The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-07-20
Hacks Bayou Navigation Com
- - pany.

with my promise | will proceed to
give a detailed and succinct ac-
count of my late trip to Bellevue,
under the request OF the President
of the Mack's bayou and Bodeau
Navigation Company. The stm'r.
Hornet arrived from New Orleans
about the 23d or oath instant, in
tending to 60 through thorough
repairing. She was induced by
the company to try and make the
trip. | went on board in compa-
ny with Capt. Geo. Alban, also
one of the stockholders of the
company.
/ did not expect to so further
than the Sewell Bridge now
known as the JAS. Foster place,
and told the captain and owners
that the river to that point on the
bayou was, and would be the most
difficult portion of the whole route,
a distance of some eleven or
twelve miles from Shreveport. We
anticipated that the bridge across
the bayou would stop us, unless
we could induce Mr.. Foster to re-
move it; then we also anticipated
much difficulty from drift and
floating timber, as we had been
informed that the late hurricane
had thrown many trees into the
bayou When We reached the ex-
pected place of difficulty we found
It clear of any impeachment, and
reached the bridge in two or three
hours. We found the space be,
tween the piers of sufficient width
TO let us through, and about three
inches space from the bottom OF
the bridge to the hurricane roof OF
the boat. We sought conference
with the agent of the place, a Mr.
Smith, who informed US he had
been Instructed by Mr.. Foster tc
let no person trouble or interfere
with the bridge This was poser
The gentlemen owners of the boat
said they were SO much pleased
with the prospect Of making the
round trip that If we would e.
n they would venture the risk. They
are both workmen, and energeti,
4 workingmen; they took dow
4 everything to She top of the root
and glided handsomely through
Replacing things, We proceeded
to what is known as the Public
Bridge, a distance of some tire,
miles. This structure is an Ok
dIlapidated concern, some IL o
is years old, and we think quit
unsafe, as the planking is quit
rotten. The piers of this bridg
were not of sufficient width b.
some % or 3 feet to let us pass
The Captain, not daunted, SCENE,
determined that no difficult
should present itself to stop on
progress; so he spread apart tn
four piers and cut a gain of som
foAr inches in each post by whic
We got through and left tn
bridge standing. / will state tina
two years ago Capt. Thos. Moore
Capt. Alban and myself had gon
through in q skiff up to Mr.. n. a
Durdin's. some or 8 miles abov
Bellevue. on the Bodcau. In the
passing from this bridge to tn
next bridge, a distance of sovera
miles, known then as the "Smit
Bridge this space betwee
bridges was literally packed an,
jammed with logs, trees and fioa
ing debris. This, we were please
To find all removed by the until
ing exertions of the company, an
the bayou nearly clear.
/ here remark that it was th
fear, Tor pretended fear) of tn
floating mass that caused the il
junction, restricting the furthe
operations of the company fror
doing then, what we are now tt,
ing TO effect in navigation for Oh
hundred or 40 miles to within ]
or IA miles of LewiSviIle, ArkaI
sas, through one of the finest +
gions-of our northwestern sectio
of Louisiana.
After passing this last bridg
which is known as the ''Fost,
and Fullilove bridge" our troubl,
were ended no impeachment {
difficulty was found out to Il
Bedcau, at Snider's Bluff, an
thence TO the Bellevue landing
Lam, and have been for year
surprised that a stream of tn
magnitude, opening up an expo
trade of thirty or fifty thousau
dollars, and giving access to IL
immense Cypress Brakes of I'll
Bodcau bottom, superior to an
that can be found in Lonisian
and other fine timber for boa
r. =