Show PERENNIAL NATIONAL PROBLEM Floods havo menaced always and w will always imperil the integrity of tho channel of or the tho Mississippi and tho the homes homos and lives of or the people on both its banks In the building of an au adequate system of levees vo wo have not only a common sense dictated obligation obligation obliga obliga- tion to commerce and the general welfare wel welfare fare but a higher obligation a n. moral obligation We set out to improve navigation navigation navi navi- gation and to confine the tho waters in such way Wa as to keep the tho channel unbroken bu building and revetments That Thatis is the business part of the proposition Next is the moral obligation I o o public work however benefi beneficent should 00 DO undertaken undertaken un un- and permitted that docs does not guarantee guarante-e that it shall bo be so constructed constructed con con- that property and life lifo shall not be endangered thereby I T would build a wall if necessary to hold tho the tilo hOE floods where they thoy would spend their m might ht in dredging and scouring I tho bed bod of the tho Mississippi from Cape Girardeau to the deep waters of oft the e egulf gulf for within that extent of river roach reach reach spreading from either bank and subject to overflow lie lands than which there is none nono richer in the world none so 80 near to profitable markets mar hots none so versatile o of production of ot necessities for the tho sustenance and luxuries luxuries lux lux- uries Urlee for the enjoyment of mankind Much luch as this may map mean for the tho future future fu fu- ture prosperity of the country with the tho reclamation of 01 the sixteen nu million million ion acres of marvelously fertile lan lands s that are aro subject to inundation it is s a minor consideration to the moral obligation of protecting lands alread already occupied cultivated cultivated cul cul- and improved Ever pinco inco the policy of annual appropriation was initiated there have been floods that have bave destroyed property and fortunes and lives worth more than thau all an that has bas ever been s spent ent upon up-on the Mississippi Speaker Champ Clark in the tho Ji July Y number of tho North American Re Re- view |