Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-02-18
Bayou Plaquemine and Crosse Tets.

AT the present time of our writing "wednesday
evening" Bayou Plaquemine is blocked up with
drift for two miles or more, extending up from the
Indian Village. Whether this drift wiN or whe.
Their it can be removed, are questi ons we are una
BILE to answer. 1t is a matter, however, which
should interest those who deprecate the closing OF
the Bayou as well as those whose immediate in
terests are endangered. There is no question,
looking at the matter as we will, but there is
cause for prompt action as we'll as cause for seri-
Gus alarm.
To the inhabitants Of Crosse Tete. even a tenn
porary interruption of the navigation of Bayou
Plaquemine is a serious evil, and we do not won
der IT, at the present time, they should feel uneasy
about getting this raft removed, and in having
something done, through Legislative favor or by
private enterprise, which will either preven: any
such recurrence in the future or have a substitute
Which would do away with the necessity of nav
igation altogether. If the planters on the BAYOU
are unable TO get their crops to market at the time
of high water. after having waited for that event.
immediate action on their part TO effect this i'm
perative object, must be expected. Indeed, so i'm
portant and so urgent to the people of Crosse Tete
is the necessity that steps be taken to open and
keep open Bayou Plaquemine, or to shut it up al
together and construct a railroad, that a deputa-
ton OF her citizens, consisting of W. J. BEGAN.
CHAs. A. SLACK, JAS. H. JOHNSTON and CHARLES
BooksH, arrived in this town on Wednesday last,
for the purpose of laying their misfortunes before
the people of P~iaquemine, and likewise before the
Legislature, to see if something cannot be done
without delay to enable them to get their crops
out-for not only is Bayou Plaquemine closed to
them, but Grand River is also. What immediate
relief can be afforded other than the clearing out
of the drift in one or the other of the above out.
lets, is more than we can say. But we understand
from one of the above deputation that it is their
intention, first, to represent 10 the people of PA
cipated in the future, and propose that they join
them-"meet them half way"-in building a
Railroad from this town TO Bayou Crosse Tete.
snd should they refuse, to repair to Baton Rouge
and to the Legislature, and see what can be done
up there.
No"s u . u puAiohh6 u hdiiio0 lIOILl tNlS place |
to Indian Village, and thence up Bayou Crosse
Iete to IFS extremity-or any other route that
might be thought more feasible-ourseIf and our
journal are for it heart and soul-and we TAKE the
liberty of saying that niae-i7uAs of the people of
feel as ue feel upon the subject. But the
deputation alluded to, and the people of Crosse
Iete generally, must reflect that, under the most
auspices it would take a considerable
of time to get up an enterprise OF this ma
when it becomes imperative that a rail-
road must be built in the direction above spoken
Of, we feel assured that there will be no want of
action on the part of the citizens of our town.
We trust, however, that activity on the part Of
he commander of the State boat at present in the
bayou Plaquemine, will succeed in getting it clear
drift, and remain there for the balance Of the
eason for the purpose of keeping it clear, that our
riends on Crosse Tete may bave no further cause
f complaint or fear regarding the transit of their
resent crops to market, And in the meantime
is to be hoped that the present Legislature will
ass some law respecting this bayou-to effect
ONE improvement or other-for if undisturbed.
is apparent to all that evil consequences of the
lost serious nature will inevitably result. |