Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1858-02-17
[F.om the Planters Banner.
81. Mays pAnIaa. La. Jan. aeth. Is

superintendent and Treasurer of The Plaques
mine Navigation Company, formed by the
parishes Of ST. Martin and st. Landry. There
was an effort made, at great cost in 1927, by
Contract, to SO close up the mouthsof Plaques
mite Bayou as to avoid the drift. but admit
sufficient water to give navigation to the West.
These works were not so far completed when
the river rose as TO give fine required strength
to resist the pressure Of the drift, and they
were swept away.
But the company resolved 10 prosecute the
enterprise again, and in The year 1928 they
employed Inc to put up such works as would
prevent the driftawood from entering Plaques
mine and at the same time secure the advanta-
ges TO navigation contemplated in The previous
enterprise. This accommodating drift-wood had
not only obstructed the navigation Of Bayou
Plaquemine by the formation of large RATS,
butit also filed up Grand River, BAYOU Sorrel,
Pidgeon, and all the other bayous Sodth and.
West, into which the gwaters of PIaquemine
passed on their way to the Gulf.
This work was begun as soon as the season
wonld permit, and prosecuted it with all the
energy and means | could bring to bear on it.
| completed a hreakwater in the mouth ofs4he
bayou that prevented the drift from emf
and cut a canal along the bank so, as to sFFske
the current of the Mississippi at an acute
angle. BY this arrangement the water of the
river was rather drawn up as it entered the
bayou, which prevented the drift from entering
through that year, and most Of the next. BY
this time the resources of The company became.
exhausted, the works were neglected, and in
1929 they went to ruin, when a moderate out
lay of labor and expense might have saved
them.
1t was the intention of the Plaquemine Ma
Vigation Company to protect The banks Of the
canal by driving plling, but nothing was done
until 1888. nthe meantime, the island in the
mouth Of the Bayou, formed by cutting the
canal, washed away, and the works across the
mouth had been badly injured, and equired
extending so as to remedy the loss of the
island.
was again employed BY the Board of Public
Works to take charge of this business, in the
absence of that great man, Col C. Crozet then
eRgineeh of Louisiana, and during the Sickness
of his assistant, Mr.. Walsh, who shortly after
died of cholera. | proceeded to erect more
extensive works than those of 1928, and sue
ceeded In giving navigation during the winter
and spring of 1884. Bgt IKE all other works
of the kind erected, or that may be erected on
a foundation composed of such material as
the banks of the Mississippi, we soon lost all
the good expected from them owing TO the
changes produced by the mighty workings of
the Mississippi on the frail foundation on
which W. erected our structure.
had occasion to have cut all Of the stumpS
and logs when the bayou was dry. that were
calculated to iniure the navigation of the
stream when the water was high. and noticed
that there were not then, as now, deep holes
in its bottom.
The drift, wood has passed freely info this
bayou since the year 1884. and that which has
passed through il has so filed Grand River as
TO turn its stream half up the river, and the
lower mouth of this river is now shallow and
only a few feet wide, where formerly it was
two or three hundred yards in width and
thirty feet deep. This causes the waters from
Plaquemine to stop and turn those entering
the AtchafaIaya westward, raising them to an
unnatural height.
The RATS that for so long a time obstructea
the Atehafalaya were not renewed until about
the year 1870, and in the meantime the Attaka-
pas had no outlet but through Plaquemine, as
our sea navigation has never found much favor,
and has been resorted to only from necessity.
So all this was done that could be done with
our means until the General Government gave
certain amounts for the purpose of Internal
improvements, which, aided by the Stale
appropriations, have been uniformly used TO
the great injury Of the State, by keeping
Plaquemine open, On this account all of our
interior bayous have been kept obstructed by
RATS, and left year after year uumoved, produ~
cling islands, and almost perfect distinctions
to The great natural drains Of a vast interior
regions of the finest lands in Louisiana.
Were it not for the P~Iaquemine navigation,
the State would cooperate with the Governs
R1donf in RoanirnI auaO a Rad rnNfT~a fiou hu
way of the Atchafalaya To- the Mississippi, at
low water, which would greatly promote the
interior interests of the State. The stopping
of plaquemine would add protection and secu-
rity TO the city of New Orleans, the 0pelousas
and the Southwest generally, at the
same time that no interest would be injured.
BY an increase in the hnlR. weight and velocity
of thetwaters Of the Mississippi, all confined
to their natural element, the shallow places
and bars would be deepehed, and more room
made for the waters to pass through the cham
mel to the Gulf. This is just as certain as that
d large and heavy tree or log, when drawn
through the mud or water, will make a deeper
fdrrow than a light one. So confine oil of the
Mississippi waters 10 their present channel,
its abrasive power will be greater than (
when depleted by such an outlet as Plaques
mine.
/ am certain that if the Legislature order
plaquenine to be closed up, no interest can or
will suffer. but If not done. | believe that, as
as the sun continues to rise and set, so Z
will PIaqnemiue, 10 process of time bes i
.ome The main channel through which the
Mississippi will find its outlet to the Cult,
cave New Orleans an finland and a Fuined city,
lestroV the Southwest, and do an incaleulable q
Inonnt Of injury to the State and the nation.
from Plaquemine to The Gulf direct il is but i
miles, with j fall ofnearly one foot 10 the
nile; from Plaquemine to the Balize, by way