Washington telegraph., 1854-04-05
Fruss tie Cs-ssIo Gs-x.fs.I
/, respectfully.
R. W. JOHNSON.
CaALk LxvEL. March rasb

1aAIS LEVEL March 18th. 1854
Desr Bs1tts's, Your complimentary notice of nv
pan OF improving the navigation OF Red river in
YOUR paper of yesterday calls from me- as should
f-oga every we'll wisaer to this iu,r.ortart r,esS-
afe, my waTnest thanks. should have long since
attempted 10 toTce on yol the advantages of my
pan but from a belief that Shreveport and ali
'le country below It was opposed to any improve
f'eEs ol upper he'd river, consequently looking for
no AID IRON that quarter. Your editorial unspIiei
TED oy me comes a God-send and goes far to
Prove that truth viii prevail Let me here cor
rect you IN regard tonly proposals to the Govern
nlent at Washington. All my propositions in re-
gard to the contract are verbal. In an interview
with Col jeff Davis Gen. RuSk Sam Houston
and others. at Washington CITY last spring. /
urse1 the change of contract and pledged myself
to comply with any requisition the Government
might make and take the contract without one
moments delay. Since that time the raft has
passed one mile above the mouth of the bayou
through which proposed taking the river and
pTeSuuptIye accumulation OF two miles more this
spring. viii depreciate the value OF nv first oro-
Posal $4,000. Notwithstanding this am still
willing TO take the present appropriation coulnly
with the requirements of the Government and be-
yond doubt solve the great problem; that Red river
Is susceptible OF permanent improvement: and the
improvement that establishes a permanent and
good navigation will establish regular and uni
form discharge OF water that VIII do more to re.
claim her IRON iaUadation than all the plans that
may be suggested b. the wise ones To sustain
this position refer YOU TO Governor Herhert,s
message to the present legislature of the State Of
Louisiana. He has. IN that document more fully
explained and supported my views in regard to
the Improvements necessary to aluvial streams
than / can ever do. Ny basis for the irnnrove-
ment OF the navigation of Red river through the
lake Is, that have nine inch fall TO the mile
When elevations are properly reduced navigation
will commence above the Fait as soon as high wa
ter navigation can reach Shreveport NV reasons
for believing that the improvement will benefit
the people below Shreveport as much as those
above the Raft are simply these-by taking the
river through the lake do not decrease the nrs
sent lake reservoir aid create by decreasing its
elevations and cross bars. regular discharge of
water both in high and low stages which must
have the effect of lessening water on the lower
river in high stages and Increasing it in low wa
ter Or upon this principle. reservoir will re-
celve more water er1pty than full and will furnish
more water supplying than suspended Four
years ago with such stage of water as we have
had for tie past five months the lakes would not
have furnished the lower river with quart Of
water With slight assistance from man ard a
powerful effort on the part of nature, l. and you.
and all the country have witnessed lpossibIv with
out the knowledge of rnaayl the truth of good
low water navigation being mainly furnished by
these same lakes. This TACT is positive as the
wa,er above and around the Raft was as low as
IN former years when low water navigation was
S0>kcnOea 10 oaieNeIsoft- 10 SHOW TIE immense
washing going on in these lak kes. you had but TO
refer to the color of water above and below the
lakes. In the river above. the water was as clear
as crystal and at Shreveport It was muddy and
colored the whole season. These things are sat-
isfactcTy evidences to believers
As you have acted so masnanimouslv as to as
sumo tie true position in regard to this important
matter, you- | hope and believe. will be as re-
formers always are. ready to wage war in the
camp OF opponents and do something to inspire our
Hon. Representative in Congress with the true
belief. Ii Congress will change the contract to
the lake. want to, and viii do the work
Your friend, JB. GILMER