Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-02-10
Lafourche Railroads.

seem deGerHlneu W nave Inc cnarter OF tn
Mississippi and Lafourche Railroad, introduced int
the Senate few days ago by Senator Kittidgt
has passed that body without any opposition. TIL
bill provides for the closing of the Lafourche, whic
measure would be the means of retaining larg
quantities of swamp and overlooked lands in tn
lower extremity of this parish, and thereby ad
wealth to our State Treasury.
Since the passage Of this BILL by the Senate,
meeting has been called at Napoleonville, in til
parish Of Assumption, at which a memorial wa
drawn up, numerously signed, and addressed to tn
House Of Representatives against the passage Q
the bill. A memorial is about to be forwarded
from this parish, strongly urging the measure ant
calling upon our representatives to use their in
fuence in securing the passage OF the bill. W
have not the least doubt in our mind that upward
of thousand signatures could be obtained to sucl
memorial in this parish, not that our people ar
DESTROYS of seeing our beautiful bayou closed from
| choice, but that the measure has become one O
necessity, in order to protect them from yearly in
undation and to relieve them from the enormous
expense of keeping in order, those chains of noun
tains Qevees) which serve to keep the water in it
legitimate chanel; and from the fact that each
successive year adds to the dangers Of overflow
We might extend our remarks under this head tt
an almost indefinite length, but as the subject il
familiar to our representatives it is to us We
deem it superfuous in us to do SO.
The next project is one which will be introduced
by the Hon. w. W. Pugh, of Assumption. This
gentleman called at our Office during the week anG
has left with us profile of the proposed road fol-
the inspection and consideration of those interested
This road starts from Donaldsonville, east bank O.
the Lafourche, following the cultivated lands al
the way down to the Lafourche crossing of the
Opelousas road, distance of thirty-one miles
Six depots and bridges are to be constructed one Of
which is opposite Thibodaux, not exceeding half a
mile from the Lafourche. Many of the planters
on the line of the road propose to do the grading
on their own plantations and to take the value Of
the same in stock. Donaldsonville we learn will
Subscribe $4,000, and Thibodaux, will not be
found backwards in aiding the great work, should
luc CUlupdHy uOG lcdSC Ii III tuC UcoCUtsCe.
Although we individually favor the plan of
Senator Kittridge, we cannot but admit that Mr..
Pughs will be the most acceptable to the people of
the Laourche parishes, from the fact that the work
can be commenced Immediately, and finished in
the shortest delay. Let the Legislature grant the
charter of road from charlottesville to. tie eros
sing of the Opelousas railway and the route can
be located to suit the stockholders. This is all
that is now required to ensure success.
The bill of Senator Kittredge, from the good
opinion we have always entertained towards him,
notice, inasmuch as it corresponds with our
views, particularly in reference to the closing of
the Lafourche at Donaldsonville, and we are ex-
tremely sorry to learn that this gentleman has
Assumption for advocating that measure, and the
construction (as his bill provides) of railroad
within its banks. The acts of public man should
never be reprobated until it is made clear that they
will result injuriously. It would require very
conclusive reasons to induce US to condemn
measure Of internal improvements, introduced and
sustained by this able Senator. He is endowed
with very superior judgement and possessed Of
found thought, and one among the last to urge
measure in order to reap personal benefits. There
are those, however, who condemrhis bill as highly
detrimental to the interests of the parish of As
sumption.
But let us view the subject dspassionately, and
thoroughly examine it in all its relations: If the
Lafourche, in times gone by, one of the most beau
tiful natural water courses on the globe, was al
ways open to navigation if it pursued its peaceful
course towards the Gulf without mundating an
nualy luxurient fields Of cane, corn, and rice and
destroying the hopes of the agrculturalist and in
dustrious tller Of the SOIL there might be some show
Of justification for the violent vociferations that
reach our ears, against this honest and welltried
Senator. But the bayou has been so low for near
eight months past that not even the smallest kind
Of craft much less steamers could navigate it; and
during the most favorable seasons it is not nayigable
for over six months in the year. Merchants and
planters then coerced to pay very high rates for
their freights to fatboats and other small vessels
and for several weeks during the past summer, be-
fore the completion Of the Opelousas Railroad,
a number Of our merchants were forced to send
wagons and carts to Donaldsonyille for their
freight, navigation being entirely suspended.
Again, we are annually subjected to crevasses
which destroy much valuable property, not only on
the Laourche, but also in the parish Of Terebonne,
whose inhabitants are necessitated to construct
back levces to protect themselves from being over
flowed by the Lafourche waters. We know of
several instances where parties threaten to sue
this parish for damages caused them by crevasses
on the Lafourche. Immense tracts Of some ofthe
finest lands in the State Of Louisiana, are now ut
terly valueess in the parish Of Lafourche, on ac-
count Of the waters Of the bayou the bed Of which
is annually and daily rising higher and higher.
Below Lockport it is astonishing the amount it has
filled up within the last two years and, science to
the contrary, predict that 80 soon at the outlet
ordered BY the Legislature, shall have been COM
pleted Ut Parras the bed Of the bayou will be en-
tirely closed in less than Ave years. An who have
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