The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-11-02
RED RIVER NAVIGATION.

Almost every season low water in Red
River seriously interrupts the progress OF
trade between this city and the rich and pro-
ductlve country contiguous to that uncertain
stream Especially has this been the case
this fall and at the present time we are al
most entirely cut eff from communication by
water with the upper Red River country.
The following dispatches, received yesterday,
show the present stage of water
SHREVEPORT, Oct 81 Jos. A. Aiken Will put
the Tones Bayou business before the Cotton Ex-
change Immediately. River falling. Weather
NAcHIrooHEs, Oct 31.-Jos. A. Aiken: Two
feet two at Gurneys. River falling.
W. L. BoARDMAN.
Some three months ago We took occasion to
strongly recommend the closing OF Tones
Bayou, thinking then, as we do now, that it
was absolutely necessary to be done in order
to insure good navigation between Shreveport
and Alexandria. This bayou (hirty miles be-
low Shreveport originally an inconsiderable
body of water, has been for the lest fifteen
years deepening and widening, and now
diyerts, it is stated, three-fourths of the water
which would otherwise flow down Red River.
1t is estimated that one-third of this volume
passes through tributary bayou and returns
to the main river at or near Grand Ecore, the
remainder being carried off to the lakes,
apoons and marshes of Western Louisiana.
A realization of the extent Of this detection
can be obtained from the statement that at
present the Government mark shows the
water to be six feet above low water mark al
Shreveport, which gives at least eight feet in
the channel at that point, whilst at Boyce 5
and other bars below Tones Bayou there is
less than two feet
At one time, before the war, this subject
was brought before the Legislature, and the
closing of the bayou strongly urged by the
REPRESENTATIVES from the Red River country
but at that time the bayou had not reached
proportions sufficiently large to cause appre-
tensions of immediate mi ary, and our Solons
declined to act on the matter. But now NO
such excuse can be given, and the condition
of Red River imperatively demands that
something should be quickly done for relief
of the various and important interests con-
cerned.
About 200, 900 bales of cotton come out OF
Red River annually from Shreveport and
plnts below; if the navigation OF the rlvei
& not greatly improved we may look this
season for a considerable portion OF this
trade to be turned away from New Orleans,
| its natural market, aud carried off to st. Louis
kand other Yves ern cities. Last season it was
january before high water came, and the
shipment of cotton was greatly retarded II
consequence. II Tones Bayou were closed
there would be, in all probability, good low
water navigation for the greater part OF the
year.
| L. is believed that one hundred men could
! in one week construct a low water dam across
this bayou which would accomplish this most
\ desirable end.
The interests at stake are so extensive and
important, and the demand for relief SO ur
gent and imperative, that we call upon the
merchants of this city to take the necessary
steps to have this bayou closed as expedl
tiopsIy as possible. We are credibly informed
the cost will not exceed $1,000. Let US have
the work done at once.