The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-12-21
THn RnD RrvsR RI There is Eow
D. certain prospect that SthesaRreat lraft,

= 4
THn RHD RrvsR, RI ....Thsrs il Eov
q! certain prospect that Sthessgreat lraft,
which thas been ian obstrucAionSins the
Red River, in Lonisiapa, ever since the
advent of white men in this country,
will soon be removed. andSthat n6viga.
ton will be opened for steamers from
ShrerepoEt. Ls., Ito Jefferson, Texas.
The history OF the raft and the attempts
to remove it is exceedingly interesting.
In 1905. the obstruction Of logs reached
100 miles. Since that time, RATS have
formed at various points in the river
near Shreveport. 'Ohe OF these was re-.
moved by Captain Shreve in 1880, by
the help OF Congressional appropria-
ton, and another between 1910 and
1874. under Government contract by
Gen. Williamson. In 1854, the raft re-.
gion extended only twelve miles, and
at that time. Captain. Fuller, aided by a
congressional appropriation OF $3.50.
OO0, attempted to remove it. At the
end Of two years, however, the appro-
prIation had been exhausted, and no.
thing acoomplished,. and, the work
being abandoned, tho abstraction begsn
extends 7niity.ase %iies. from 4 af1siGa point
forty Indiiss tab5vei Shreveport to the
Arkansas State line, and contained, be-
foS6 the present work commenced,
nearly. City 'fnitss from ohs eighth OF q
mile oAmilain leHgth, aud occupying
the entiEa Width Of the river, navigation
only being, accomplished, through the
baJbns ar0hnd the raft; but as these
were only kvailable atvefy high water,
navigation was insignificant In 1871.
the; attention of aths Engineer Depart
mept was again directed TO this work.
and an appropriation yof SO, 900 having
been made by, Congress. the work OF
preliminary surveying was entrusted to
Lieutenant Woodruff, who completed it
in 1872, and submitted plans aud speoi-
hoatlons Tor the removal Of tho raft,
wherenpon an appropriation Of $3.50, 900
WIS made. The plans were accepted,
and Lieutenant Woodruff reached the
raft region, in January last, with snag.
boat, Two, crane boats, and oil the reQui.
site maohinery for his work. The fol.
lowing description shows the difficulties
to be overcome: Logs, roots and enags
OF every description had been crowded
and jammed into, q tangled mass, be.
coming more compact each year, as the
pressure from above increased. Annual
freshets had Brought down mud and de.
posted 1t In and over this mass. until,
in places, the raft itself had become en-.
tirely covered with earth, small islands,
or STOW heads" thus being formed.
Upon these tow!heads were growing
trees. usually willows, three feet and
more in n,tcircumferenob. Tn addition to
the removals sot logs by saving and cut.
ting, blasting powder was used, but il
did NOT prove of any use, Dynamite
was then tried, but failed, refusing to
explode even with an electrical ex-
ploder. AT last, nitro. .glyoerine was
brought into use, and il never failed TO
do it's work thoroughly. All that re.
mains to be done now, is the blowing
out ofNsom6 t6W.heads and improving Q
certain points in the channel, which will
be accomplished In d few weeks. The
obstruction OF centuries will then have
been removed by tho skill and persever.
ance Of Lieutenant Woodruff. The sad.
dest stpartT of herecord of this great work
is that Lieutenant Woodruff had no.
lived to finish il, having died of yellow
fever ab Shreveport. October l.
Ita'4i5f'n I. Chicago Times, 17M.