Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-10-27
Letter from swamp land Commissioner.

OAKLAND, OCTOBER SUI 100.
j. C. WHITE, Eso,-Dear SIR: | have never
written letter for publication in my life but your article
the 2Oh of September by Tax Payer, referring to me az
Swamp Land Commissioner demands statement that mer
may see both sides and then judge for themselves
entered 1920 acres of land, about it, and one
denies that had legal right but say ought to have
done it as acting Commissioner. Hundreds wert
entering and many asking for good land and told ece.
that asked me- what knew about the lands and talked
Of the entries thai, had made whenever the subject
mentioned For ur years, since the donation made b
Congress the land office had been left open for every body
enter And think still that the general policy under
stood by ALL let the lands be enteredin order to supply
the department with funds
lido yetsee why who wa1ing through the swamps
hunting up all the lakes, bayous and marshes, should be
prevented om entering land well those who perhaps
have inherited thousands of dollars and could enter withou
trouble at any moment.
Now let say that not spade full Of earth has been
n0oed by Mr.. Grants mine, any lands in which
am interested to improve said lands
There is mouth of single bayou slough any
the above lands that intended close. There
bayous of which after running about six miles (ulg
ing by the Map) forms the back line of three quarter
TONS the other bayou about MILE then quar-
again Veie Of these 5ayoms closed but probably
would have been during this year, as the advanced
southwark along the valley Of the Atchafalaya Mr. Grant
thought they ought be and reported me- and thought
too commenced work as any man of common sense
would at the open line of the District and let
the works far south Mr. Grant thought best for that
year.
Now, what is the condition of these lands? The lateral
bayous closed aore the river Of rises higher
and The overflow of these lands will be greater than
before.
Your paper of the 29th, came while down with the
yellow fever and well enough shall be at
Thbodaux, my way down the Lafource and if Messrs
Pugh, Williams, and Harang, will go With will show
them the lands and works in my District and have
one dollar to benefit any lands above mentioned my bond
in Baton Rouge, and my property is in Ponte Coup6e,
and will most willingly pay any amount the Legislature in
any manner, may determine, and will pay the expenses
examination if takes my property, and the remainder
will work out with spade and wheelbarrow, do
better These gentlemen well known to You and your
patrons all members of the last Legislature two of them
the committee, and all of them with whom and be-
eVe you have served in the House of Representatives
About the time Gov. Hebert gave the commission, he
urged me to push the improvements in the Swamp Land
Department. fast possible, and do think any two
did more by night and day without reference to
weather, convenience or health than did last year.
examined every portion of the swamp that Mr. Grant did
except one and there many jobs hand that
was compelled to assist him leave the works entirely to
the contractors.
That caused the delay in regard to the accounts had
mine, and of his he had others belonging the
the lower part of the State and besides that he been
paying old debts under the former commission of
which I knew but little
know and there is uncertainty about that the Plaque
mine, Atchaalya and Grand River be protected
and that with much less expense than the Mssis
pp cost Nine miles of evee of ten would not exceed
three feet in height, and many portions much less The
very steps that have taken, be taken, in
to reclaim the swamps. The bayous be levied first
then the levees and drains. An immense work
has been done and hope without reference party
that the work of retaining the swaps will be pushed here
after to the utmost Yours truly, G. B. MILLER.