Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-03-03
NO. 8,

1
ing the large portion Of oycrhowed and
swamp lands covered hy the pcnt up
waters Of Lake Moreau, by the Insertion
Of one or more iron boiler culvcrts, with
swing gates opening outwards, to be
sunk in the dixie across Bayou Moreau,
OF the Bayou which lormcriy connected
Lake Moreau with the Mississippi river.
\ smal! appropriation from the Swamp
Land fund would render this drain use
Iul and extensive, and serve as pro-
lection against the extensive caving
which constantly happens to the river
bank and levce opposite Lake Moreau,
at this point and above, arising no doubt
from subsoil springs Of Transportation
water finding it's level to the river at its
lowest stage
The next point Of rapid cavins is be-
low, at Hermitage, where there is also
a pent up pond formed between the old
and new dikes; this caying, which is
bad enough naturally, might in a meas
ure be rcmedicd by removing this head
Of water, simply by cutting ditch
through the outside dixie, which is now
Of no service to the public, and is only
used as q causeWay for private use,
where q bridge would do as well.
The attention Of the parochial author
tiles having been forcibly called to the
prccarious nature CT the private levecs
on the Atchatalaya, by reason of the
crevasscs Of last year, strict measures
were enforced to compel the construc.
ton Of safe 'evees along the east bank
Of that river and ii the serious and un-
accountable hiatus did not occur in their
failure tc reconstruct the lcvce of Gil
Iox's Bayou, might with pleasure re-
cord the safe protection of all the swamp
lands in the parish of Pointe Coupec,
bordering on the Atchafalaya
Should this bayou be left open, re-
currencc of the calamities Of last years
neglect and crevasscs may be antici-
pated. IS
-. The parish Of Pojnte Coupcc is almost
Bounded by levees, and it forms a key
stone for the great "arch of protection"
so necessary to secure the lower aluvi-
al lands from overflow; and during my
long connexion with this Swamp Land
District, I have ever been surprised that
SO little interest and assistance was cx-
tended to this parish by the Attakapas
section of Louisiana, which is entirely
protected by Poiute Coupee
1t must be remembered that during
the last years high water, full forty
days hard service from the working hands
Of each river plantation, was cxactcd,
from absolute necessity, to prevent
general overflow; when, at the same
time, those inland planters were rcpos-
ing in the ease of fancied security. The
necessity of a general levce system has
by this and thousand other examples,
been fully and practically demonstrated,
and unless soon adopted, will serve to
depreciate the value Of alluvial lands
either belonging to the State or now
beautityng and rendering lovely the
banks Of the Mississippi river
The mode by which fund could Lc
raised for keeping up this protection is
simple and practicable
1st. Ascertain the quantity OF public
or State lands in each parish or district
protected by levees. SKA.
ID Ascertain the quantity Of private
lands in the same parish Or district pro-
tected by levces.
Sd. Assess and collect an ad ra1orem
tax, upon all lands in each
district or parish, which tax ought to be
equal to the estimated annual repairs to
he leyee protecting said district.
To ascertain the estimated annual
cost: lst. Ascertain the whole number
If cubic yards of levee there is in the
whole district.
Cd. Ascertain the average annual de-
,reciation or destruction Of the levees
or each district Then, as it will be q
cry easy matter to systematic and re-
luce to calculation tie annual cost or
depreciation of the district levees, so it
yill be an easy matter to apportion the
necessary annual tax to keep up and re-
,air these leyees by contract or hired
ahor.
I No planter living on alluvial land can
eel the baImy sleep of security, nor can
he thrifty agriculturist be induced to
invest his capital or secure a freehold
where there is no security and no pro-
cction, and where he may one day bask
n the sunshine of fortune, and the next
'e ruined and prostrated by the neglect
nd idleness Of his ncighbor.
As an evidence Of the practical work
NC Of the plan above proposed, let rs
AXE the parish Of West Baton Rouge,
Il which there IS
crcs of State and private lands 100000
.verage value at so per acre. ..... S6,0J0,0o3
mount Of levee from Pt. Coupec to
lbersilie, including Crosse Tete,
in cubic yards. s........ $500
annual depreciation, l10=73,3Go
cubic yards. at 20 cents s....$1i,6 ,672 %