that 4% feet will be the minimum, which, as you know, will release from backwater many thousands of acres of highly productive lands." "Experience is the best teacher ", and facts are always stronger than theories based upon experiments. The statement will probably be accepted as axiomatic that the farther south the levee line is carried the greater will become the protected area. The addition of a 9-mile stretch to levee from Old Yazoo River would certainly be beneficial to the landowners north of Vicksburg. The people of the lower Delta are entitled to any gain that may be given them. As has been said, they pay taxes for levee construction and have done so for many years. They have repeatedly received unqualified assurances from officials that the levee will be completed to Vicksburg. It is not believable that the promises made will not be fulfilled; but it is desirable that reassurance shall be given those who have awaited for years the fulfillment of those promises. If any amendment of existing plans should be adopted, provision should be made definitely for the completion of the main Mississippi levee line to Vicksburg. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to present for the record a certified copy of a resolution adopted by the board of supervisors of Humphreys County, Miss., dated February 16, 1935, advocating a comprehensive flood and backwater control of the entire Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Rivers system, as follows, to wit: RESOLUTION Whereas the recent heavy rains have caused a major flood on the Coldwater River, and, Whereas the waters coming from the Coldwater River and uniting with the flood waters from the Tallahatchie River, the Yocona River, the Yalobusha River, and their tributaries, have caused damage amounting to million of dollars and have caused great loss of life; and whereas, this damage has been continuously recurring over a period of years; and, Whereas the landowners and citizens of this flooded area have suffered such severe losses that they are unable to continue the losing fight against the flood waters, and, Whereas the flooded area is of such size and the floods occur with such frequency and intensity as to constitute a national problem: Therefore, be it Resolved, That we, the undersigned counties of Mississippi, hereby request that an allotment be made from the funds provided for public works in the United States in a sufficient amount to prepare and execute a comprehensive plan of flood and backwater control on the entire drainage area of the Coldwater, Tallahatchie, Yocona, Yalobusha, and Yazoo Rivers and their tributaries, to the point of their junction with the Mississippi River; be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Mississippi State engineer for the Public Works Administration, to the President of the United States, and to the Mississippi Senators and Representatives in the Congress. STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, Humphreys County. I, A. R. Hutchens, clerk, of the Board of Supervisors in and for said county, do hereby certify that the foregoing 1 page contains a whole, true, and correct copy of an order of the Board of Supervisors, of said county, as the same appears of record in minute books no. 7, page 368 in my office. Witness my hand and official seal, this the 16th day of February A. D. 1935. A. R. HUTCHENS, Clerk. BEATRICE A. FRY, Deputy Clerk. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to present resolutions adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Warren County endorsing the Yazoo River project and flood control in the backwater area, as follows, to wit: RESOLUTION Whereas from the newspaper reports there is now pending a discussion looking toward a possible solution of the flood water problems on the Yazoo River, and its tributaries, and, Whereas when the Flood Control Act of 1928 was under consideration by Congress and a compilation was made of damages sustained by the 1927 overflow of the Mississippi River, in which it was shown that a major portion of the damages sustained by the Mississippi Delta from said flood was sustained by those portions of the Delta constituting what is commonly known as "backwater area on the Yazoo River, which constitutes approximately 850,000 acres, and, Whereas there was an additional damage in 1928 and 1929 in the backwater area on the Yazoo River, which resulted in the total loss of crops in 1929 and almost bankruptcy to the landowners owning land therein, and, Whereas annually the damage from overflow sustained from the landowners owning land within the backwater area far exceeds by many times any amount of damage that is annually received by landowners on the upper Yazoo River and its tributaries, and, Whereas the backwater area constitutes a portion of the two levee boards now existing in the State of Mississippi, as well as a portion of the State of Mississippi, and of the United States, and is as much entitled in equity and justice and rights to its protection against floods as any other portion of the Mississippi Delta, or of any other State of the Nation, and Whereas any plan for protecton of lands in the Yazoo River Basin should be a system of reservoirs on the headwater tributary streams of the Yazoo River as reported by the United States Engineeer Corps, the district engineer at Vicksburg under Major Lee and Major Larkin, and, Whereas the United States has already conceded the equity of the landowners in the said backwater area to the extent that it is willing to put up two-thirds of the necessary funds for the protection of said backwater area and through the Mississippi River has so expressed itself, and, Whereas the damage from the flood waters in this area have been so excessive and repeated that the landowners from this cause, as well as business conditions due to the depression, have been unable to provide the necessary one-third of the cost of said protection: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Board of Supervisors of Warren County, Miss., in regular session convened, That it