Thibodaux minerva., 1855-03-31
Closing of the Lafourche.
TERREBoNsE, March 27, 1855


of the Lafourche Railroad and the closing Of the bayou
afourche It is gratifying to perceive that he INDUCES less
in personalities hough there still for Improvement
and seems inclined discuss these subjects in better
temper than his first communication would indicate The
subjects are of great Importance and ought to be discussed
on their own merits with the view to arrive at just con-
nsions and promote the interests Of the country
An attempt make party questions political capital OF
hem for the purpose Of eevating this pulling down
that one ought be dscountenanced Some Of the very
best and most useful projects have been lost by mixing them
up with the dssentions Of parties and political asprants
trust the good sense of the community will keep the
question Of the closing of the Louche free from all party
or personal considerations No doubt Dr. Kttredge and
Col W. W. Pugh both desired to promote the best interests
of their constituents Dr. Ktredges imputed fault seems
have been effort to do too much rather, to do
than portion his district is yet prepared for
He wished get charter for Railroad Company and at
the time close the Lafourche. Col Pugh simply
wished to obtain charter for Railroad. have seen
neither of their bills my references are drawn from the
have in the of this discussion The
charter has been obtained and most sincerely wish them
he most complete in the accomplishment Of their
project 1t great one, and if carried out successfully
will for the planters Of Lafourche in the way OF
comfort convenience and profit than the most sangune
can anticipate All chickering's and party strife should be
laid aside and all should une heart and soul in the &C
complshment Of it.
But while friends the upper parishes Of Lafourche
in Of hopeful anticipation, they should not turn
deaf the apprehensons of Their unfortunate fellow
citizens living further down the strem We reiterate with
the confident certainty that the ruin Of the lands on
the lower part of the bayou is sure to come the water OF
Mississippi not prevented from entering it at Donald
sonvie in the quantity it now enters The day may be
some few years distant but it is advancing certainly If
slowly.
The water has risen Lockport for several years past
annually about six inches higher than the preceding year,
every between Thbodaux and LOCK-
port and below each crevasse deposit is made which IS
gradually filing up the bed Of the bayou at those points,
is but few days since planter who resides near LOCK-
port stated that his way to the Railroad crossing in
sk his k grounded where before the last creVasse ne
could touch the bottom with his oar at the same stage
of water The gentleman had previously been an advocate
for outlets seng the effect produced by the outlet OF
crevasse he became convert to the opposite doctrine
What state is we'll known to every planter the lower
part Of the bayou.
In the neghborhood Of Thbodaux and above the evees
have been increased in height at least five feet in the last
ten years. am not sure but an" will admit, that even
Napoeonve there have been considerable increase in
height and strength given to the evees within the same
period The fact Of the in the bed OF the bayou
is undispuabe.
"M says that engineers of recognized talent in the
profession maintain that outlets will give relief such he
he is advised is the opinion of Governor Hebert and
Mr.. Ellet" Does an" endorse that opinion? VIII he
dare to do it? am greatly mistaken if he will do So But
he says what surprises nearly much as if he did
We certainly have the best of engineers on the side Of
outlets-nature" Let US see what his engineer nature
has done and is all the time doing Nature transports the
earth from the banks of streams and deposits
wherever the rapdy of their current s checked be the
which checks the velocity Of the current what may
Will inform us where there is river that enters the
that has not bar its mouth where the current
is checked or that is most shallow where its width is
greatest and current sowest. Every which has
occurred on the bayou Laurche has left deposit imme
dately below it, in consequence Of the dimunon Of the
aage portion Of the water passing the crevasse
Sometimes the Of the succeeding year partially
it out sometimes It does not probably they would
entirely removed but for the constant accumulation OF
sedentary matter which being deposited in the bed Of
the bayou below where the the evees terminate where
the banks overflow every year, and where the bed Of the
bayou is considerable extent grown up with willows
This is some Of natures engineering.
Another example of the way nature does her engineering
in the effect Of the Bonnie Care crevasse as ascer
Lained by actual measurement by G. g. Forshey, civil
engineer see report of senates Committee OF 2st March,
1885, evees and dranage cross section OF the river
the upper extreme measure
eet while another section at the lower extreme
measured only showing that the capacity
dscharging its water diminished by the crevasse
rs ,6l3 square feet-nearjy one third. ~
The Forter which occurred in ls49 shows the
result the section of the river half mile above
the measured square feet while 400 feet
below it, it measured only $4,000, showing dimnution Of
capacity of 500 square feet about fifth And such
has always been the effect of have
heard rea and such presume will always be the effect
outlets whether made by the engineer nature cadet
Of West Point believer in the engineering capa
bites of either natre bualoes but do believe strong
" in science when is combined with good practical
mon sense and experince.
But am not certain that do not an apology you
and your readers for ATTEMPTING seriously reute the
idea Of averng the danger which threatens by outlets
the Laourche at this PERIOD after the very able and
ample discussion the subject has received by the
practical talented and experienced engineers country
supposed the question had been settled years SINCE
and in fact seldom is 1t that an intelligent
holding opinions in favor of outlets is to be met that he is
ooked something Of curiosity-I win stop where
am. mig +4''f
am not absurd to suppose the formation Of slack
water navigation by placing locks in the bayou at Donald
.onve and elsewhere would not have the effect to M the
bed Of the Lafourche with sedimentary matter and finally
destroy it's navigation but it wouldn't be many years
before that event would happen and if the Lafourhe rail-
road should be built the navigation Of the bayou would
to be Of any value to the planters Of the country long
before it would cease to be navigable. qszt III ta
would like to say something more on this topic, but
already respassed too much good nature
he length Of this communication. tas3 -
Is Respectfully Yours, ~ TERREBoSNB.
CONCEALED WEAPoNs.-The first section Of the
act passed at the recent session Of the State Legs
ature, declares, That whoever shall carry weapon
,r weapons concealed on or about his person, such
pistols, bowe-knives, dirks or any other danger
,us weapon, shall be liable to prosecution by in
lictment or presentment and on conviction for the
irst offence, shall be fined not less than two
hundred and fifty dollars, nor more than five hun
lred dollars, or imprisonment for one month, and
or the second offence not less than five hundred
iollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or i'm
&c