New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-02-14
NUMBER EGO.
State Engineers Report.

We have copy Of the State Engineers Report to
the Legislature. 1t is well arranged and interesting
He,jusy complains Of the parsioly II the LegisIa.
ture in not making the necessary appropriation to
this department, for carrying out the most necessary
works Of improvement in our inland water courses
The report concludes with the following general re-
marks, which are entitled to weldigested and care
full consideration
Although this report is already very lengthy,
would perhaps omit portion Of my duty did fail To
submit to your consideration some remarks Of gen
eral nature. will doubt follow in the footsteps of
others, and offer nothing No State Of the Union
is more susceptible of improvement than Louisiana.
Nature has given fnnumerable natural canals which
need only some cleaning out. We have thus far ex-
pended very large of money, but have done lit
tie benefit: and why is this? Because we have had
no well-dgested system Of operations We have frt-
ted away our means, doing little here and there all
over the State, completing nothing thoroughly and
permanently. We have commenced at the wrong end
Of our work. sWe have exhausted our means on the
small streamswe should have first attached ourselves
to the larger ones. The map of the State shows main
trunks through every section these should first be
made good, and gradually our operations would eE-
tend to minor streams. But I may be asked-will
the people submit answer, yes: because they will
soon discover that this system is more efficient and
Will reach them sooner than any other. But for this
We must put aside sectional local feelings for
time and unite in q common understanding. Let us
see how much money the State can give every year,
and let us distribute the amount wisely to the works
OF primary importance. Let this be done in such
manner as to never leave work unfinished. Thus per-
manancy, more efficiency, more and earlier success
will be obtained The present organization Of the IN
ternal Improvement Department is well adapted to
carry out the system above shadowed fortllbetter
adapted in fact, than any organization that can be
made undera Board or otherwise. The starting point
Isl judicous surveys, upon which to base integentIy
plan of operations. With these SURVEYS TO direct
us, we cannot fail to go right. ~ 1-sY5 4
With regard to the Mississippi river it is not neees
sary for me to say much. ! must however say that
it would seem that because this noble Father Of Wa
ters (which is all in all to us) has kept quietly with
in its bed for few years, and spared us from the e
false ideas OF our security and revive old project
new plans to bring down upon us that wrath anew.
Experience has not taught wisdom. We begin to
speculate upon The closing of the Plaquenne and the
Laourche Emphatically say that these outlets are
necessary to the salvation of all below the Plaque
mime Set aside the advantages they afford to nav-
CATION Irepeat, they necessary rents. The views
/ so well set forth, and, as it were with prophetic
voice, by the State Engineer in his report of 1916 and
1s47 and confirmed and sustained BY his successors
office, are in every respect correct The evee system
will not do to the exclusion of all others. The outlet
system must be adopted Or, at least, such outlets as
we have must be preserved The closing of the Pa-
quemlne would, acknowledge, help to reclaim much
land; but these lands can be reclaimed by other
i means as efficiently, and without detrnent to the
lower Mississippi. My recommendation of the clear
ing out of Grand river, ETC., has this in view. @
In conclusion, let us learn not to interfere with the
4 Mississippi river. We cannot control it. Our pre-
s,lmptuous efforts against it only bring down upon
I ehastisement., y s{g s.g*+ n q lfySs s'.tF9{f
II All of which is respectfully submitted,