The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-11-25
Red River Navigation.

The work Of improving navigation around the raft,
provided for by legislative act September s, 1868,
is, are informed rapidly and satisfactorily progress
sing and the entire way down to Twelve Mile bayou,
will be clear probably by the 1st pToximo of all saw
yers stumps trees, &C., that could endanger boats Of
whatsoever draught. This should insure easy, quick
and safe communication with the bis CHEST point ON the
river atainabe by water. 1t is being prosecuted in
person by Capt. Alban, Of the contractors, with
his well known industry, experience and Judgment
The route around the raft commenced at Boon Bend
Of Red river left bank at its most eastern point three
miles in air line from the Arkansas boundary, by a
canal recently cut BY Capt Alban, and known by his
name, which having in a length of only one hundred
and forty yards fail of some five feet, has already
washed width sufficient for the largest boats running
upper Red river. This canal plunging thus rapidly
into Boom Bend, Bee, or Moon Lake, as it is sever
ally called affords with its aid quick current through
road cut in Posten Lake, marked by boards to ndl-
cate the channel, into Posten bayou, pretty broad
stream, which, uniting soon with the branches Of
Phelps bayou, dschargng the waters Of Phelps and
other large lakes, extending as chain into Arkansas,
empties into Mitchells or Millers Lake. thence by
short outlet into McQullas Lake, broader and more
shalog lake. thence by crooked slough of the same
name, into Red river few hundred yards below the
foot Of the highest raft thence down Red river about
mile crossing it then, westwardy, to mouth of Red
bayou-thus constituting the most northern section
Of the work contemplated by the act of the Legsla:
ture, above mentioned. 1t is said proper boom will
be constructed at the commencement of Alban canal
so as to guide all floating timber from it into Red
r;y 10 fpIlo TO Cart ibnn nj
activity and sagacy, the project Of such canal was,
if We mistake not suggested some years ago by an en-
gneer of the United States Army, who, though he
could have thus headed the raft, failed after heavy
expenditure Of money, to accomplish his preferred
route by Doole7's bayou.
Aware that the road now being cleared is that cx.
acted b. the act referred to, yet think better one
could DC made by passing through McQula Lake, to
reopen the slough closed with TIMBER into Dutch
Johns Lake. then by short cut into Red river at the
angle above Coushatta Bluff, down Rcd river to some
point near the Egypt plantation, whence channel
could be conducted in the rear Of Marks Lake, Dor
derng the high land until it should again reach Red
river, not far below Carolina Bluff, to which place,
even at the present stage Of water, we have ready
navigation.
The rczt section starts at the mouth of Red bayou
which has rapid CURRENT and with width veraging
about eighty feet, and passes through Caddo Prairie,
which on either side was cultivated before the forma
ton Of the upper raft and cou! be reclaimed if this
be overcome removed i'll the manner Indicate
With great celebrity and depth this bayou now dis
charges into Scwes canal and after series of bold
bends enters Black bayou at Irvinss Bluff, the resi-
dence and millsitc OF our lospitabe parshoncr r K
Harrison. This division has been entirely finished by
the contractors
The last section Of this upper work, coming from
lrGings Bluff through the abrupt courses of Black
bayou, its dangerous, shaggy bends appropriately
known as the Devils Elbow" and its flats into Clear
Lake; then by the Willow chutes into Soda Lake, and
last through Twelve Mile bayou, WILL before the
end Of the month, be thoroughly cleared and the
water bed be deepened wherever necessary
Will not these improvements restore to Shreveport
the trade of the rich upper Red river region which has
long been diverted to Jefferson on the west and to
Camden On the east?
We understand the building Of dam in the river,
below the mouth G! Seopiui's cutoff, proTided for by
the same act of the Legislature has been postponed
to the next of low water by the contractors,
who fearful it could not be completed If the now
Justly expected rise in the river should occur.