Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-10-26
kevee ON Grand River.

Zevee on Grand River.
the last session of the Legislature, the
Hon. E. w. BLAKE, as appears from the jour
nal o fthe House of Representatives, introduced
an act for levying Grand River, from the Park
| to Bayou Pigeon. The committee on internal
Improvements, to which was referred the bill:
reported adversely to its passage. This unfa-
vorable report rendered the bill somewhat un-
popular, and came near destroying all hopes of
its passage into a law by the Legislature Our
Senators and Representatives with their united
efforts succeeded byond their W expectations
in effecting its final passage. The law is in the
words and figures following:
"Be It Resolved by the Senate and House of
J Representatives Of the State of Louisiana in
General Assembly convened, that the State
Engineer be and he is hereby directed and in
structed to levee the left bank of Grand River
from the Park to Bayou Pigeon, the same hav-
ing been as per Resolution approved March
10th l948, surveyed, and the prdcticability and
cost of the same having been favorably report
ed on by the State Engineer. Approved March
Dist, 1850"
The most formidable objection urged against
the passage of this law was, that it was entirely
local in its character and properly belonged to
the parochial authorities of Iberville. But this
objection was soon abandoned when it was
rendered evident that the parish of Ibervllle
was not the only benefactor by this law but
on the contrary, its benefits extended equally
to the surrounding parishes of Ascension, As
sumption, Lafour.he Interior and Terrebonne.
The importance of this law does not at first
sight disclose itself; but a few thoughtful re-
Elections will present to our minds the great
advantage it will be to the above named par
ishes.
In the first place let US consider the vast ex-
tent Of property rendered as it were utterly
worthless, which is by nature destined, by
even ordinary care and precaution, to be the
most cultivable soil Of our State. The instin-
ces here referred to are numerous-for instance,
the large and extensive sugar plantations stu
ated on Bayou Goula, which are equally sub
jected to inundation, simply for the want of an
efficient levee on Grand River. In the second
place it will not be denied that the lands imme-
diately bordering on Grand River, are of the
richest and most fertile kind, and would, if this
project was once effected, be wholly redeemed;
and if redeemed, would in a few years be cul-
tivated in sugar, and instead Of beholding as
we now do, the whole extent of land on that
beautiful stream, now an extensive swamp and
the exclusive abode of crowded reptiles, we
would be charmed with the contrast that it
would present, in teeming with a chain of
rich and highly cultivated plantations, unequal
led by any in our State. These notions may
be viewed as wild and chimerical, yet they are
nevertheless strictly correct.
The State engineer has asserted, we believe,
that Notwithstanding the great Importance of
this work, he will be unable to perform it at !
the present low stage Of water, owing to ether /
works equally as important, previously ordered
to be executed by the Legislature, which has
precedence to this--and even were he disposed
to carry through this ordinance of the Legisla-
ture, he would be unable to do so for the want
OF the necessary means at his disposal, which
would require a specific appropriation of seven
thousand dollars.
Now the question nationally presents itself:
Is the levying Of Grand River of sufficient i'm
to the inhabitants bordering its banks
Ito the planters Of Bayou Goula and the ad-
Joining parishes, to induce them to raise the re-
4ulsite amount by private subscription, to COM
plet e the work? fso, are they willing to SUBJ
scribe, advance the money, and trust to the
State OF Louisiana for its reimbursement ?
We can consider this subscription in no other
lght than an advance or loan made by indiyid-
lals to the State, which she, in her magnani-
nifty, would be honorably bound to refund.
We trust that this matter may receive its de.
erved consideration, aud that those more i'm.
nediately interested may be stimulated to re.
'ewed energy, and when fully impressed with
Is importance, may, and We trust will achieve
great and important desideratum.
LONG AND SHORT DAYs.-At Berlin and Lon.
on, the longest day has sixteen hours and a
at Stockholm, the longest day has Is and
half hours; at Hamburg, the longest day has
sventecn hours, and the shortest seven; at st.
etersburg, the longest day has nineteen, and .
re shortest five hours; at Tornea, in Finland, /
ne longest day has twenty-one hours, and a