Washington telegraph., 1854-05-17
The Raft-A New Feature.

company to construct navlgable pass way
! around the Red River Raft. 1t will be
perceived that the act authorizes JoHN NJ.
SANprpGE of Bossier Parish. Louisiana.
and JAMES S. CONWAY of Lafayette CO.,
Arkansas, to open books of subscription, at
any time and place within the State of
Louisiana, after the the 10Th of April last
for subscription to the stock of the company
and authorizes the organization of the COM
pany when the sum of twenty-five thousand
dollars has been subscribed condition
however, that the obstruction shall have ex-
tended above the mouth of Red Bayou, a
distance of some four or five miles above
the present head of the raft, before opera
tions can be commenced.
This act, although professedly passed for
the benefit and advantage of those residing
above the raft who are dependent upon
Red river for the facilities of navigation, and
although the name of a distinguished citizen
of our State, whose direct and personal in
terest in the radical and speedy removal of
the raft, is known to all, and whose integri-
ty is undoubted, has been connected with it
without his knowledge or consent,-all the
cunningly devised scheme will be insulli-
cient to conceal from the people the iniquitv
contained in this act, or the outrageous ex-
tortions it may be made the means of ex-
acting. We speak authoritatively when We
disclaim for Ex-Gov. CONWAY any knowl-
edge Of the use of his name in connection
with this project.
Itrequires very cursory glance at the
provisions Of this act, to convince any one
that it is the rarest specimen of legislation
that can be found upon the statute book
of any State in the Union. The provis-
sion authorizing the two persons named in
the charter, to open books of subscription
at any time after the 10th of April last,
at any place in the State of Louisiana rith.
ont grcUi0uS notice, makes the thing be-
yond all doubt, what its originator intended
it should be-a monopoly; and places it
beyond controversy, under the control of
those named in the act Another provision
of the act, viewed in connection with the
condition attached to it, renders it still more
odious, if possible, than the provision we
have previously noticed The small amount
Of $25, 900 is all that is required to enable
the company to organize, and the very short
time that will elapse before the raft will
close tie mouth of Red Bayou, unless pre-
vented by vigorous and we'll directed efforts
is all that is required to authorize the COM
pany to commence their operations Of eHtor-
ton under this admirable law.
1t is plainly evident, should the channel
Of Red river be permitted to fill up with
drift so as to close the mouth of Red Bayou,
that this disinterested company, by cutting
short canal from the river into Black
Bayou, which connects with the lakes, and
which they could easily do with the aid of
their enormous capital of twenty-five thou
sand dollars. would place the whole ship
ping interest Of upper Red river under
their immediate control, and completely at
| the mercy of such exactions ond extortions
as they might see proper to ict,-for
strange as it may appear, This act leaves it
entirely in the power of the company, un-
checked by law, to assess any toll they may
see proper.
How any man having the least regard for
the good opinion of bis fellow citizens could
present and urge the passage of such an act,
or how any legislative body entertaining the
least respect for common justice or fair deal
| ing could sanction such a charter is strange
to us, bearing as it does upon its face, the
unmistakable evidences of monopoly and
extortion' If the people of upper Red riv-
err would prevent this system of extortion
and oppression from being fastened upon
them, they should 60 promptly and earnest
ly to work. Fortunately for all interested,
the appropriation made by Congress for the
removal of the Raft, and the energy and en-
terprise of Col. J. b. Gilmer, places in their
hands the means necessary for their protcc-
ton.
We feel satisfied that every one who will
impartially examine the plan proposed by
Col. Gilmer to secure permanent and unin-
terrupted navigation around the raft, will be
forced to the conclusion, that under the cir
cumstances, it is the only rational and feast
BILE plan to attain the object in view We