Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-02-16
STATE ENGINEERS REPORT.

The Report of our felIow-citizen of this pa
IRISH, Col. LOUIS HILBERT, State Engineer, is
spoken of by the press in laudatory TERMS
He complains of the parsimony of the Legls~
Iature in not making the necessary aPpFopria-
ton to this department for carrying out the
required works of improvement in our inland
water courses. The Report concludes with
the following remarks, which will doubtless be
interesting to our readers:
Although this report is already very lengthy,
| would perhaps omit a portion 0F my duty did
| fail to submit to your consideration some re-
marks of a general nature. | will no doubt fol-
low in the footsteps of others, and offer moths
ing new. No State of the Union is more sus-
ceptible of improvement than Louisiana. Ma
ture has given US innumerable natural canals,
which need only some cleaning out. We have
thus far expended a very large sum of money,
Blu. have d0ne little benefit; and why is this!
Because we have had no well-digested system
| of operations. We nave fritted away our
means, doing a little here and there all over the
| State. completing nothing thoroughly and per
manentIy. We have commenced at the wrong
end OF our work. We have exhausted our
means on the small streams-we 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 extend to
| minor streams. But | 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 Ahis we must put aside our
sectional local feelings for a time, and unite in
a 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 a manner as to never leave work
unfinished. Thus permanancy, more efficiency,
more and earlier success will be obtained. The
present organization of the Internal Improve
mept Department is we'll adapted to carry out
the system above Swallowed forth-better
adapted, in fact, than any organization that can
be made under a board, or otherwise. The
starting point is-judicious surveys, upon which
TO base intelligently our plan of operations.
| With these surveys to direct US, We cannot fail
20 60 right.
With regard to the Mississippi river, it is not
necessary for me to say much. must how
ever, say that it wonld seem that because this
noble "Father of Waters" (Which is all in all
to us) has kept quietly within its bed for a few
years, and spared US from the efects of its
wrath, We begin again to lull ourselves into
false ideas of our security, and revive old or
project new plans TO bring down upon US that
wrath anew. Experience has not taught wis,
dom. We begin to speculate upon the closing
of the Plaquemine and the Lafourche. Emphat-
ically | say that these outlets are necessary to
the salvation of all below the Plaquemine. Set
| aside the advantages they afford TO navigation,
repeat, they are necessary uentS. The views
so we'll set forth, and, as it were, with a pros
phetic voice, by the State Engineer, in his re-
port Of ls46 and IS47, and confirmed and sus-
tanned by his successors in Office, are in every
respect correct. The levee-system will not DO,
to the exclusion of all others. The outlet
system must be adopted, or, at least, such outs
lets as we have mustbepreserDed. The closing
of the Piaquemine would, | acknowledge, help
to reclaim much land; bat these lands can be
reclaimed by other means as efficiently, and
without detriment to the lower Mississippi. My
recommendation of the clearing OuS@ Grand
River, &C., has this in view.
In conclusion. let as learn not to interfere
with the Mississippi river. We csnnet control
10 Our presumptuous efforts against ii only
bring down npon US chastisenent.,
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
LOUIS HEBERT,
State Engineer.