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Balance stagnation with initiative
Published Wednesday, November 18, 2009
When the town of Columbia was faced at the beginning of the depression years with a problem similar to the current economic problem Natchez faces, Mayor Hugh White (one of Mississippi’s better mayors) led the people of Columbia to bind together to build a new brick factory for Reliance Manufacturing which brought jobs to Columbia to replace the depleted timber industry. Thus was born the balance agriculture with industry initiative that gave Natchez its post-war boom and greatest modern period of prosperity.
Notwithstanding that Mayor White’s common call to action by the people, who placed their personal credit and collateral at risk, was later corrupted by the machinations of state and federal government bureaucracies, the basic idea was a sound one.
The basic idea was a common voluntary pooling of capital with a specific investment objective. Hugh White understood, as did the average Mississippi dirt farmer in those days (and their eighth-grade schoolchildren) that capital is a gift of nature given to each and every individual in the form of labor each individual has to offer.
Capital, they understood, is not something only bankers have; indeed, knew they, the capital bankers use to back the credit banks work their miracles of boom and bust with is the property of every schoolteacher and every schoolchild; it is the property of every milkman and milkmaiden; it is the property of every living thing that toils beneath the sun.
Every living thing that toils has a common right, a common duty, and a common interest. The right is to free and voluntary expression of desire, the duty is to allow that to all others, and the interest is common prosperity.
Of the many forms capital may and does take, one form is the right to petition our government.
This being the case, I call upon the people of Natchez to formalize that right in a petition expressing desire for renewed and expedited attention from state and local temporary office holders to move more quickly on the St. Catherine Creek kayak project, and on the NPS bluff project. In employing this right as capital, I suggest that the combined voters of Natchez and Adams County represent a significant incentive to temporary office holders to move on our behalf, but I further suggest that this incentive is only significant if it is the unified voice of all the people, as was the voice that saved Columbia during the depression.
When do the city and county plan to hold this consensus building meeting asking the people to forget all other differences for these two initiatives and ask for speedy completion of these projects?
Marty Ellerbe
Natchez resident
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 5:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Marty, are you going into the canoe/kayak rental business? I can't imagine why you would think this "creek project" would be beneficial otherwise.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 5:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
in this day and age, it seems that people are looking for 'free' capital...a government (not local, either) grant.
Posted by steve_o (anonymous) on November 18, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting,
http://ldftv.com/?p=2698#more-2698
Is this where initiative gets you?
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I personally hold no objection to the recreation ideology from past, present or future generations. But It is more about feasibility and an awareness of what the community needs.
We've had (and have) ball fields, tennis courts and swimming pools and where has it led us in terms of budgetary constraints. Now we want to throw good money after bad in light of one of the worst recessions on record. I personally champion nature over athletics and creating environment instead of additional temporary fixes.
I see the aforementioned project as a good investment in terms of year round tourism and recreation. The only issues I can see would be the continued ability to sustain such a diverse riparian habitat. Producing nutrient/input, reducing stream water temp, sediment filtering, erosion control, selective armoring, bank/channel stability, filtration and maintaing equilibrium are only the beginning and will require a major effort(s), but the payoff would last far longer than any recreation effort/idea/promise this area has ever created.
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 19, 2009 at 2:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
stateofnatchez you are right in your environmental points regarding the creek.
Many progressive communities around the world have undertaken environmental development projects, sometimes shooting themselves in the foot; it would only be to the benefit of Natchez to fully engage these concerns and partner with some university like Old Miss or Alcorn to involve both college level and primary level students in projects related to environmental monitoring of the creek. This would be an addtional selling point to the eco conscious tourists from Europe and Asia who could, instead of just using the creek, be told of the various efforts to control the environmental impact of the project.
It needn't get bogged down in endless red tape. Man has been building dams for centuries; beavers build them as well and nature, with its infinite intelligence, adapts. Change is the very essence of manifest existence, the whole universe is created to be in an ever changing state as the various qualities of matter interact with one another. We live in a dynamic, fluid world and conscientous stewardship of our resources in guiding change is a right and duty granted by nature and our own conscience.
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 19, 2009 at 2:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe Keith Benoist was involved in the genesis of this creek idea, and having talked to Keith on a few occaisions I know him to be a lover of nature and suspect he and others involved with the project have given deep thought to the environmental concerns.
OGD, a rising creek lifts all boats. True, Brer Rabbit Excursions (traceriders.com) does, as first and foremost outfitter for St Catherine Creek expeditons, offering shuttle services for up to 14 kayakers and their boats and gear, as well as shuttle and other services to cyclists, motorcycle and scooter riders, and other recreational vehicle users, have an economic interest in the creek project.
However, our interest goes far beyond our own interest, as Brer Rabbit intends to show capitalism in the light it was seen in by the visionary founders of our country, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Andrew Jackson, and others. We are going to share any good we aquire with others.
Because of your personal loss of hiking trail, Brer Rabbit extends to you a personal lifetime heavy discount on any use you make of our services, as well as a 3.5% discount to all Adams County residential and commercial property tax payers.
Further, if the voters will approve a $10 million bond issue for the recreation complex, Brer Rabbit will extend that discount in the form of a 10% rebate to all supportive property tax payers, and 5% to all Adams County residents in general. You may pay more taxes, but Brer Rabbit is going to see to it that you have more fun so it won't matter so much.
So, OGD, just for you, an offer. Brer Rabbit has 8 new Vespas you can choose from if you would like to; Brer Rabbit will sell you the one of your choice at invoice plus transport, a great savings over MSRP. Email general.andrew.rabbit@gmail.com for a listing of Vespas available at these rates, for sale or lease.
