Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1853-07-16
BAYOU PIaquemines

From remarks which we frequency hear
from old administrations and practical OBJ
seryers-in reference to the condition of Bayou
Plaquemine and the changes which are con-
stantly occurring in relation to it, we feel as
sured that the attention of the Legislature and
the public mind generally, are not sufficiently
aroused to the Importance of some decided
and definite improvement at its mouth, OF some
description or other, before evils Of great mag
nitude result through negligence and apathy.
1t is the general opinion here-and it is an
opinion formed, we think, upon correct grounds
that the ten thousand dollars appropriated by
the last Legislature for works to prevent the
drift from entering the bayou, will be an entire
loss to the State, through the belief that if any
works can be built to prevent the entrance OF
the drift, it would take a sum that the State
would not dream of giving for that purpose
that the sum already appropriated is too in"
significant to effect any good whatever. We
are under the impression that the act authori-
zing this appropriation was passed with little
reflection and less knowledge. The current of
the river that sets round the point just above
the mouth on the opposite side, and making
directly for it, is exceedingly rapid, and we
learn that the channel is being cut by the &C.
ton of this current on a line curving from that
point directly to the mouth of the bayou,
which, widening annually, the time may not
be far distant when the channel of the river
will lead directly through the bayou, and, Ito
speak of no greater misfortune" to New Or
leans,) when not only RATS, but fatboats, will
find it impossible to pass the mouth of the
bayou on their way down the Mississippi.
Many of those RATS alluded to are of enor-
nous size, and we can scarcely imagine any
description of work that could resist them,
coming against it with the force impelled by
the rapid current of the river. A number of
RATS have gone into the bayou the past highs
water season-three times as many, perhaps,
as at any former period-and there is no cer-
tainty that even the next season will a single
raft be enabled to pass the mouth. We were
told by a raftsman, whose raft entered the bay
gu a few days since, that two miles above the
mouth efforts were commenced to avoid being
drawn into it, but without avail.
There is no doubt. that when the bayou falls
a little more, the banks on both sides of the |
mouth will cave in, widening it greatly, and
causing our town, doubtless, to lose the front
street from the ferry down to the point. The
bank above the bayou is caving in, and at pla-
ing.
Where there are so many interests connected
with any improvement OF Bayou Plaquemine
that might be made, we could not take the lib
erty, were we capable, of recommending any
particular action. One thing, however, We
think we could suggest with propriety, and
that is that the State appoint a commission of
engineers and scientific gentlemen, whose duty
shall be to examine into the condition of the
and the river in its vicinity-obtain a
correct history of both for the last ten or ff
teen years-then form as correct conclusion as
as to the general result if left undis-
turbed-make their report ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
taking every description of interest under con-
sideration, recommend what measure it is best
for the Legislature to adopt respecting the
bayou. Some such course as this must be
sooner or later, and the earlier the
better
This working in the dark and making ap-
preparations for the bayou, without knowing
whether such work will be of any utility what
and subscribing money to visionary
is throwing away the public funds.
and losing time by experimenting when there
is no time to lose, if the States representatives
to reflect seriously upon the alarming
condition of Bayou Plaquemine.