THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND ESPECIALLY OF THE NEGROES IS INDEFINITELY POSTPONED SO LONG AS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER ANNUALLY DESTROYS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF FARM CROPS, BUILDINGS, STOCK, AND IMPLEMENTS; INTERRUPTS RAILROAD COMMUNICATION; AND DESTROYS ALL SENSE OF SECURITY IN THE PURSUIT OF THE REWARDS OF INDUSTRY BY FILLING EVERY SPRING MONTH WITH DREAD THAT FAMILIES MAY BE COMPELLED AT ANY HOUR OF THE DAY OR NIGHT TO ADOPT SUCH MEANS AS THESE TO SAVE THEIR PROPERTY AND EVEN THEIR LIVES RAVAGES OF THE MISSISSIPPI FLOODS AN ANNUAL AND COMPLETE DISORGANIZATION OF CIVILIZED LIFE IN ONE OF THE MOST FERTILE SECTIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, CHARGEABLE DIRECTLY TO RECKLESS DEFORESTATION AND TO PETTY PORK BARREL" POLITICS IN CONGRESS IN WHICH 12,000 MARCHERS GAVE TO MORE THAN 100,000 SPECTATORS AND THE COUNTRY AT LARGE A STRIKING REMINDER |