The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1870-10-29

OF the government to aid us in 4
work of such general interest. !
have consented to yield to TIA
wishes of the community, and n
conjunction with any and all. Who
are willing to join in the enteN
prise, will use my earnest efforts
to push it to successful conclb,
sion.
All the Western States ana
cities, as well as New Orleans. ara
deeply interested in the removal
of the Raft, and viii give I'd All
possible aid through their renra
sentatiyes in Congress. The benz.
fits which the accomplishment a
this work will bestow upon ShfeyA
port, are incalcnlable. Itwillopam
five hundred miles of navigation
above this place, through one a
the finest cotton growing districta
in theSouth, and will reclaim hun,
dreds of thousands of acres 0f val.
liable land, the products of which
must, in time, swell the growing
volume of our commerce.
In my opinion, there is not d
railroad project in contemplation,
Of half the importance, consider.
ing the relative costs, or that
that should so readily command
the patronage of the government.
as the Red River Raft. The mag.
nitude and costs of this enteR
prise have been variously estlma.
ted. The removal of the Raft Il.
self, is not the most difficult p0t,
ton of the undertaking /; the labor
of keeping the channel clear after
it is once opened, until the current
of the river has widened it sufi,
GENTLY to pass the heaviest run OF
drift, will prove the greatest OBJ,
stacle. This drift has been known
to make one mile of solid raft dur.
ing one rise of the river, and ID
the past season it made one and q
half miles.
Our frststep should beto memo
rialize Congress for aid ii this
work, and blanks will soon III
prepared and sent out to obtain
the signatures of those interested
in the undertaking, and Il trust
we will be able to send up to that
honorable body, a petition, which
from the number and character of
its signers will command prompt
consideration.
If any are disposed to charge
me with arrogance i'll stepping for
ward in this matter, / can only
reply that l am influenced BY no
selfish purpose, that | have taken
the initiative at the persistent and
earnest solicitation of my upper
Red River friends, who are the
greatest sufferers from this ob.
struction to navigation. I have
frequently urged them to select u
person more competent to manage
the matter than myself, bnt my
former connections seem to have
given them claims upon me which
| can no longer ignore. a
1t may not be amiss here, formo
to give briefly my views. as to the
best mode of effecting the object
in question this will at least open
the question, and lead to the ex4
preston of the views of Others.
from which good results may flow,
and | will remark, that no time
should now be lost.
am in favor of reviying the
charter, or, of obtaining anew one.
incorporating the same privileges,
as being the surest, most perna-
nent aud effectual means with GOV
eminent and State aid, of accoms
plishing our end. Louisiana, Ar.
kansas and Texas are deeply and
directly interested, while dona-
tons of lands from private indi,
viduals have been frequently OF.
feged through me to the enter.
prise,
Objections will doubtless be
urged on the grounds that the
government, III treaty with the
Indian tribes, located on the Dor.
ders of Red River, guaranteed to
them, free and easy access to the
Mississippi river, and is obligated
to them as we'll as to its own citi-
zens, to do the work and open free
navigation to all. This is not des
MED. But reviewing the past,
what have we to expect? This
general government has, first and
last, expended on this work $780,
600, and to what purpose9 The
work was accomplished, but the
drift permitted to accumulate, 70
appropriation having been made
RI Eoan tho channel n.1arn rhra