The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-05-20
Red River Raft.


Buffalo and Revenue we're the last boats that came
through We think in the winter OF lS45. Since then
the raft has filed up from Carolina Bluffs sixty miles
by the river above this place, 10 the bead OF houns
canal distance Of twenty eght miles Twenty miles
of this is solid raft but ii the other eight miles there
are openings Or breaks in it of different lengthz, TIE
longest Of which is tso miles, though from DooIeEs
bayou up many of them a-e Only from tHo to three
and four hundred yards long In the meantime boats
have been able to get above the raft BY means OF tie
adjacent baTous, lakes and canals, which had been
cleared of distractions for the purpose until the cut
lets on the right bank have eecuay closed with the
drift Red bayou, which vas The Quite. for number
Of years closed up in 1850, since which time four
have been opened, at different times, higher up
the river, on each side The first to close up
HerEeys canal on the right hand side, about dEe
miles above Red bayou, which it did before it Vas
used much. The nex. one close up the Poster
bayou route on the left hand side Of the river, seven
and half miles stoTe Red bayou, which happened
about two years ago. This route was up BEG pa7ou,
and crossed the main river through opening in the
raft cut BY Capts Moore and Alban into slough lead
ing into Poster bayou; thence through chain Of
lakes and bayous TO the point mentioned The next
and last outlet to close up the Kouns canal, on
the Eigh. bank, ten miles above Red bayou This
route closed up during last month and leaves but
route open, and that is through The partay cut canal
called the Aloaa cus, at Boom bend, the left bank
Of the river, about twenty miles above the mouth OF
Red bayou Il is merely an extension of the Posten
bayou higher up. It Is said to be the best route
yet opene4 since the closing Of el baron gi-a tla
exception OF the cut which Is yet flushed Il viii
only require little labor TO put /: in good navigable
condition, and tia. vii. be done this sunlcr. There
is some talk Of opening another outlet the right
bank. some five miles below Spring Bank and follow
ing the Lakes. bayous and swamps, which extend TO
the houns route. The plan is feasible and should
emergency require it, the Kouns brothers will doubt
open it As the raft fills up The water is forced back
the banks into the Ios swamp country bordering
the river sufficient depth for naFigable purposes
AMI it only requires short canal Immediately the
bank OF the river 10 open route The hills coming
into the riTer At Spring Bank, will prevent this method
OF extending navigation any higher up thai side OF
the river, but the other side should occasion
quire, it could be extended the head OF Long Prai-
rie distance OF upwards of sixty miles from the
crossing at the head of Red BAYOU.
Since IS45 two attempts have been made br the
Government to remove the raft; one in 1885, with
the stag5oat Radiator and the other in lS5i-5 with
the Gopher under the superintendent of Capt Fuller
Nothing accomplished by either of these attempts
but to sguanser the money appropriated, and the aft
has gone filling mp increasing every year.
Capt. Fuller commenced On the raft at point where
Dooleys bayou leaves the river, and dug out about
miles of logs, which he foated into large lake
running into Dooley's bavpu. His object tn open
the raft above this bayou and let the wafer cut that
way leaving the lower part Of the TAFT he found it,
bat the appropriation gave ont before he fairly got
work. Another a:teaiPt Tas made to open the raft
in 1881 or -, b IRE: After long dry spell, when
The river very low, it thought that the logs
could be burned Accordingly in one of the years
spoken Of party made up in this city for the
purpose. II was set on fire in thousand different
places but without any good results 1t burned until
the FIRE reached the logs imbevd in the sand, when ii
went out Nothing was accomplished By this further
tLan to Kill good deal of the timber On the banks
Since Capt. Fulles failure the raft has been lief. alone
in its glory. while every effort has been msde to i'm
prove navigation by heading i. OF and turning the
water around it. large growth of trees has sprung
up the lover part of the raft and people On foot
can i! dry shod. Probably the last attempt 10
open the raft has been made, other and feast
bic routes can De found Our friends above the raft
res. assured that every effort viii be used during
the coming summer TO improve the navigation around
the raft, that thsy F be able to ship their next
crop at less rates than formerly. There is project
On foot to put in line Of weekly Packets between
here and Fulton, connecting here with weekly packets
for New Orleans, putting freight through in Jour days
fFo New Orleans This enterprise is in the hands of
parties #lo have the means end energy to Insure
success