Washington telegraph., 1856-12-03

DelnS tnuS efevated, EXHIBITS such an en-
tire deficiency of width, depth, and fall,
that up stream currents are found through
more than one-half of its distance during
Ievery freshet. The bed is strewn with
logs, stumps, &c. The stream is not only
narrow but very tortuous, and although a
navigable channel might be opened through
it, at great expense, for short periods only,
its want of capacity for carrying raft would
be fatal objection to the permanency of
its navigation Past experience has taught
as the fact, that Notwithstanding the large
amount already expended by the govern
ment TO remove this obstruction, no i'm
lprovement of this channel can be perma-
nent, and the raft still remains, increasing
year by year, while the Only navigation
practicable Is formed by avoiding the raft,
and following the natural channels of the
outlets.
That the raft can be removed there can
be no doubt; it is merely question of
time and money. That permanent nav
igariOn cannot be effected by this means is
to my mind fixed fact
From ten to twelve thousand dollars per
mile would be required to remove the raft !;
this for a distance of thirteen miles, the
present length of the raft, would give for
the sum necessary to remove it from $780,
900 to $780, 900. The raft makes from
one and half to two miles per year, and
thus constant force would be required to
prevent or remove this accumulation, un-
til the banks of the river above become
sufficiently cleared from impending trees,
either by cultivation or by means special
ly employed for the purpose.
This portion of Red river, therefore, ha-
wing neither the capacity to carry raft, or
capability of being made subservient to the
purposes of navigation, forces us to look
for other channels in the vicinity to attain
our object. Of the natural outlets, Doc
ley's bayou appears most capable of i'm
provement, and best adapted to our pur-
pose, being the shortest, widest, and deep
est j; its currents strongest, and its soil the
lightest alluvial, and consequently the ca
siest washed Ipropose, as Will be hereaf-
ter explained, to open the navigation
through this bayou into Shiftail lake, (see
map,) thence through Stumpy bayou to
Soda lake, and thence through Soda lake
and Twelve-mile bayou to Shreveport, ma
king distance of about forty miles, in
which we will have the same fall as is
found by the river in distance of seven
| ty miles, viz: $500 feet.
| The present route from Red river above
the raft is through Red bayou and Sewells
canal to Black bayou, and thence through
Clear lake, uniting with my proposed chan
mel at Stumpy bayou.
The channel of Red bayou is narrow.
crooked, and shoal; the high water cur
rents flow across the bayou, rendering high
water navigation very dangerous, and in
capacitating it from carrying raft. The
channel from Black bayou is sluggish, and
its outlet into Clear lake is obstructed by
sand-bar, ON which there is but six inch
es water. The distance is greater than BY
the other route, giving less fall to the mile;
while the banks of these bayous have less
tendency to wash, and consequently either
to widen or to deepen. Its only advan-
tage over Dooley's bayou is, that its outlet
from Red river is above the head of the
raft, while that of Dooley's bayou is about
two miles below it.
Whichever plan of improvement may
be adopted, 1t is of the utmost importance
to provide for the next season raft, and
pr vent Its accumulation upon the head OF
the present raft. This may be done Ell
ther by opening the mouth of Elmer's bay
ou, Gearing it OF timber, and by boom
placed below it, turning the drift into this
reservoir; or, by constructing a boom ut
the foot OF Boom bend, So called. and ma
king cutoff across its neck The latter
plan L have already recommended in my
communication OF the 18th uitimo. 1t
will be more expensive than the Elmer S
bayou plan, but would serve as deposito-
ry OF at least two years ratt ii not more
The cutoff proposed would be short, and
could have been easily made before the an
nual raft rise, (Which occurs generally in
March,) provided immediate steps had
been taken to carry it into execution At
this late date, however, l am fearful that
time will not permit the use of the Boom
bend reservoir, and l would therefore re-
commend that Elmer's bayou be at once
prepared for the purpose. Five or six
thousand dollars thus applied would save
US the accumulation of a years raft, which
houin Cost AtoH4 Slc,VVV " S-V,VOo w
remove.
! My plan of operation for diyerting the
channel, through Dooley's bayou, and
thence through the lakes to Shreveport, is
as follows:
! Having provided for the coming season S
raft by opening the mouth of Elmer's bay
on, clearing out its channel and construc-
ting the boom, l would then open the
mouths of Dooley's bayou, and prepare the
two miles of raft above, for slowing in the
several outlets of the bayou, leaving open
only that required for navigation; this
would probably consume the next low wa
ter season During the following high
water season the raft thus prepared could
be slowed, and either Boom bend or Dutch
Johns lake prepared for the reception Of
another years raft. The next low water
season, the channel of the bayou could be
cleared of its timber, and widened, wher
!, Cb.ftail laGo Tho follawI no