The Bossier banner., 1872-07-06
Mack's Bayou Navigation Com
pany.
To the President and Members
Board of Trade of the City of
Shreyeport, La:

Shreveport. La:
GENTLEMEN In accordance
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 24th instant, in
tending to go through IA 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 60 further
than the "Sewell Bridge" now
known as the JAS. Foster place,
aud told the captain and owners
that the riter to that point on the
bayou was, and would be the most
difficult portion of the whole route,
Il distance OF some eleven or
twelve miles from Shreveport. We
anticipated that the bridge across
the bayou would stop us, unless
we could indace Mr.. Foster to re-
move il; 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
II clear of any impedimeut, aud
reached the bridge in two OF 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 Il conference
with the agent ot the place, Il Mr..
Smith, who informed us he had
been instructed 10y Mr.. Foster to
let no person trouble or interfere
with the bridge. This was poser.
The gentlemen owners of the bOal
said they were 50 much pleas; Il
with the prospect OF making the
round trip that if We would 90
they would venture the risk. they
are both workmen, and energetic
wOrkingnen; they took down
everything to the top of the roof,
and glided handsomely through.
Replacing things, We proceeded
to what is known aS the Public
Bridge, IL distance of some three
miles. This structure is an old
dIlapidated concern, some .16 or
Is years old, and we think quite
unsafe. as the planking is quite
rotten. The piers of this bridge
were not of sufficient width by
some 25 or ) feet to let us pass
Tie Captain, not daunted, seemed
determined that no difficulty
should present itself to stop our
progress; so he spread apart the
four pieIs and cut u gain of some
fonr inches ill each post by which
we got through and left the
bridge standing. | will state that
two years ago Capt. Thos. Moore,
Capt. Aiban anil myself had gone
through i'll II skiif up to Mr. \. \.
Durdin's, some 6 or miles above
Bellevue, on the Bodcau. In then
passing from this bridge to the
next bridge, Il distance of several
miles, known then as tue Smith
Bridge" this space between
bridges was literally packed and
.jammed with logs, trees and float
Ing debris. This, we were pleased
to find all removed by the untir.
ing exertiOns of the company, and
the bayou nearly clear.
| here remark that it was the
fear, (or pretended fear) of this
nOdtluS DaSS that caused the ln-
junction, restricting the further
operations OF the company from
d, iny then, what we are now try
ing To effect in navigation for one
hundred or l20 miles To within l.
or II miles of LewiSviIle, Arkau.
sas, through one of the finest re
glOns of our northwestern section
OF Louisiana.
After passing this last bridge.
which is known as the ''Foster
and Fullilove bridge" )" our troubles
were ended no impeachment or
difficulty was found out to the
Bodcau, at Snider'S Bluff, and
thence to the Bellevue Ianding.-
am, and have been for years.
surprised that a stream of this
magnitude, opening up an export
trade of thirty or fifty thousand
dollars, and giving access to the
immense Cypress Brakes of the