Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1857-05-16

have Il seopped, q the channel below Lockpor
has been filled up with drit and deposits Of mud
II might add - humbug Of the day, "6lled III
by Gen. jackson during the last war; and shoul'
Be washed out - suggested above. This plan.
am not mistakn, would answer and work vel
in keeping tie channel Of the Mississippi open TO
vessels to pass the bar At the BaIize
After thin - done, and the people Of Lafourch<
aud the River should Gene to the conclusion thai
the Stopping Of the Lafourche will not raise the
river enc sixteenth Of an inch and seriously affec
it, or Join in opinion with the securing party, ant
bel;eve that the proper plan to prevent the over
lows of the river Mississippi 10 to stop up all the
outlets, str.ishten the same by cut-ofs. and con-
fine the water to its channel, Is it has gradually
been doing for ages and ages, and then we may
consent to think Of stopping it at Donaldsonville
The world has been made about six thousand
vears, and we are told that the Gulf Of Mexico
once extended to the Ohio river, and that the
washing of the lands, river, and streams from
above, emptying into the Cult, made the lands on
the right and left hanks Of tho Mississippi, by de.
post, down to the now called Balize. ] am en-.
trely willing to admit all that, and more too-the
world has been made millions and millions of years
ago; but am not willing to take it for granted
that even nix thousand years ago, there was a
Mississippi river. II %. it must have been very
diminuiive and crooked, or, that it was ~ large
and deep Is it 10 now. I'm of the opinion that
ever since the channel Of that mighty river was
formed it has been washing out deeper and deep
er, ~ well ~ wider and wider ; and whenever it,
waters, which are always muddy. are taken ofin
another channel, in large quantities., which make
land in the lakes- swamps, and Gulf, that which
remains and passes down gradually and slowly.
ellis up the bed Of the river, it did in the years
lS49 and 1850, when the crevase existed At Bon.
net Care, about forty miles above New Orleans.
took place, that nearly three fourths Of the water
that came down the river passed through the Gre
vase, and emptied itself into Lake PonchaFtrain,
and thence passing through Rigolets, into the
Gulf Of Mexico, and partially inundated New
Orleans. And what was the consequence and
effects, when the water returned to ts legitimate
channel, and ceased TO run through the crevasse
At Bonnet Cane Point? Why, mud or sand bar
across the entire width Of the river Immediately
below the lower line Of the crevsss, and the lar
ger class steamers descending the river, heavily
laden, grounded and were unable to pass the bar.
No deep channel was to be found. and boats were
to force their way over the bar through
soft mad, aud with the asistance'of the current
they soon passed. And what was the consequence
and situation Of the bar! In less than four weeks
after the water had ceased going through the ar.
tiiicial channel made by the crevase, the mud bar
was entirely removed by the force Of the current;
and oil the deposit that wss made below to the
Gulf 4 tho Baiizs, was also gradually washed
out-
Any mind At al giivea to reflection, must come
to the very natural conclusion that there was .
deposit made ut the same time the bar was made
1t the crevane, oil the way down to the Gulf.
This, together with many other proofs, induces
me to believe that the only plan to prevent over.
6ows Of the Mississippi. o. it, outlets, . to coniine
The water to tn natural channel, and eauss It to
wash ont it, bed. The La5ourche takes If very
mall quantity Of water. Al least il cannot very
affect the washing Of the Mississippi
either way; bst l nm aware II The old saying:
y every little = helps" but the principal question
, this: II the chunnel and outlets are kept open
they will inundate an immense body of lands, and
cause immense lsbor in making levees on small
bayous, aqueducts, tunnels and drainage Of lands,
and render the country ackly, and only afford
navigation during high water in the Misi9ippi
II the outlets are closed, It would not seriously
affect the re q water in The river. The past
year clearly proved thin theory; and in TIE course
my position. and Il win add It least fifty per cent
TO the landed property, and much to the health Of
the country, and not seriously injure navigation,
- many Of those small streams can very easily,
and with tliaing expense, be made navgable BY
locks. and our people will soon resort T. railroads.
- The best, the most expeditions, - well a the
cheapest mode Of gaining access to market. The
West Baton Rouge, Marangouin, Gross Tete,
and Opetoueao railroad should be m eh;ect of