New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-10
OFFICIAL JOURNAL or THE STATE or LOUISIANA.
A LOOK AT THE LOWER LkvEE.

A LOOK AT THE LOWER LkvEE.
Early yesterday morning General
Thompson and Longstreet, accompanied b
few friends, obtained the police dispatc
boat to make trip down to Noyes' cana
and prominent points in that locality. Th
principal object was to make close in
spection OF the land and levees in the neigh
borhood of the canal for the express pu,
pose of investigating the feasibility O
making q large outlet for surface rive
water. in the expectation that if grea
crevasse were made, and the water givel
an opening to Lake Borgne, the river, fo
many miles above and below, would b
lowered at least a foot, thus relieving veal
and low levees which are now so badly
| threatened.
Before stopping at the canal the gentle
| men visited the Depot. about mile further
down. There they found the water run
ming over the bank in dozen places, bur
not near a. bad as q short time before, a,
laborers had succeeded in patching uI
some Of the worst places. using odd bits OF
timber, earth, and almost anything al
hand. OF course, under the circumstances
the result was but q temporary remedy.
The levee is low, barely sufficient to keep
the river out on very calm day. Yester.
day the wind was blowing hard, and the
current and waves unusually strong. As
each wave struck the bank water passed
over. However, the country thereabout
Is not flooded to such degree as to do any
great mischief.
At the Depot we were informed that the
levee further down was in still worse con-
dition, and that . regular crevasse had oc
CURED at the lower. line of Mr.. Faschnatt's
plantation. As we steamed along we could
plainly see water running over the bank in
scores of places, and occasionally see sheets
Of water back Of the plantations. Mr..
Faschnatt was at home, and immediately
directed the gentlemen to the crevasse,
which is at the lower line of his place. The
crevasse was about thirty feet long, the
banks cleanly cut out, and the river rolling
through at a tremendous rate. At other
points water had been and was then going
over the levee in large quantities Not
more than fifteen men were at work, with
poor tools and Indifferent material, essay-
ing to repair the worst places, but had not
attempted to stop the crevasse. All the
fields in the rear were flooded, and the
water was approaching Mr.. Faschnatt's
dwelling house. All the particulars of this
ugly situation were carefully noted, but as
General Thompson was unable to furnish
any assistance just then, further than Civ
ing advice, the party returned to Noyes'
canal to make their observations.
The lower levee or embankment of the
canal is extensive and considerably higher
than the river bank, and is only 800 feet
from the river, forming a barrier sufi-
ciently strong to Withstand all the pressure
that can be brought to bear on it. The
canal water is something like fourteen feet
over than the rivers surface, which fact
plainly demonstrates that surplus water
will easily and quickly pass off, The canal |
necessarily on q level with Lake Borgne,
md if one half of the Mississippi were
urned into it the height would not be
lffected, for the lake is almost the same as |
he Gulf OF Mexico, and can receive food |
Euite as easily as does the gulf at the
'asses. 1t is contended by the advocates
# this plan that if q very large volume of
vater be taken from the river by cutting
he levee and directing the stream out
trough the canal, that the river will quick
fall two feet at New Orleans, and thus
ely the present or future rise. The plan
alton at the canal, formerly owned by DR..
Knapp, now by Mr. Irwin, will be tempo.
arily ruined, as most of its surface will be
CODED. The Story plantation, next above,
'ould not be greatly affected, except in
ne rear, as it is proposed to construct
levee which will keep the water
'ithin certain lines. This work can be
in less than two days, and the
xpense would not be extraordinary. Mr.,
win would demand pay for his losses; in
BED, he could cell his plantation to the
tate, and the Governor, when the trouble
over, might dispose of the place at an
1vapce on what was paid for it. The sed-
1ent from the crevasse water would raise
I'd improve it. Il
At this point the current sets in hard, and
% levee is in q miserable condition. Had
It residents in that section acted promptly I
st Wednesday, crevasse would have oc-
rred without invitation. General Thomp- 8
n thinks it would require a crevasse 24O0
ct long to let off the amount of water to c
complish his desire. General Longstreet f
vOrs this plan, being firm in the belief that c
will prove successful. Small planters
ing in that part of the parish have ex- q
essed themselves as in favor of the s
oject. Il
When the engineers returned last even
! they reported to Governor Kellogg, ad-
'ing that the experiment be tried forth
tn, the sooner the better. Steamboats,
'ls and material can be obtained and II
ICED on the ground by noon to-day As to a
'or there is an abundance. g
After Generals Thompson and Longstreet a
made their report to Governor Kellogg u
evening they expected that some action e'
uld be had, but at midnight nothing had p
n done, therefore the case stands the III
ne as it did yesterday morning. To-day
question will probably be settled. NJ
he coast steamboat Hensley was unable 70
make her trip yesterday, wind and II
yes being too high to permit her to move e1
tied up at a point about twelve miles al
ow the city. 81
tr
50 so will buy quarter ticket, ex