New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-06
Tones Bayou.

We publish in full in another column an
article from the Mansfield Reporter, to
which the special attention of our readers
is directed. From the reading of this ar
ticle it will be eeen that the Mansfield
Reporter. and the Democratic candidate for
Congress in the late election are up in arms
again to crush out or Obstruct any enter
prise which they think in the slightest de-
gree would rebound to the welfare of
it was that Mr.. Elan should not be re-
turned to Congress from this district. The
closing of Tones bayou has been deemed
advisable for many years by the most prsc-
tical men in this section, and will unques-
tionsbly prove Q great benefit to
the section. This is shown by the
effects produced by the partial completion
Of the work now being prosecuted under
the appropriation made at the last session
of Congress of $4,000 for the removal of
the raft and the closing of said bay on.
was secured through the exertions of Sem
ator West. The practical effect of the
closing of Tones bayou will be the throw
ing of ten inches more of water into Red
river and the securing of good low water
naviga ton all the year round, between
New Orleans and Shreveport, whereas, if
the water is allowed to run through that
and other bayous, as heretofore, no benefit
will be derived by any one. If the people
are designated by the Reporter as those
that Shreveport is DESTROYS of con-
trolling the trade, viz: De Soto,
Sabine, Louisiana. and San Augustine,
Shelby, NacogdOches, Pamela, Harrison,
Rusk and Upshur, Texas, are not disposed
to stand in their own light, they will ap.
prove the measures now being taken to Sc
cure the permanent navigation of Red
river by closing Tones bayou. The Re-
porter. however, croaks that ''the present
attempt of the wise ones of Shreveport"
"will as inevitably fail as their several
previous ones" Not SO, if you please, for
we are assured by men of sound judgment
and practical experience that the work is
progressing most satisfactorily, and when
completed will accomplish the desired re-
suit. But we are boldly told that "the
planters on Little river below the bayou
swear in their wrath they will cut the
levee, and they will do it." 1t is well
enough, however, to remind them and the
Reporter that there is a law of the United
States fixing severe penalty and punish
ment upon any one found guilty of cutting
levees or interfering in any manner with
government works.
The action of the Board of Trade and
prominent citizens of Shreveport, in rsla-
ton to Tones bayou, is called "impotent,
crochety and imbecile," by the Reporter.
1t ia also claims that the "New Orleans Pc
clhc' is a fixed fact. How do You like this,
gentlemen Of Shreveport Don't it lock
like President Wheelock and Judge Eiam
have not abated their hostility to our city,
and that their organ, the Reporter, is in
clined to counsel the destruction of the
work at Tones bayou, for which we have
80 long lebo.ed9 II strikes us this way,
and if Judge Elan should be returned to
Congress from this district mot at all
probable, however,, he will doubtless ask
Congress ''for an appropriation to open
this bayou" Fortunately, Hon. George L.
Smith has been elected to represent the dis.
trict, and will look well after the interests
of our city and section, and the people GER
orally feel assured they could not intrust
them to better hands. We can assure the
Reporter that Mr.. Smith will see that Tones
bayou is closed and Kept clOsed.-Shrece-
port Telegram.