is the sense of the board that any plan which would give protection to the lands in the Yazoo River Basin and its tributaries should include a system of backwater levees for protection of the back water area; be it further Resolved, That this board of supervisors now calls the attention of its Congressmen and Senators to the situation existing in the lower reaches of the Yazoo River, commonly called the Backwater Area, and demands that proper recognition be given to the problems of this section in any consideration that may be had of the flood-water problem along the Yazoo River; be it further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be given to Hon. Joe E. Frazier, president of the Association of Supervisors in Mississippi. STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, Warren County. I, J. G. Sherard, clerk of the board of supervisors of Warren County, Miss., do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true and correct transcript of that certain order adopted by the board of supervisors of said county of record in minute book "N" at page 261, of the minutes of said board. Witness my hand and seal of office this 16th day of February 1935. J. G. SHERARD, Clerk, By W. F. LAUGHLIN, Deputy Clerk. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to insert in the record resolutions adopted by representatives from Quitman, Holmes, Sunflower, Yazoo, Coahoma, Grenada, Tate, Tallahatchie, Panola, Tunica, Yalobusha, Humphreys, DeSoto, Leflore, Carroll, Washington, Marshall, Warren, Lafayette, and Benton Counties, Miss., on February 26, 1935, at a mass meeting held in Greenwood, Miss., furnished me by Archie Pepper, chairman, and Mildred S. Topp, secretary. I may add that similar resolutions have been adopted by the Chambers of Commerce and civic organizations in practically every community in the Yazoo Basin. Similar resolutions have been passed by the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board and by the Mississippi Board of Levee Commissioners. EXHIBIT C RESOLUTIONS ON FLOOD CONTROL Whereas destructive floods in the Yazoo-Yalobusha-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin are of ever-increasing occurence, causing millions of dollars of damage to property, great loss of life, and human suffering; and Whereas the affected basin is the most fertile and the most important agricultural area in the world; and Whereas the basin is unable to provide funds whereby an adequate system of control of floods may be effected, although surveys by competent engineers declare that such control is easily possible; and Whereas the United States Government, under the leadership of its great President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is providing for a system of public works as a major measure for the recovery of the United States from depression and for the providing of employment for the unemployed people of the United States; and Whereas the inclusion of flood control in the Yazoo-Yalobusha-TallahatchieColdwater Basin would provide much employment and at the same time prevent the further destruction of a fertile producing area: Therefore be it Resolved by the citizens of the several counties affected in mass meeting assembled, That the Senators and Congressmen of Mississippi and the Public Works Administration are urged to use every effort for the adequate control of floods in the Yazoo-Yalobusha-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin under the supervision of and according to any plans which may be made by the Government of the United States, and we especially recommend that cleaning out and straightening of the streams, terracing of lands, and soil-erosion prevention be included in such plans; be it further Resolved, That Governor M. S. Conner, the Representatives and Senators of the various counties of Mississippi be urged to provide for the necessary legislation whereby the State of Mississippi or the affected area may cooperate with any agency of the United States Government in carrying out a program of flood control in the affected basin and soil-erosion prevention in the watershed of the rivers causing such floods; be it further Resolved, That we appreciate and approve the resolution of the Coldwater Basin Protective Association adopted at Senatobia, Friday, February 22, 1935, and pledge them our hearty cooperation in carrying out the aims of their association. The above resolution was introduced at a mass meeting of citizens in Greenwood, at the chamber of commerce, on February 26, 1935. On a motion duly put it was adopted unanimously. Representatives from the following counties were present, as follows: Quitman, Holmes, Sunflower, Yazoo, Coahoma, Grenada, Tate, Tallahatchie, Panola, Tunica, Yalobusha, Humphreys, DeSoto, Leflore, Carroll, Washington, Marshall, Warren, Lafayette, Benton. ARCHIE PEPPER, Chairman. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to insert in the record a resolution adopted by the Chamber of Commerce of Greenwood, Miss.; the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Greenwood; American Legion Post No. 49 of Greenwood; the Greenwood Kiwanis Club, endorsing the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River project as recommended by the Chief of Engineers. Similar resolutions have been passed and furnished to me by the Chamber of Commerce of Moorhead and by the Moorhead Rotary Club, Greenwood, Miss. Similar resolutions have been furnished me by the citizens and property owners of Quitman County, Miss.; by the Rotary Club, of Drew, Miss.; by the Rotary Club and by the Business and Professional Women's Club, of Tchula, Miss.; and by the Board of Supervisors of Humphreys County, Miss. RESOLUTION ON FLOOD CONTROL Whereas destructive floods in the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin are of ever-increasing occurrence, causing millions of dollars of damage to property, great loss of life, and human suffering; and Whereas the affected basin is the most fertile and the most important agricultural area in the world; and Whereas the basin is unable to provide