The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1872-07-27
hack's Bayou Navigation Com
paHy.

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 sd or oath instant, in
tending TO 60 through a thorough
repairing. She was induced by
the company to try and make the
trip. went on board in compa-
nv with Capt. Geo. Alban, also
one of the stockholders of the
company.
/ did not expect to go 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, aud would be the most
difficult portion of the whole route,
q distance of some eleven or
twelve miles from Shreveport. We
anticipated that the bridge across
the bayou would stop MS, unless
we could induce 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
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, q Mr.
Smith, who informed us be had
been instructed by Mr.. Foster to
let no person trouble or interfere
with the bridge. This was a poser
The gentlemen owners of the boat
said they were so much pleased
with the prospect of making the
/. round trip that e we would &C
they would venture the risk. They
are both workmen, and energetic
workingmen; they took dowr
everything to the top of the roof
and glided handsomely through
Replacing things, we proceeded
to what is known as the Public
Bridge, a distance of some three
miles. This structure is all ole
dilapidated concern, some Is o.
Is years old, and we think quit,
unsafe, as the planking is quite
rotten. The piers of this bridg,
were not OF sufficient width bl
some % or 8 feet to let us pass
The Captain, not daunted, seemed
determined that no difficult,
should present itself to stop on
progress; so he spread apart tn,
four piers and cut gain of som,
foRr inches in each post by which
We got through and left til,
bridge standing. / will state tina
TIVE years ago Capt. Thos. Moore
Capt. Alban and myself had gonr
through in a skiff up to Mr.. \. A
Durdin's, some 6 or s miles abov,
Bellevue; on the Bodcau. In thel
passing from this bridge to tn
next bridge, a distance of severa
miles, known then as the "Smitl
Bridge this space betweel
bridges was literally packed anC
jammCd with logs, trees and float
ing debris. This, we were pleased
to fine all removed by the untiI
ing exertiOns of the company, ant
the bayou nearly clear.
| here remark that it was til
fear, Tor pretended fear) of thi
floating mass that caused the il
junction, restricting the turtle
opera oas of the company frou
doing then, what we are now try
ing CO effect in navigation for on
hundred or 120 miles to within L
or IA miles of LewiSviIle, Arkar
sas, through one of the finest rS
gions of our north western sectio
of Louisiana.
After passing this last bridge
which is known as the ''Foste
and Fullilove bridge" our trouble
were ended no impeachment Q
difficulty was found out to th
Bodcau, at Snider's Bluff, an
thence to the Bellevue landing
1 am, and have been for year.
surprised that a stream of thi
magnitude, opening up an expol
trade of thirty or fifty thousan
dollars, aud giving access to til
immense Cypress Brakes of til
Bodcau bottom, superior to an
that can be found in Lonisian,