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

about twenty mules below Lockport- This i
caused by the crevaase water returning again In
to the bayou, and tho effects Of the tide water in
| washing out the channel
The inhabitants soon expect to have fall Of
water in the bayou, and they will b able to repair
all breaches in the levees before the spring Hood,
which usually takes place in May and June, and
causes the bayou to rise her than it u at pre-
sent and then, in my opinion, the West levees
will break the East ievees below LockPor-as
they are much tho highest-even If they do not
play the tit and tat game. The water on both
sides of the bayou, below Lockport, and a few
miles above, was running over the levees in many
places before they gave way. If the snsgs and
other distractions were removed, below Lockpor
to the Gulf, the navigation might be greatly i'm
proved by running steamboat during the high
water season, with drag or revolving harrow.
which would loosen and plough up the bottom and
thereby wash out the channel.
am aware that the present and former State
Engineers have reported against closing outlets
from the river, and it has had 4 great effect and
influence large majority Of the reading public
and particularly on large number of the menu
bers Of the last Legislature and more particular
ly on that class who have not made it = study,
and who have a very little experience with the al
luvial soil Of this portion of Louisiana, or will
those who have not watched cr.vassee, and the
character Of the Mississippi.
Some yoan ago was in favor Of outlets, and
approved Of our former State Engineers Reports.
but my experience and observations COMPEL mo
now to condemn them, and feel astonshed at
former conclusions. On ascending the Lafourche
about twelve miles above Lockport, noticed at
Pilman & Barrow's Oak Grove plantation. that
the water had fallen and left the lsvee about two
feet or more, and fall was perceivabls as far up
- ! went, to Ttibodaux. 1t is thought and be.
lieved that those crsvaases below Lockport will
save the levees and prevent an overflow Of the
Opelousas Railroad this season. 1t is my opinion,
and that of any rejecting man. that If the ievees
were made from twelve to fifteen feet high from
Napoeonville ON each side of the Lafourche to
the Cult, they would not more than suffice to
con6ne the waten in its channel. The only plan
can conceive is the one suggested Of locking the
Bayou at Donaldsonville, and admitting no more
water than the present discharging capacity Of tho
bsyou will permit Of
am told that the water Of the river ut Don.
aldsonvie lacks seven feet of being at highw water
mark. and suppose that at Baton Rouge, and
higher up, it lacks still more. On Lower La
fourche the water 10 now at its maximum, the
levees carried away, and the whole country inun-
dated The people Of the river may b asonish-
ed at this news; and we should be the less aston.
ished at hearing Of their spmpathies Of action-a.
least not expect the bayou to take of more water
than it, bed can possibly contain.
All this seems to be odd and unfair, of course.
Onr legislature cannot be censured OF blamed
Nothing has been asked. % nothing can be expec-
ted. For the last six weeks the crevasses below
Lockport have been running, and NO one above
Thibodaux seems TO notice the TACT, q care any.
thing about Il % We ought not, and cannot ex-
psct people living on the river to protect our inter-
sst- All this reminds me Of the ssl6shne0 Of mas.
The people below Lsckport are working and strug-
Cling for their levees, aud their efforts aud sarug-
Cling in the crsvasses reminds me Of the ''drswn-
ing man catching 1t straw" II the bayou
fals sooa enough they will make little corn !;
but their benefit and satisfaction u to know that
they have been making lands by deposit. which
will in the course Of time add value to their posses
SONS
Az for the expense or labor in making up the
lsvees according 70 the Police Law, they can very
easily do that What has our members Of the
Legislature done or attempted to do for the bayou.
Al the appropriations for building snag or dredge
gre1 q the State, T. b expended in repairing The
outlets of the Lafsurchs by dredging. o. clearing
out obstsuctons, ~ it now u, has been, will Be
Of but little avail in preventing annual overflow
during high water, ~ il has been during many
yean. Let in 4 proper quantity Of water, and
con6ne it to it, channel, and let the money Be
expended for boat and revolving harrow, ne
groes, ETC., and the object will b. accomPlshed-I
would advise the people Of the parishes q Tsre-
bonnie and Lafourche, to reflect seriously ON this,
TO them, important subject, in time for DE ap-
Psoaching session Of the State Legislature, and
present petition numerously signed, asking the
right to contract the mouth Of the Lafourchs Ut
Donaldsonville 1t their own expense. The wealth
and intelligence Of Lafourchs need no ether as;s-
lance.
In eoaclusion, have already perhaps, written
and said too much on this important subject. Mr..
Editor. You yourself, being Creole, OF long
resident Of Lafourche. and we'll acquainted with
the geography Of the country. soil. and water Of
the Lafourche, cannot but hatter myself that
you wil At once the force Of the foregoing 70
marks; and Ialss hope thst it will b. Of some lit
10 service to the public. and Be approqed of-not
by Ably ct least the Lafourche people. K.
Bi-Salphits 81 Line.
THE SUBSCRIBERS inform the plant. |
Ing community that their WORKS fae he manufacture
IL BISUIPHlTE OF LINE In the sown u Thibodasx
Ne In successful operation and that thew are now ready