The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-03-11
UP THE OUACH1TA To CAMDEN.

With the exception of unfavorable |
weather, our trip to Camden last week
was very pleasant. The distance to
that place is $50 miles, pilots measure.
Most of the country along the river is
subject to annual inundation, and
hence the usual evidences Of human in
dustry and civilization are few; it is q
virgin swamp, such as it might have
been, apparently, thousands of years
ago when the Ouachita was leaving
vegetable deposits sixty feet beneath
the earth's surface where now is the
town of Monroe. From the mouth of
the Bartholomew to Camden there is
but one plantation on the river, and this
is now lying idle. The river bottom is
irreclaimable from overflow, land has no
valuable timber,if we except post-oal5,
and it will be centuries doubtless be-
fore the aspect is materially changed.
! The river, too, becomes narrow and
crooked, with too many sawyers for
comfort and too much overhanging
timber for long boats with ornamental
work. But the good boat Ouachita
Belle, upon which we embarked, made
the round trip without serious damage,
and in her officers we found much to
This splendid packet we found Off
cered as follows: Captain, F. ~. Blanks;
First Clerk, G. 2. Work; See. Clerks,
j. V. Jordan and VIM. Gus; Pilots,
Geo. Smith, Jim Tuggle and Jno. Go
mellon; Chief Engineer, VIM. Irwin;
Steward, Perry Barnes; Mate Chas.
Stokes. ...
The first landing of any note, after
leaving Trenton, is Ouachita City, a
place Of two or three stores, Il saloon
and a few residences. THIS is the ship
ping point for q large portion Of Union
parish. Across the river, the Bartholo-
NEW flowing between, are Morehouse
Point and Hamilton Landing. The
| business of these landings is mainly
comprised in the receiving of freight
and shipment of cotton.
| Passing the mouth of the Bartholo-
NEW we observe marked change in
the navtgable feature Of the river. AL
! though boats ascend to Arkadelphia,
800 miles above, the channel here be-
comes narrow and crooked, 50 that with
be turned only by a judicious use Of the
rudder, combined with frequent inter
ruptions and reversals of the motion Of
the boats wheels.
ALABAMA LANDING,
| In point of fact there is in high water
no landing, for over 100 miles, after
leaving Ouachita City; but Alabama
Landing, at the distance of 20 miles,
& looms up from the timber and lowlantls
asashipping point of some importance.
Kirkpatrick's Bayou, navigable for 4
miles, empties into the river just below
this landing. The business at this point
has, apparently, justified the building
of residence, Il store-bcth on trestle-
and a cotton warehouse. Our friend L.
G. Campbell commands the post and
docs very good business. This would
be an excellent place for a woodward.
Boats entering and emerging from tho
overflow above generally find 1t neces-
sary to "wood up' here.
| 'tINTo THE Woods"
! At Alabama Landing sets in very
extensive overflow. For over so miles,
to Caryville, the river flows through
swampy country which varies In width
! from two to twelve miles throughout
it's extent. This entire area is now COW
cred with water, through which the
Ouachita meanders, at times in horrify-
ing curves, doubling itself In the most
perpleXing manner.
! "THIRTEEN POINTS"
Just above Alabama Landing, we ar
rive at the beginning of sThirteen
Points," 81 locality justly stigmatizcd
| as tho pilots hell. AS may be inferred
there arc thirteen points, to which cor
respond thirteen bends, most of them
very abrupt, at this part of the river, all
within the distance by water of seven
miles. The first and last bends, or
points, are not distant ON straight line
moro than two miles. If engineer and
pilot ever had fun, it is at "Thirteen
Points, To get the boat around point,
she is run down TO ii, and then Is back
ed up. The stern is properly located
with reference to the willows and the
hazardous plunge is taken. Around
the boat swings, brushing the timber rs
she goes; then two or three turns for