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

an overflow during high water after tn
locks are constructed, it will be necessar
to stop the immense stream that flows int;
Bayou Boeuff from the Red River swamp
through the large ditch between the plan
tations OF Pearce and Keary.
The cost of a dam across the mouth o
this ditch will be abont $SOO-it being ne
cessary to place about 100 cubic yards o
earth in such a !, way as to effectuaIy pre-
vent any further injury from this source.
10 render available the lock or dam ia
the Bayou Lamouria.. near. the Railroad
which is now ia dilapidated condition, II
Will be necessary to overhaul thu gates
repair them and the apparatus by which
they are opened, and also stop the sluice
which flows around one of tho abutments
BY means of earth well packed or rammed
ALT OF which it is supposed can be done
at cost not exceeding 800,
This repair think will obviate the ne
cessity OF stopping up Lamourie nearer its
mouth or source, all the fall from BAYOU
Boeof to the lock is not sufficient to ma
seriaiiy lesson the amount OF water that
would be thrown into the Boeuff in low
water if the gates were properly closed,
and it will also prevent much dissatisfac,
ton on the part of those, planters who live
on Lamorrie, and look to this stream to
supply their plantations with water for
stock and other purposes.
1t is supposed then that Bayou Boeuff
increased by the additional volume that
will thus he thrown into it will have sufi-
Gent water in the dryest seasons to keep
the spaces between locks oil the way down
sufficiently full to meet the demand of
boats, even after the great quantity drawn
OF BY evaporation and transportation
through the earth on either side.
The clearing away of the trees on either
side as we'll as other obstacles, ia q matter
Of no considerable cost, unless the plan of
cordelling be adopted, in which case many
more trees will have to be removed than
viii Pc necessary if tugs are employed
The growth that now sss..arfsres with the
channel is chiefly willow of recent growth,
which can be removed Of cost not exceed
ing $4,000 for the whole length of the i'm
provement. Il ,7qz.afgua,1- ,ff .Fr7vs.
There is great deal Of heavy timber on
the banks above Huffpower, decreasing iu
quantity as we ascend--which it would be
to remove. A.. it shades the
water without interfering with steam navi-
cation, -tn4....
The secure building Of locks aud dams
becomes then the next and most important
question for consideration. The number
it is supposed to require is six in order,
as appears in the following table:
Beginning below.
I. A Lock and Dam at Junction -$12, 500
2. Six miles above, near Hudspeths.
,. Near Mrs. Quirk;s (Loci J. 49,. 800
I. Barbuck Clock -. 80 =. 500
5, One mile above HolmesviIle (lock)I $500
s. Below ChepeyvilIe (Lock). $500. $500
Six Locks to cost. $50, 900
The first one Is placed below the juno
lion Of Boeuf aud Cocodrie, not only to
increase the supply of water In Bayou
Boenf, but also to make easier the naviga-
ion Of the Cocodrie, should. it become
profitable to run boats in that stream
The sixth or the one at .Cheneyville will
create sufficient depth of water all the way
10 Lamourie.
The material out of which locks are to
20 constructed is chiefly cypress timber
fhe body or walls Of the work are to be of
,iles, 12xl2, driven to q secure foundation,
md to be placed relatively as appears in
he accompanying plans-these piles are
hen covered with q sheeting of 2 inch
blank, secured with inch spikes and plac-
ID transversely, not only to prevent abra-
lion against the piles Of any passing bod
es, but will also make the work water tight
Iboye low water mark, and much stronger.
Bnt the plan and working of each particu-
ar lock are subject to such notifications
70 the difference of location may require,
md the location will vary more or less up
u down the bayou from, the places men
Toned as natural basins for the turning OF
boats may require, these should always oc-
,ur above the locks. ..s +, .ls. !, 1a
The height of the top ola lock will be
ourteen or fifteen feet above the bottom of |
he bayou. In this allowing 4 feet depth |
# water in channel below the upper gate
yhen closed, and ten feet of Lift to raise |
he water inside the lock to q level with |
he water surface above, when the lower
,ate is closed and The upper is to be open
ID. This will then allow from S to 6 feet |
# bank above the top of the lock, with all
,ates open for foods to pass without dan
FER Of an overflow, all the work shall be so |
covered with sheeting on the top, and |
hielded below so as to prevent injury Ell |
her to the locks or the banks Of the bayou.
Timber can be obtained in any quantity |
rom the Glaze and Marshall plantations |
or the construction Of works below these |
POINTS, and the two locks above can be |
upplied from the Coco Bend and; ada |
ent plantations.
The estimate ofs7,5O0 on the locks is
N average subject to such alteration as |
ach case may require. I
1t is expected that tho whole work can |
% conpleted within three months from the
ime Of commencement with IN average |
orce Of 80 heads on tho large work, and Of
8 on the smaller, with favorable stage
I water-t to work in. 1
To show the, amount of Bayou Boeuf
ands, and other lands tributary to the i'm
rovement, the following table has been
repaired from information given by the
lantersl: ~ ~ iJ- sfeA 81 81 |
124,60O acres aggregate $1,000 acres
r nearly 8059 miles. 1t IL supposed that
,r the year 1868 Bayou Boeuf. will send to
,arket 600 hhds of sugar, 1000 bbls Of
lolasses and 500 bales OF cotton.
The aggregate cost of the whole improve
lent including contingencies 10 $63 500.
It may not perhaps be in strictly good
aste for the Engineer of q small work
lerely to attempt to discuss the merits of
1onrvo. r,,kor, ~ sokn,,n1 |