New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-01-22
Removal OF the Raft.

From the Shreveport: Bulletin, JiHaary II.
The Red Rirer Post, published at Lewis
vile, Arkansas, copies our article on the
resources Of the upper Red River, and in
reference thereto, says tha: there !s,not
particle OF, exaggeraton IL the statement.
We learn also that the people o. that region
fully inlorse the article. The facts being
as stated. we deem 1t proper, again, to dig
cuss the importance OF removing the Raft,
which bars that magnificent country from
intercourse with Our commercial centres.
The navigation Of upper Red River has been;
Tor several months, eftecty,Glly blockaded
by she Raft; tee country o: which e ID the
commercial chanhe. IS running short of
plantation supplies, and Il something tie
not done, vast bodies OF rch lands viii
have to be turned out OF cultivation this
wear, because there are 10 supplies OF pro-
visions, etc, there. to enable the planters
to carry on their operations. The Frank
Morgan, George and other small boats may
succeed in working -helr way through
bayous, lagOons and bitches lnto the river
above; bat, even then. the cotton coming
down and treights going up will have 10 he
lghtened from the boats above 10 those
below, and rice pe5sG, d q stance OF two or
three miles from the 1nouth 0! OROurke's
slough to the head Of koun's canal. thus
making it necessary to handle the freight
six times before It reaches its destination.
This must prove - gricvous tax upon the
industry Of the country. and one that Will
retard its development. Even row, hun
dreds Of thousands OF dollars worth Of cot
ton 10 locked up there by the RAFT tna- mer-
chants here and il New Orleans have adj
yauced heavily upon; this is increasing the
striugcncy of the money market. and Il the
cotton he not brought out. merchants who
have dealt with the upper Rec! river plant
ers will be heavy sufferers, ana. %: course,
VII be forced t. withhold lutIrc supplies.
Tie removal OF tic Raj: VII obviare all
these and future evils OF a similar charac-
ter: it viii lei out The Vast quantities OF
cotton now on the nppe: Ked. !; vii! IN
crease. tie value Of arabic lands. reclaim
millions of acres Low mere marshes. s.iinu-
late industry. ard open 10 the merchants OF
Shreveport. New Orleans, s.. Louis. Mem
phis and Cincinnati one Of the finest and
richest regions II the South. In. Rcd Rite-
Post es Inmates that forty thousan': acres Of
public land III Lafayette county alone,
would be reclaimed through the success Of
this enterprise, and become lsaiab!e az from
one TO ten dollars per a. re. We Wi! repeat
what We stated il Il previous article. that
the Ireights on cotton and other products
from aud to ths. region " oulc be reduced
sixty per cent, and insurance Fits per
cent.
And now we come 20 G point Ok very
grave interest to the people Ut the whole
ked river country. The closing of Tones
bayou, putting out Of Red river :tpout thirty
five miles below Shreveport, has long been
matter Of great importance: 'w"th!rds Of
the water Of Red river goes CT through
that bayou into swsIIps. lakes AID iagoous,
rendering the navigation iron. ia head to
Bayou Winsey. where tie waters again
gather and TOW bayk into tie rlver. during
portions of the year. extremely difficult.
The Legislature has made appropriations to
clos. this baycu. and several 'neffectua,
attempts have been made =, do 20. The
| timber en-, OF: Of the Raft wculd, IL follow.
ing che current OF tho .-vc.. toa. into the
! mouth Of this bayou. with tut little aid.
! etiectualy close it, ard the nav:g..t.oE ot
| the whole river woull te greatly improved
! thereby. and IL work accomplished. at
| scarcely any expense. on wlIcL H-ge sIuls
! have been expended IL vain.
The great advantages 70 he !":tre'. from
| the removal OF the hl.f. are .;oiLpreh"nded
! in Arkansas and t. movement = cow on
, foot TO obtain from the Legislature -: that
| State IN appropriation Of ore hundred thou
! sand dollars TO aid n til" Work. VIII The
! legislature -; cur own STATE .lo>' is eyes
| 20 the Importance Of his eut"rpr!s'. to d
| vas. section OF The Stat. Millions ot dol
lars have been appropriate! BY car L"Sisia
! turc :, enterprises IL other Horizons 81 the
state. promising far less splendid results
| than the removal Q: tie Ran. iA.ieed. We
| may claim that no appropriations have
| been made 10 a.u The fitv..opiLcn; Oi The
vas. resource. %, .he Re.. River country
| colnIuensIr..t" 10 those given - enterprise
! III other sections 81 Louisiana. We ask
! therefore. the L-.cisl..Hr- oi' louisiana t.
! fake .hi- matter INTO consideration. M
! appropriation OF ii cuar,". U. =. ,n!if.cE ~
dollars would 20: lie di-.,rcia',ionate Il
| the Iuagniticen. result, - ~ oh.aincd: ONT
! Lun,ire,. .ho.. SAM -. ..as.. s.,ala b.
. given.
| In th.s connection W. :ai. =. .-,.:' Il co
! f,rriny % tie cAs-tioui 'a.oDe- :. u
| !iervty las made % ..a.ugaIi-;e ~. enter
! u..se 4 man ot LANDED: property. -. siam
! less integrity. sound sense and lnaous!tab!'
| energy he has aroused IL. Tins :'":t!":. q
| Louisiana and south ARKANSAS :. ..li after
| est IN the matte. Colonel i-c:yey has hfcI
| identified with the enterprise ,or 'emnE'rt
| the Raft for many years. zee - 'i.or'"SS ltN
! acquainted Wit. the sub "ct-aLo"' TIE all
! ficulties 70 be encountered ett,t TIL :.tyHn
! tarcs to result, and "" Il, :.o- :"s ate Z
! say, from the cUuva:S.-t0Ls W -" h:.t
| with the property holders ii The co"ntr: L
| be selvantaged, and III. lettacs SO hlv,
| seen :rum the SAINT sources. t'ia Ia: :o,lc q
the press OF: Arkansas. that CoGilei :l"iv',
is tie han HON the people -!is 70 hea'
this enterprise, ana that !lc = ,--ore APP
than any other TO combine ..!u :I.:.L.oll%
I'LL tho elements OF success.
! Colonel Ncrvey vii! leave here il. a. tev
DAYS for Washington. for t. r:,-i,oSe q
looking after the interests q. :ai- :,!ca: "n
,erpri-. IL Congress.