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 19, 2009 at 3:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
grungebob, I disagree, we are not in balance.
Look at this example regarding the First Baptist Church debacle. Had 2000 Natchez residents put up $100, or 200 put up $10,000, or 20 put up $100,000 that lady's project could have been fully funded, with Natchez residents owning it in concert with her.
Her idea was a very good one, a perfect example of New Urbanist design, would have brought more people back into downtown, and offered space for a variety of entrepreneurs.
However, we are not used to thinking in those terms anymore, whereas it was common prior to 1900- in those days many ventures were funded by local investors.
Had this been done, those investors could have traded their shares, selling when profitable, acquiring more if wanted, and it would have been an exciting project to have downtown. Instead, the people expected this one lady to fork out $2 million and assume all the risk on a project with enormous benefits for downtown Natchez.
Now, there is still the condominium project on the bluff. I would prefer that to be a smaller number of condominiums and some small shops, an outdoor bazzar; perhaps if some of the people would put up some money to help with the risk the present owners of the Pecan Factory site would change their plans and do something more attractive than a massive condominium complex. A New Urbanist project on that site would spur development of that whole end of North Canal and be a fantastic place to stroll and shop and eat.
I'm willing to invest in such a project, who else is?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 5:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Marty, I think the creek idea was originally Tony Byrne's. Bad idea either way. There's plenty of flatwater available in our area. To dam up St. Catherine in order to make another bayou seems silly. Why people look at free running streams and consider killing them with dams is beyond me. What's the next project? 2nd Creek? And maybe Coles creek after that? Then the Homochitto? Some folks sure get irked by clear running water. Maybe the city mentality makes 'em think someone left the faucet turned on?
I appreciate the offer, but I normally like to feel the earth beneath my feet. I walk whenever possible; no 4 wheelers or segways for me. And I like to paddle as opposed to motoring. And when I paddle I enjoy having a choice of waters to paddle. I don't appreciate folks engineering all the waters to look alike.
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 19, 2009 at 6:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I understand completely OGD, yet there is the economic impact to consider here. Shall the people of Adams County continue to eat cake so a drying up creek can run free, when it has water in it?
I don't know if you've noticed, but over the last 40 years there has been a considerable lowering of the water table in Adams and Jefferson counties, resulting in silting of the streams and drying up of the springs that once fed them. Owens Creek is a prime example of this, it rarely has water in it these days, only after a rain. It used to be a delightful waterfall, now it has only a trickle.
The Creek Project need not be destructive to the creek, nor would it necessarily impart a sameness of character to the creek. It may well improve the creek, especially if the developers undertake to do native seedbank management such as that practiced by Michael Shaw in California. The creek could become beautiful and stable, the water more oxygenated resulting in an improved fish habitat. Many entrepreneurial possibilities will arise for those a just a bit creative; more bread for the people and less cake.
It might also be possible for the developers to include a walking trail beside the creek, like they did down in Houma and over in San Antonio. I see this as an overall good thing though I was at first opposed to it. I went and looked at other waterway projects and they made things better, not worse.
Mississippi contains many thousands of square miles of land, and many thousand linear miles of creeks, streams, and rivers that are unspoiled. I don't see it as harmful to develop this one stretch of creek, though it does impact you personally in a negative way.
Since you reject my other offers, in compensation I will support your walkway across the river idea, though I would prefer a foot ferry operated by Brer Rabbit. Perhaps we can have both- maybe a walk across the bridge would make you pine for a boat ride back.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 7:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Your support of the bridge walkway is much appreciated. If you start building from Vidalia, I'll build from over here. Then we can meet in the middle and share hunting stories and spit over the rails.
:)
I could support the St. Catherine stuff more if it only involved the lower half. But I don't see how the water quality would improve. I've looked at the lower end during high water and it simply looks like a bayou. No more clear water.
And the lower end during high water is what the proposers told us it would look like.
As for development of trails and stuff, its hard to imagine since we have done zero with our river front. Tourists actually DO want to see that. And they want to get close to it. Have you considered Brer Rabbit Jet Ski Rentals?
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 19, 2009 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh yes, I've considered jet skis but our next acquistion will be a pontoon boat for those romantic moonlight cruises. Jet skis have a tendency to hurt people, and I would rather encourage people to make more people instead of killing off the ones here now.
Capt. Samuel Langhorn Rabbit, a member of the Board of Directors of Brer Rabbit, Creative Director (author of "The Gilded Cage", "Life in MIssissippi", "Rabbits Abroad", and other popular classics) currently on the Ivy League lecture circuit, then off to the Bahamas to enjoy carriage rides and swimming outings with a young lady, is anxious to get back into the passenger boat business.
Once he returns we will look into the St. John, Okhisa, and Concordia romantic cruise business.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Electric power might make for a more romantic experience. But so would a steam engine. I wonder if they still make 'em? But your pontoon excursions sound good. I never thought that our area had a big enough market to sustain anything much larger.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 19, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No charge......
:)
http://www.prestonservices.co.uk/marine....
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on November 20, 2009 at 3:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You are indeed a man after my own heart OGD. I do pine so for a steam powered catamaran or pontoon, or Lafitte skiff powered by a bio-diesel burner. That would be too sweet for words and just might catapult me into full realization and end my time on earth. Can this impossible dream ever be fulfilled?
Think of it. A 28 ft cypress hulled Lafitte chuff-chuffing up and down the Natchez-Vidalia Riverfront, powered by home-brewed bio-diesel!
Imagine, an 80% efficient engine, burning waste products, silently gliding up and down the river.
Capt. Sam would be delighted with this. Thanks for the link to the charming website, beautiful boats and engines!
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 20, 2009 at 4:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
:)
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