The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-07-26
Condition of the Overlooked Districts.

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| Condition of the Overlooked Districts
REBUILDING oE TIE BROKEN LEvEEs.
From the Times, July 23I
AS far as can be ascertaIned, there re.
mains but one break in the levees, the ope
at Bonnet Care, through which water
break is about 4 600 feet wide, of which
space of between l,5OO and l 800 feet has
been worn odt 80 feet deep at the river.
| and 10 feet deep and 500 feet wide, at a
distance of 1000 feet back of the river,
These facts are ascertained from actual
measurements made by planters residing
in that vicinity. The amount of water
thus running through is now very small,
and it will no doubt entirely cease in the
course of few days. All the other ere
vases remaining Enclosed are dry, BY
reason of the decline of water in the river.
Although there is now no section of the
State actually submerged, the suffering and
parishes of Point Coupee. Avoyelles, st.
Landry, Tensas, Franklin, Catahoula.
Concordia, Caldwell, and in the Teche
country generally. The daily distribution
of rations is thirty two thousand. going
chiefly to the parishes named. Recently
the demand for relief has increased. This
was owing to the fact that the domestic
supplies which had been boarded up by
many families were becoming exhausted.
1t appears probable the demand will con-
tinue to increase until the growing crops
are realized. To meet this demand there
remains only the rations voted by Con-
gress, and an unexpended balance of
voluntary subscriptions. The Government
rations are issued to the Relief Committee
daily, at the rate mentioned, and will con-
tinue to be so issued until the first day of
September.
Px - - ;sI !
the sufferers in the State will be in con-
dition to help themselves. r.
With wise forethOnght, Mr.. kenner, as
chairman of the distributing committee,
has made application to the agents of the
Government for the issuance in bulk of the
supplies for the month of August, in order
that distributions may be made to local
depots before the various rivers and bayous
become ton low for navigation. The
Ouachita. Black, Tensas and Bout rivers,
bayous Macon, De Glaise and Courtableau,
Red River Valleys, and those of Atcha-
falaya, both upper and lower, will soon be
beyond the reach OF ordinary means of
access, and the purpose of Mr.. kenner is
to reach them with August supplies before
they become inaccessible by ordinary
navigation. 1t is not yet ascertained that
this reasonable proposition has been agreed
to by the Secretary of war, but it is be-
lieved he will readily appreciate the i'm.
portance and necessity OF doing so.
REBUILDING THE LEVELS.
We learn from Gen. NJ. jeff. Thompson
that boat has been chartered for the use
of the Levee Commissioners, whose duty it
is under the law to make recon- distance Of
the ievees and certify, after actual survey,
what work must be done during the levee
year, which commences on the first day of
October. The commission consists of three
persons, Prof. G. w. r. Bayley, appointed
by the Levee Company, Gen. Longstreet,
appointed by the State, and ex-Gov. He
bert, appointed by the Government of the
United States. Attended by the State
Engineer, Gen. Thompson, they win pro-
badly set about personal inspection of
the levees on Thursday, and will probably
be absent, going up the river, for about
twenty days After that they will proceed
to other sections.
In the order of business the report of
these commissioners will be made to the
State Auditor, by whom the same will De
certified through the Governor to the Levee
Company, and that will form the basis os
the work required at the hands of the com.
pany during the next levee year.