Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-10-20
Thibodaux and Houma.

MEssRs WHITE & ANDERSoN.-A writer In the
Ceres notice, is advocating project which II Il
can be carried out land l see no reasonable OBJ
stacle in the way) will be of immense benefit to
Thibodaux, and to the entire region bordering upon
the Terrebonne. 1t is this, the formation of com
of stock, for the Improvement of the Terrebonne
from which large revenue can be at once derived
and the building upon its banks between ThibodauS
and Houma a fine shell road. Here is scheme,
that our own citizens who want so badly good
road at all times to the Railroad, can support with
a surety of success and without burthcning them
selves with heavy outlay that will be onerous,
because it is proposed to spread the expenditure for
the road over several years, and at the same time
they are paying up their stock, be receiving back
profit upon what they will have paid from the first.
This is based upon the presumption that the old
Canal Company are willing to sell out their effects
and rights, which I understand is the case, their
movable property being principally in negroes OF
considerable value.
The improvements necessary to be made upon
the Canal would be the erection of two or three
Locks and dredging it out thoroughly. The cost
of these works would not exceed fifteen thousand
dollars, and an eminent engineer informed me not
long since that it could be done for sum far less
than that The descent of the water from the
Railroad to Houma is 50 slight that the retention
of it by good Locks, would spread the navigation
of the bayou over almost if not quite the entire
year. which advantage together with the Railroad
would give all our planters below, certain means
of getting their crops to New Orleans at any
time they chose to forward them.
In estimating the revenue to be derived from
the Canal, we are to consider first how many
hogsheads of sugar and barrels of molasses will be
likely to pass up to the Railroad during the year,
aud also how much dorm freight would be carried
in return. The former can be very correctly cal
culated the latter not so easily but it is reasonable
to suppose it would be considerable and increase
yearly as the opening Of new plantations, and the
increase of population progressed Is it too much
to assume that eight thousand hogsheads of sugar
and twenty-five thousand barrels of molasses would
pass through the Canal in one year? A tariff of
one dollar per hhd and twenty-five cents per Dbl,
then would yield an annual revenue of fourteen
thousand dollars, and add the tonnage upon the
boats and down freights, we may reasonably cal
culate upon twenty thousand dollars per annum
from the short line of fifteen to twenty miles of
Canal.
The cost of repairs and managing the system
would not be over five thousand per year, clearing
a handsome surplus for the stockholders to say
nothing of the revenue and consequent dividends
from the toll upon the shell road which might be
very low, and yet leave a considerable sum to be
added to those from the Canal And where in all
The South could more beautiful drive be found,
than upon splendid road upon the banks of the
Terrebonne, between Thibodaux and her sister
town of Houma What say the citizens of both
places to this matter? Can we not 90 into it with
out expanding years of talk? 4 small capital only
s required at first. Where is the merchant and
planter who cannot subscribe and pay for stock in
such an improvement? 1t is needed; it would be
IN ornament to the parish; it would add value to
Tour property; in fact, it would be the most |
used and useful" work of the kind in all Louis
ana, and lastly though not least it would be ever
profitable investment to the stockholders.