Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1852-03-13

up twenty feet before it reaches the presen
bottom of the Bayou. The fall from the rive
to the point where the Bayou has, from tn,
back water of the Amite and the Lakes anC
its inlets, sufficient depth for navigation, is a
least twenty eight feet, and the distance is
some twelve miles.
10 afford then ingress, at low water in the
Mississippi, the bed of the Bayou must be de-
pressed at its head twenty-five feet, and this
must be carried gradually decreasing back to
twelve miles, and to protect the country, locks
constructed at the river to bear the immense
column OF thirty seven feet water. Such locks
could not be expected to stand in our alluvial
soil. The bottom of the Manchac is now, and
this is not the dry weather season, entirely dry
a few yards from the mouth of the Crocodile,
near ten miles back from the river The
works necessary to affect low water navigation
in the Manchac, would not cost less than three
| hundred thousand dollars.
| An imperfect and dangerous navigation of
the Bayou, could be effected during the high
water season, without danger to the country,
but it would be by a system Of lockage, pro-
| baby, even more expensive than that for low
water, if we except the dredging: by placing
lock at the head of the Bayou in its present
condition, and locating others at proper dis
tances to overcome the fall of thirty feet in
twelve miles. This would Of course be atten-
ded with great expense and difficulties, and
even then could only be used when water of
the Mississippi would be within seven feet of
the high water level. This period would be so
short and uncertain that no reliance could be
placed upon it. In addition to all this, there
is reason which has been but little consider
ed, which will forever prevent navigation of
much commercial Importance through the Man.
chac, however great our expenditures, or those
OF the general government, mi ght be on the
BAYOU itself
There is not sufficient draft of water in the
connection between Lake Maurepas and Lake
Pontchartrain, to admit the passage of vessels
of any great burthen. The draft of water will
not usually admit the passage of vessels
drawing more than five feet, and this difficulty
would probably be increased by pouring into
the Lakes the sediment of the Mississippi
water.
In view of the calamities that would be inhc-
ted upon worthy people, who have settled
and improved, in good faith, and without ex-
pectation of change in the State policy, an i'm
rortant and fertile portion of the State, if the
Bayou were simply opened without steps being
taken for their security, and Of the vast cost of
protecting them, and Of its insignfcance as an
outlet of the river, would respectfully recon-
mend that the Bayou Manchac be permitted to
remain in its present position.
Circumstances of peculiar character, in the
early history of our State, gave an undue i'm
portance to the Bayou Manchac or the famous
river lberville, and this Importance has been
awarded to it to the present day, probably from
the fact ofits being closed up from observation
Its ancient fame, and reputation abroad, soon
vanish when it is seen
Respectfully, A. D. WOOLDRIGE,
State Engineer.