The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-03-03

| iHefe afe TWO obstacles That prevent the
passage of boats into the Mississippi dur
ing low stages Of water for considerable
spaces of time; the first known as the Pc
tit Diabln a bar near the mouth of the
Courtableu, that is its junction with tile
Atchafalaya; and the other where the Atch.
| afalaya runs out Of Red River. the first Of
the greatest Importance to remove the Sc
cond only occasionally impeding naviea.
ton, as no survey has been made of the
Petit, Dlable as yet, Ut late years, at any
rate, it is not SO easy to determine how or
what cost the bars could be removed, but
from all reports the passage. of boats could
only be rendered practicable ut all times
by causing some boat to attach to its
sides or bottom the pillow now in use for
the purpose Of opening channels, or we
have the alternative of maintaining q
dredging boat at considerable cost no
doubt; but We have not the time or the
space Just here to treat further Of this mat
ter.
OF considerable interest to-. the planters
Of the Cheneyville neighborhood, is the
proposed Railroad from Cheneyville to
Echo Landing, distance of seven miles;
four of which would have to be trestled in
order that the railway should be entirely
above high water mark. This road will
cost over $4,000. u
It is worthy Of remark that an available
route to Red River lies few miles above
Cheneyville a little over I've miles in
length, but has not the advantage of being
cleared and grubbed, while the other has.
Last but not least BY any means 10 the
reconstruction of the road from. Alexan-
dria to Lecompte. This road in connec-
tion with the Bayou Boenf navigation 10
which so many planters from Alexandria
to Lecomte and its vicinity, are interested
as we'll % the merchants Of Alexandris,
could be easily rebuilt by the above named
planters and merchants ct small cost to
to them Individually, making it . paying
concern to themselves, not. .only in the in
crease Of trade but the value Of property,
aud the profits from the Railroad would
speedily repay them all they had expended
in rebuilding len, 1. j !. a.lessa
We might presume, specially TO call the
of the merchants Of New Or
leans interested in the planting interest
here, to the fact that they would fine it
greatly in their favor to invest in Boeuf
navigation stock, not only to increase the
amount of trade that would flow to them
but the profits from an economical man.
agement OF the concern would speedily pay
them back the amount of their investment
and the stock would finally be found to BE-
in greater demand than any Of its kind,
from the chespness with which the locks
can be constructed; and the immense
amount Of tonnage the companyis boats
will be required to carry, for the coming
season not less than $500 hhds of sugar,
5000 bbis Of molasses, and from 1900 to
500 bales Of cotton, thus giving . down
freight bill Of not less than $4,000 from
Bayou Boeuf and, An equal amount from
return freights. Then the interested mer. |
chants of the city, after they conclude that |
the scheme is practicable under the plans |
proposed, cannot certainly be 20 blind or |
10 illiberal as to refnse their aid TO 90 i'm. |
which will be the means Of les |
sening the burdens Of their patrons, while
patrons, while it will also pay them so |
To conclude We know the planting sys-
tenn In vogue here previously was charac- |
terized by . want of economy on the part |
81 many Of our planters, because they
could make up their losses by means Of q !
plentiful supply, Of labor, and we must
adopt such means ss are best estimated to |
make mp our Losses now, whatever the |
cause, BY bringing in an increasing num-
Der of land owners, aud laborers to meet !
he increasing demand.
Can this be done without the employ |
nent of facilities which We have not now. |
Should we not build Railroads and Canals |
,ut of the immense amount that are drained |
annually from our pockets by being forced |
% transport over miserable roads, in mis- |
,rabfe OF teams and nameless other buses. |
I am, Mr.. Progress,
with much esteem
Your obi. Servant,
ENGINEEE. |