The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-04-27
THE GREAT CREVAssE.
4 Devastating Deluge-Great Waste
and Suffering Inevitable-Rep0rt
from n. len. Thompson-How the
Crevasse Started.

and SUFFERING Inevitable-RepOrt
from n. len. Thompson-How the
Crevasse Started.
OFFICE BOARD OF ENGINEERS
NEw ORLEANS, La, April q, ISL. !
To the Editor Of the New Orleans Times:
Knowing the anxiety of our fellow
citizens in regard to the existing crevss'
ses, propose to furnish you each high,
with the information that may retch
me. No concentrated effort has .ye'
been made to close the Point Msnoirt
crevasse in West Baton Rouge, and NJ r.
Martin Glynne is working his own force
to preserve the ends. Engineer Van
Pelt has visited the spot, and all agree
that the crevasse occurred where IT
could not have been anticipated. Mr..
Glynne writes me on the 10Th: my as
sistant overseer was on watch on the
levee on Sunday when the break occur
ed, and had to swim his horse through
the water, as he was caught on the
lower side, and saw no signs Of danger
when he passed down"
The Wallis crevasse in St. James is
not yet large, and / have sent ample
materials, tools and orders to close it.
The Bonnet Care crevasse will be
very destructive, and probably interfere
with travel on the Jackson railroad.
Steamboats,, steam pile-drivers, barges,
piles, lumber, sacks, tools, and every
thing that can be needed, have been sent
to the spot and Engineers Hatch,
Wrotnowski and Conway will direct the
operations to check the increase OF the
opening, and close it, if possible. This
crevasse occurred BY pure guiltiness, as
this levee is one OF the best in the State,
and had been cut to haul sugar
through, and the cut was not properly
closed.
The crevasse at Marero's, in st. Ber-
nard, is in process of closing, and will
be soon finished. The one at Poverty
Point, in Plaquemines parish, is nearly
closed, and may be finished by Satur-
day night.
The break at Goodrich's, in Carroll
parish, is still open, but the river is
falling fast, and hope to close it in
time for the planting Of cotton.
We are using every effort in cur
power to save the rest of the leyees, and
with the cooperation of the planters
and laborerers Immediately interested
there will be no more crevasses.
Through the direct influence OF the
Governor some Of the banks have
come to our rescue, and hereafter each
order or contract we make for crevasse
work will be paid in cash by the
Hon. John Lynch, disbursing agent.
We must now state that each plan
ter, merchant and steamboatman will
cenfer a great favor by writing or COM
ing in person to state the condition Of
the levees in each and every portion of
the State, for if this information is con-
centrated at our Office, all the people
will know where to find it, and the
proper steps can be taken to prevent,
curtail or check the desolation that
now occurs from generally positive
negligence of the party upon whose
land the creyasse occurs. We ask for
all suggestions, information counsel or
advice that any citizen Of the State may
see proper to give us, and assure all
that we will do everything within our
power to save the country from over
flow. Your obedient servant,
NJ. JEFF. THOMPSON.
Chief State Engineer.