Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1859-04-23

II = y
well: but undoubtedly they are neither
the only ones not the most dangerous.
Indeed, the largest crawlisl do not work
under ground, but in full light Of the
sun, and are all those who are not care
ful aud anxious about the cohesion of
the materials uscd in Constructing or
repairing lcvvts.
1t is far from me to S,tpro5C that there
are not many honest anI able coutr.c-
tors Nevertheless, it is but too fire.
Qucnt to see their works done before
any other consideration, i'll tic sole view
of justifyinS a stipulated payment, ac-
cording to Il certain cubage. And after
wards, let come another crevasse -
Cravtisl will always be there to assume
the responsibility thereof. That way Of
discharging ones conscience is certainly
Il very easy fashion. AS to planters
and other parties interested IN the du-
ration Of lcyecs, | shall always recon-
mend to them the adherence and hard
cnng OF the old and newly transported
earth; otherwise, with OF without craw-
fish, nothing viii prevent the river from
penetrating into the loose materials and
passing through the lcyecs.
The negligence about fulfilling tho
labovc conditions, is, besides, the result
Of the haste or improper time often stip-
uIatcd for the completion Of the work.
Worse in that case for the backw ward
and lazy riparians, As to the problem
to be resolved, it is one Of the most Gle
Fmcntary in its principles A quantity
and quality Of material being given for
an cmbankmcnt, the question Is, to mako
the best possible avail thereof, and this
depends on giving them the stability Of
foundation, then the maximum OF cohe-
sion, and i'll the third place, the form
the most proper TO ncutrailze the pres
sure Of waters Out of these three con
.ditions, it is but one, the latter, which
speaks to the eyes, that people general
.lv take into account As to the two
Others, on which depends the main diff
Guilty, have not been till now lucky
enough to see. them appreciated IN Lou
isiana as they are in the smallest places
Ioi Holland and Italy
! This is not, besides, the only differ
encc which should point out. Wien.
in consequence of heavy fltrations,
erevasse is imminent Or approaching.
what is done on the banks Of the Mlssis-
sippi7 The spaces where breaches OF
the levee are expected are circumscrfbed,
and as they are soon filled up with water
lit is in that water and mire that people
Throw any earth at hand, which can not
but turn itself into mud. 1t is, howev-
er, that mud, the worst of foundations,
on which they pretend to fortify the
Threatened lcvces. Therefore, we must
not be surprised if SO often new ones
give way and slide, under the pressure
Eof the water which swells their inside
and foundation.
AS those accidents are ordinary, and
|evcn unavoidable, people try to prevent
them by maintaining with plank wal!
the foot of the work These planks arc
supported by piles of exaggeratedsdl-
!, mensions but scarcely fixed in tho
ground, and supported themselves by
rincleadcrs which come out on the pub
lie road; which about doubles the. size
of the original basis, without really in
creasing the solidity Of the levee.
1t is unnecessary to add that a work
: so badly managed must cause expenses
' .threc1ourths of which are perfectly
needless. The last fourth, if well ap-
plyed, would be more than sufficient to
restore and fortify all the impaired It"
wees in Louisiana. The work, however,
should be done in manner quite the
reverse of that now resorted to. For
! instance, filtrations should be first stop.
ped towards the river side, which II
:, their entrance door, and not at the OPP
. lposite side, at their issue on the public
road. 1t is, indeed, only BY closing this
= latter that ! have seen filtrations resist.
: ed, and the water permanently lodged
;. into the lcvee, whence, Ivy the pressure
Iof the rising flood, it threatens anew the
;, works.
G That singular method Of repairing
= entertainments ready to give way, recent
> ily struck me in many places, and espc-
II cially on the Bayou Lafourche, below
tRacsland. They have tried there to
J. stop fitrations by.means Of an exterior
; frame, built with. pIanks and piles, and
n filled up with earth. This Latter, beng
K inside diluted with water, and sliding
$. on its basis, acts, Of course. against its
r surrounding rlanks and piles, as would
d do a hydranlic press Therefore, ring
?. leaders have becoIpc necessary to sap
n port that rude frsfnc, which comes out.
e too on the yd|dc road i'll the most
,laughabl lernanner. As to ntc. | have
$ Iiookex but with sorrow at that eondi
i tieh Of hydraulics i'll Louisiana cou'-
5 Try which, in every thing and every
: place ,shonld excel irlthat science, and de
:. l.. LIZ tLa IL Ii MI Id In.