The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1870-05-25
Communicated
Low Water Navigation
Editor South w estern


| addressed communication to you short time
since upon the above subject. Its appearance in the
South Western seems to have created some excite
ment among the citizens of Mansfield. In the Re-
porter of the 9th, the editor comments at length up
on my communication aud makes some statements
that it may be proper for to notice. In the first
place he states that since the survey of Gen DeRus-
sey great and radical change has taken place in
Bayou Pierre" At the time that survey was made
great uneasiness was felt among steamboamen lest
the amount Of water drawn off by Tones Bayou should
ruin the nav CATION of Red river it thought then
that half the water of Red river passed through Tones
Bayou. In conversation with Gen. DeRussey on the
subject he told that there fall of nine feet
from the head OF Tones Bayou to Red Bluff but that
this fall all lost before he reached the lower end
of Cannesneer Lake, and that the lower end of that
lake was higher than the head of Tones Bayou There
is but little fall through the lakes in Bayou Pierre,
while Red river has gradual fall all the way down
from Tones Bayou to the WnceY hence We find Red
river fifteen feet below the level of Bayou Pierre and
the difference at Grand Bayou that existed when
Gen, DeRussey's able report was made, and hence /
conclude that the radical change spoken of by the ed
itor of the Reporter exists only in his Imagination
The only difference is that Tones Bayou carries eff
more water than it did at the time of the survey
Again. the editor says, " if she'll bank at the
lower end of that lake (Canneanecr}, were removed
there would be at once unobsructed channel into
the river again through the Wincey." Here he ig-
channel of Bayou Pierre, which fall has only moved
three miles up the channel in four years Now, if the
editor Of the Reporter will visit US in the low water
season | will show him two distinct falls in Bayou
Pierre mile apart, where the roars and thun
ders over them like young Niagara, and where moth
ing in the shape of steamboat pass, that when
he again writes about the distractions to low water
navigation in Bayou Pierre, he may not forget to men
ton the only one that is of any Importance.
Let repeat Mr.. Editor, that there can be no low
water navigation through Bayou Pierre until this fall
of fifteen feet is removeda removal from its present
locality only develops it higher up. But it must be
removed or distributed through the whole length Of
the river, say sixty miles.
Again, the Reporter has fallen into an error about
Grand Bayou and Bayou LaChute in saying that they
are distinct bayous ten miles apart His extravaganza
estimate of the cost of deepening Bayou LaChne is
simply absurd 1t would only require an excavation
six feet deep, ten feet wide and half mile long, and
this could be done for twenty five cents per cubic yard
Three to five thousand dollars would cover the whole
expense Of tapping Bayou Pierre Lake through Bayou
LaChute. am opposed to turning Red river through
Bayou Pierre; FIRST because of the large expenditure
it would require in the second place. do not con
ceIve that there is any necessity for it, as navigation
can be kept up the present route with compare
lively trting expense and in the third place. it would
be doing great injustice to BienvilIe Claiborne and
the east half of Bossier parishes which depend upon
Lake Bisteneau for navigation. 1t would also be
just to those living along the river between the Wncey
and Tones Bayou
In my first communication l stated that DeSoto had
good high water navigation now, and would have low
water navigation the fall has worked up to
Marcelie This ought to salty all reasonable parties
Now Mr. Editor, | am done with this subject. | have
no idea of getting into a controversy with the editor
of the Reporter or with anybody else. am glad to
see that some interest has been excited the subject
so all who feel interested may have something to say
IN the settlement of thsinteresting question.
SAM. CLARK.