Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-11-09
The Drift Mt the Mouth of the
RAVOlE.

L HOuSH VIC SoHCIlS IN IAt>
the old adage "that a prophet availeth nothing
in his own country" yet the theme of GU
prophesy relates to . subject, the nature o
which is so well understood, and has been 81
thoroughly discussed, as to admit even withou
the necessity Of an apology, our views to pas
current, in regard to the future destiny Of Pla
quemine.
Public excitement was aroused to its utter
most, a: the last high stage of water, less the
! ffail pilings which alone secured the immense
drift at The entrance of the Bayou, should give
away. It did not require much discernment tt
foresee the disastrous consequences that in
| evitab'y would follow if such had unfortunately
been the case. The threatening danger which
then stared them in the face, forced the inhat'
itants of this town to devise some means by
which if possible to lull in future, this great ap.
prehension of danger by which they are annual
Iy threatened. They concluded, and very "a.
tionally too, to secure if possible the services OF
one of the State Boats and hands to perform
the necessary work at this dangerous point
as soon as possible. In furtherance of this de.
termination, a memorial, nume.ously signed by
the citizens Of this town, was placed in our
hands for the purpose of securing the passage
Of an act by the Legislature, ordering the State
Engineer to proceed with the necessary force
at this point, at the present stage Of low water,
to repair and otherwise perform the necessary
works at the mouth of this bayou, as would best
answer for the future protection of our town.
Also, to drive pilings, according to the direction
of our corporate authorities, from the mouth
of the bayou to Goose Island.
The corporate authorities doubtless remem-
Der when they instructed US to obtain the pas
sage Of this law, that the corporation was to
furnish at its W expense the necessary pi-
lings for the purpose, and required simply the
use of one of the State Boats and hands to
drive them down. But we, in order to favor
as much as possible the interests of the corpo-
ration, so drafted the law as to compel the
State, at its own expense, to furnish the mate
terials necessary to complete the works at the
mouth ofthe bayou, and rendering it therefore
only necessary for the corporation to furnish
the pilings to be used in 'front.' of the town.
In a conversation with A. D. Woodbridge,
Esq, our State Engineer, during his recent
visit to our town, he seemed to entertain no
very great apprehension of the drift breaking
at the next stage of high water. Now on
what grounds his opinions are predicated, we
are unable to say, and Notwithstanding the DIFF
that we are compelled to concede to
better Judgment, we feel bound here, to
urge our own honest difference Of opinion.
If we judge of the future by the past, the
probability is certainly very great, that matters
remain much longer in stalu quo. The
immense drift which has been for a number Of
years past accumulating at the entrance of the
has latterly been rapidly giving. away,
Ind is now so loose and insecure as to be
unable to resist the pressure of the next high
Should the drift then give way, as in
IL probability it will, the most APPALLING and dis
consequences will follow. Without
he protection of this drift, the strong current
will, with its impetuous force, strike
gainst the town like a torrent, will carry
way any embankments that may be raised to
rotect US from inundation.
Now, inasmuch as the act passed by the Le-
for the protection Of Plaquemine,
ontains no specific appropriation for the pur-
Of the necessary materials to accomplish
his work ; and even should the State Engineer
. disposed, which he doubtless is, to perform
ven at this very time, the necessary works for
ur protection, he feels unable to do so for the
'ant Of the necessary means within his power.
The question now arises: Do the citizens
f this town feel a sufficient interest for its
lture safety and protection, as to be induced
raise BY private contributions--say $1,000;
r, are they willing that the Town Council should
this amount by extra taxation, in order
purchase materials necessary to enable the
tate Engineer to accomplish this work? If
0, we feel confident, that as soon as this
one, and the State Engineer is informed 81
fact, that he will not delay an instant in
Immediately repairing to this point with the me-
sssary hands to perform that, which by Legis-
tive enactment he is compelled to perform, at
,e present low stage Of the water.
Our town Council we trust will take this
latter under their serious consideration, and
Ike such action in regard to this measure, as
'eir good judgment may dictate. /
T As the election day is near at hand. it is
gh time that the Wings of tbis District, should
} up and doing. We have but little time left
organize aud nominate Our candidate. Now
the time FIR notion sNow Is tha timo ~