The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1859-04-27
lCogmsaieated
Reflecliens on Cut-Offs as . means
81 1mproying the Mississippi

4 Va AsPAVSAO sAs~
have occasionally observed communica
tons conGemuatory Of the Raccourci Cut
| of. published IN some of the New Orlean.
Journals. Having now, as I always have
had, unlimited confidence in those grea
philosophical principles upon which tn
propriety and expediency Of that work were
based, / have preferred that time with hel
uierring crucible should test BY experience
the ultimate merit or demerit of that graa
internal improvement, rather than to rely
upon conclusions derived from abstrscs
reasoning.
Years Of reflection since the accomplish
ment Of that. cutoff having more fully cen.
vinced me not only Of its propriety = :
work per u, but as the test of /, great
principle for the Improvement Of the Minis-
sippi river / will avail myself Of column
|of yoor journal to suggest few reflections
that may operate on the public mind, to
assist the Great Father Of Waters in bearing
his foods harmleesly to the Gulf !.
In my efforts to effect the Raecourcieut-
of, in conjunction with the friends. of that
measure, l was operated upon by deductions
derived from the fint principles Of natural
philosophy, and secondly BY the Interests Of
my constituents, and 4 conceive that the
making Of that cutoff has added more to
their Interest than all the laws that have
been passed since Louisiana has had su ex-
istence as State. As q local measure It
changed Black river and Lower Tensaa from
an annual waste Of waters to one Of the most
wealthy and productive cotton districts in
the State Of Louisiana, for they were both
subject to annual inundations and we're the
welcome homes, Of aIligators and other rep.
tiles. The Raccourci cutoff not only re-
lieved the lower parts of the parishes Of
CatshouIa and Concordia from annual
inundation, bat also Rapides, Avoyelles and
Point COupse, and sensibly affected the
Mississippi river as high up ~ Na.chez,
seventy five miles above. Az. . local measure,
above the cutoff, it has been korth untold
millions; as a State measure, it has been Of
equal adyantxge, BY increasing the taxable
property i the same ratio, and necessarily
countless thousands into the State
Treasury. It has promoted the commerce
Of the whole Mississippi vastly, BY short
eDjjug tls- stassss sssszs-sss.sssttaaysvs svsd~.ss
the coat Of river transportation. These arc
: few & the vast advantages that have been
the result Of that great work, and they are
90 manife6t that It would be . useless waste
of paper % illustrate them, as they are self
evident propositions.
Again he ::Raocourci cutoff has exertsd
! powe influence in keeping open the
connscal6n Of Red River with the Mississippi,
for b9k incseasing the fall Of the Nississippi
about thirty inches il low water, it necesss-
rly increased the draft Of Red Riter ovr
tho old river bars aadtkus has had ., grek
in preventing Red river from tut
ming it, course down the Atchafalya..
Having briefly allnded TO the advantages
accruing TO the four parishes Immediately
above that cutoff, and necessarily to tn
State. It lArge, We win now direct our attes
ton to the effect of that measure below tai
cut-oE. SO that in turning up all the'esia|
dencs We may arrive at : fair conclusion jn]
regard to tha merit q dsmesit of cot-ofa:
lie Racccurci cutoff caused the
riy1 - fsmove fex sand bas and 10 cut
awsy ~ hanks for short dissascsbelow Is
very true, that i nothing moro dian a.
ways occurs. u the immediate vicinity Of
cutofs that asemade during Aood stage
Of the river, but it did no damage of serious|
importance. tt y true that so1ae Nv indt-
viduals presented claims to the Two o. three
a,sn>>>I1;nU TAvsea>e,,,o. hn% ~ /. s..a.-...