funds whereby an adequate system of control of floods may be effected, although surveys by competent engineers declare that such control is easily possible; and Whereas the United States Government, under the leadership of its great President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, is providing for a system of public works as a major measure for the recovery of the United States from depression, and for the providing of employment for the unemployed people of the United States; and Whereas inclusion of flood control in the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin would provide much employment, and at the same time prevent the further destruction of a fertile producing area: Therefore be it Resolved by the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the undersigned civic organizations of Greenwood, Miss., in meeting assembled, That the Senators and Congressmen of Mississippi and the Public Works Administration are urged to use every effort for the allocation of funds from the Public Works Administration for the adequate control of floods in the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater Basin under the supervision of and according to any plans which may be made by the Government of the United States; be it further Resolved, That Gov. M. S. Conner, the representatives and senators of the various counties of Mississippi be urged to provide for the necessary legislation whereby the State of Mississippi or the affected area may cooperate with any agency of the United States Government in carrying out a program of flood control in the affected basin. Adopted February 11, 1935. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF GREEN WOOD. GREEN WOOD ROTARY CLUB. AMERICAN LEGION POST No. 49. GREENWOOD KIWANIS CLUB. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I desire to present for record a resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Humphreys County, the Belzoni Rotary Club, the Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce, the Belzoni Business and Professional Women's Club, the American Legion of Belzoni, Miss., on February 15, 1935, advocating a flood-control project along the Yazoo River system, as follows, to wit: RESOLUTIONS ON FLOOD CONTROL Whereas a disastrous flood again prevails over the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River, resulting in great loss of life, human suffering, and great property loss in the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, in which lies the most fertile land in the world; and Whereas such destructive floods have been of frequent occurrence and their recurrence is certain; and Whereas by reason of such floods the Federal land bank, the joint-stock land banks, life-insurance companies, and other lending agencies in which the United States Government is financially interested are in jeopardy of losing their investments in the affected area; and Whereas the solution of the flood-control problems of this river will be of incalculable benefit in the treatment of flood control in all other parts of the United States; and Whereas these flood losses, added to the present economic distress, have impoverished the inhabitants of this area so that they are unable to provide financially for their protection against such floods; and Whereas the President of the United States is about to promulgate a great system of public works to serve also as a major measure for the relief of unemployment: Therefore be it Resolved, That all of the Senators and Congressmen of Mississippi and the Public Works Administration are hereby urged to use every effort so that flood control for the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River, by any plan which may be made by the United States Government, be included in such Public Works program; be it further Resolved, That Gov. M. S. Conner and the representatives and senators from all of the counties of the State of Mississippi be hereby urged to provide the legislation required so that the affected area can cooperate with the Federal Government in carrying out a comprehensive plan of flood control. Adopted February 15, 1935. Belzoni Business and Professional Women's Club, by Annie M. Putnam, president; Belzoni Woman's Club, by Mrs. James Vincent, president; American Legion. Arthur Alexander Post, No. 68, by C. Sevier, service officer; Board of Supervisors, Humphreys County, by B. A. Holaday, president; the Belzoni Rotary Club, by Will Solomon, secretary; Humphreys County Chamber of Commerce, by Enoch Haga, president; city of Belzoni, by A. C. Bradley, clerk. Mr. WHITTINGTON. Mr. Chairman, I ask permission to insert a petition signed by citizens and residents of Quitman County, Miss., dated February 14, 1935, the petition being signed by W. A. Cole and many other citizens and taxpayers endorsing the Yazoo-Tallahatchie-Coldwater River project, as follows: MEETING OF THE CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF LAMBERT AND COMMUNITY, IN QUITMAN COUNTY, MISS., HELD ON FEBRUARY 14, 1935 To Hon. WILL M. WHITTINGTON, Member of Congress; Hon. PAT HARRISON, Hon. THEODORE G. BILBO, United States Senators; Hon. M. S. CONNER, Governor; Hon. M. E. DENTON, State Senator; Hon. C. R. RILEY, State Representative: We, the undersigned mayor and board of aldermen of the town of Lambert, Miss., commissioners of drainage districts, citizens, and residents of Lambert and community, in Quitman County, Miss., respectfully request that you use your influence and support in securing flood relief for the people of this community and county. Approximately 85,000 acres of the most fertile land in the State, in Quitman County, have reverted to the State for the nonpayment of taxes due to the flood waters of Yocona, Coldwater, and Tallahatchie Rivers. All local drainage districts in our county are now practically bankrupt. We are no longer able to handle this situation locally, and hereby appeal to you for help. Due to the fact that 85,000 acres of land have gone back to the State, it increases the tax burden on the taxpayers on all other lands. |