Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-06-22
THE mAxsHAc RoUrr.

There has been much speculation and
many plausible theories ventilated o
opening a way to commerce and trade
from the Mississippi river, through Man
shae to Mobile. We nave scarcely given
the subject second thought, for we were
aware of its impraeticsbility, having
heard g description of'the impediments
and Obstructions from actual observation,
many years ago. Besides, while Grant
was hunting around and prospecting to
avoid Vlcksburg and Port Hudson, and
other officers were following his illustri-
oUs example of trying their luck upon
the water as we'll as upon land, the ca
pacity of this outlet for the accommodating
waters of the Mississippi, and sought to
open a new and direct avenue to trade
between st. Louis and Mobile, must have
more than once occupied their attention,
and been found wanting. We remember
it was pronounced impraeticahle, as far
back as 1859, when the Jackson Rail
road occupied much attention, and were
somewhat surprised it should so suddenly
seize upon public interest, and find so
many eager advocates. The fever is
dying out, and the following commune
cation to the st. Louis Democrat,
from Col. Long, sn old, experienced and
able engineer, will be apt to dispose Of it
for a decade or two longer. He says:
was State Engineer Of Louisiana in
1887, and made a survey Of Bayou Man
chac, in that State, under the instrue-
lions OF its Board of Public Works. The
same year ] made an examination or in-
spection of the attempted improvement
OF Amite river, by 3 corporate company,
from the southern line Of the State Of
| Mississippi to its mouth at Lake Msu-
ripss, or rather through that lake to Pass
MRnehac and Lake POntchartTain.
Bayou Mauchsc Is about twenty miles
below Baton Rouge, the first five miles
of which is dry bayou or nearly so. 1t
commences back Of the roadway or levee
at its mouth, with a breadth of come fifty
or sixty feet, and depth only to admit the
Mississippi waters al their higheststsges,
and then only in quantities sufficient for
light piTogue or keel-boat navigation,
should the levee at the mouth be re-
moved. The fall in this five miles is
nearly twenty-four feet. At the end of
this distance it passes the southern ter
minus Of the high lands on which Baton
Rouge is situated, and here it is joined by
a bayou coming from the south which
gives back drainage for the valuable
sugar estates on the east side of the river,
reaching from Bayou Msnchac as far
down as Pisquemine, IL not to Donald
souville, some twenty-five or thirty
miles, or more. From this junction to
the Amite river is distance OF above
seven miles. The bayou is somewhat en-
larged, bat ordinarily is but shallow,
fOrdsble stream.
The Anite river, from its crossing of
the Mississippi line into the State Of
Louisiana to its meeting with its sf1uent,
the Comits river, some six or eight miles
south OF Clinton, La, has its channel
through a fat pine woods country, and
if cleaned one season, may cut a new
side track by the time another comes
round, entirely INSTRUCTED by fallen
trees. Through the Amite to Bayou
Manahac, where in former times there
was 2 town called Galveston, the river
ia shallow and susceptible only OF light
navigation. From Bayou Manehac to
Lake Mauripas ths Amite is handsome
stream of some four or five hHndred
wards in breadth and four feet in depth.
Lake Msuripas is about six miles across
10 Pass Msnchac, which Is its outlet into
Lake Pontchartrain. This is 3 shallow
lake with = muddy bottom, through
which into the latter it is difficult to find
sbOvs two and half feet OF water.
It il evident that this never could have
been q route to satisfy the trade between
the Mississippi river and the Gulf coast
OF Mississippi, Alabama and Florida for
any great length of time after their
earliest European settlements; and it
seems to me upon the above descriptions,
which are correct, it will require but
little reflection to show the Impractical
bility to undertake to make it answer for
such at its present and future unmeas-
ursd magnitude. Besides, to admit a
great volume OF water through the bayou,
the plantations which are drained by it
AS above described would be nearly or
quite ruined. Respectfully submitted.
GEO. W. LONG.