Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-09-07
The River Survey.

The Point Coupe. Echo has been favored
by Col Stephen Van Wickle with the follow
ing preamble and resolutions. Col. Van Wlck'e
was one of the party who accompanied the
committee of the Senate and the State Engl-
neer on board the steamer Creole in their late
exploration Of the MISSISSIPPI and Atchafalaya
rivers
We. the undersigned, at the request of the
Senate Committee on Levess, &c, for the
State of Louisiana, have examined the banks
and bed of the Mississippi river at many points
between New Orleans and the mouth Of Red
river, and the source of the Atchafalaya; thence
to the head of "Lake Fausse Point" being
within township IL south, of range 8 east.
We have carefully taken many levels, sound
ines and measurements of rise and fall, depths,
widths. &c, TO enable US to form opinions on
the several subjects submitted to our consider
alton, and have the honor to report the follow
ing:
Sec. /. Resolred, That this commission re-
port to the Senate Committee the measure
ments and history of this expedition, and that
the president appoint a committee, to consist Of
three of the commission, whose duty it shall
be to carry the resolution into effect. tt.
Waller, G. G. Forshey, and J. L. Riddell' were
accordingly appointed. Adopted unanimously;
Sec. 3. That on the Atchafalaya, we traced
the high water marks of 1850, from an eleva-
ton of thirty feet above the present surface OF
its source at Old River, to the head of "I,ake
Fausse Point" where the water marks of 1850
were found to be six feet above the surface
Of said lake. That further examination, say
4 ----..1 IL d., ,-l o$Ln, o,,t1ofn mill ho M
cessary. The lands bordering on the Atcha-
falaya, below the ~"rafts," were found to have
been almost invariably submerged by the wa
tiers of 1850. Adopted unanimously.
Sec. 8. That in our opinions the Atchatal-
ava, with its bayous, if cleared from obstruc-
tons, could easily, and without increasing the
overflow of its banks, be made to receive and
carry to the Grand Lake any desirable amount
of food waters for the relief ofthe Mississippi,
If such system of relief should be resolved
upon. Adopted-6 to 5.
Yeas-Messrs. Riddeil, Hebert, Lafarelle,
fIeaton and Warren-6.
Naus-Messrs. Bringier, Buisson, Forshey,
w. G. Walker and H. Wa er-5.
SEE. a. That as we have not yet examined
the channel co~nnectionsAf Grand Lake with
the Gulf, we are not prepared to express an
OPINION on Tie SuuIc1eficJ Vi tAcsc SIa'iiieio ~
vent flood waters, nor on the practicabi'ity of
charging them if desirable. Adopted unani-
mousiy.
Sec. 5. That the most feasible point for the
Mississippi to be tapped, below Bayou La
fourche, is at the Bonnet Care Bend, pro-
yided the system of artificial outlets should be
placed under the immediate %scontrol Of State
officers. Adopted unanimously.
Sec. 7. That in adopting the system of le-
wees, it is ofthe first Importance to make the
boundaries of the levee districts depend on the
topography ofthe grounds, in such manner that
one district may not be liable to inundation
from accident or negligence of another, and
that guarblevees be run back where and so far
as necessary, to separate said districts each
from the other. Adopted unanimously.
Sec. 8. Resolred unanimously, That the
thanks of this Commission be and they are
hereby rendered to L.. Bringier, Esqfor the
zeal, energy and perseverance eviiiaed BY him
for the attainment of the object Of This expe-
Adopted.
Steamer Creole, on her return trip from Lake
Point to New Orleans.
(Signed) L. BRINGIER, President.
Benz. BUIssoN, Secretary.
il Riddle, P. o. Hilbert, c. G. Forshey,
Hugh Grant, VIM. G. Walter, Thomas Lafa-
rel e, A. w. Warren, L. A. Heaton and Henry
Waller.