The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-19
PROMPT AND PRACTICAL.

All discussions as to the wisdom and
policy of the original closing of Tones
bayou are now Irrelevant and detri-
mental as tending TO produce. discus
sion on subject which demands prompt
and united action.
Twenty years ago this dam was made
and has ever since been maintained,
with the occasional Interruptions, from
the defective and incomplete character
of the works constructed on 1t by
the Federal and State governments
The Federal government which, under
the constitutional provision to regulate
commerce, determines all such ques-
lions Of the nayigability Of rivers and
harbors for the facilities OF commerce,
has long since decided that the true and
regular course of Red river is by the cut
off, which .straightens the river, and to
| that end requires the danming of Tones
bayou. it's unnecessary TO discuss now
whether this is a wise policy. 1t is the
settled policy, as fixed and determined
as the Raocourci CUTOFF, and 1t would be
as wise to propose to divert the Missis-
sippi river from that channel into the
old and long since abandoned old river
bed as to seek to embarrass the policy
Of maintaining the established course
of Red river, to which the government
has made yearly appropriations for
twenty years past by reviving the
original policy Of that measure.
The keeping open for navigation the
old river route by Tone and Pierre
bayous would, according to Col. De
Russey, involve an expense Of q million
Of dollars. Now the damming of this
bayou at cost not exceeding twelve or
fifteen thousand dollars secures good
low water navigation for ell the year
around for boats fully adequate to do
all the business Of the great trade Of
Texas and the northwestern parishes.
OF course we may be certain that Con-
gress will persist in this policy Of
closing this bayou, for which 1t has
previously made appropriations and
will doubtless apply large fund to
that object to make more solid and
permanent the dam, which Is essential
to render Red river navigable. But for
the present something must be immedi-
ately done, or the whole trade Of this year
will be seriously interrupted and disas-
trously affected. How can 1t be done :?
Our merchants and steamboatmen have
indicated the mode of accomplishing
the work in a few weeks, or even days,
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necessity, and only desires to move
with that scrupulous regard for the law
which marks all his acts. He has only
to direct the State engineers to proceed
to have this bayou closed as one Of the
most destructive crevasses which has
ever occurred in this State, and the les
see OF the penitentiary has large
working force within a short distance
from the scene Of the operations, which
he holds ready to set to work on the
dam at an insignificant cost indeed,
under arrangements which will liqui-
date a debt due the State, instead
of involving the necessity Of add
ing to that debt and Of rails
ing any appreciable amount of cash.
A proposition so feasible, prompt and
liberal as this ought not to admit OF a
moments hesitation, and we do not
think it will. We can well appreciate
the anxiety and Impotence Of the large
class Of our people so deeply interested
in warding off this great calamity and
damage that must come to this city, and
one of the most important sections OF
this State, from any failure or delay to
adopt prompt measures to arrest and
prevent the same.
Since writing the above we are very
much gratified to learn that Gov. Mich.
oils has perfected an arrangement with
Col. James, the lessee of the Peniten.
tiary, by which the latter agrees to i'm
mediately put full force of convict
labor at work on the Tones bayou dam
The payment for the work he agrees
shall be made by credits on his indebt
edness to the State on the unpaid bal
ance due on his contract as lessee Of the
Penitentiary. But he requires the actuaI
expense of the force, which Is esti.
mated at about $4,000, to be betrayed
and 1t is proposed that that sum shall
be subscribed by the merchants of this
, city, and on Monday steps will be taker
! to solicit that amount. We have nc
doubt that it will be raised without any
difficulty, and we do not deem it neces
sary to point out at length the necessity
, for prompt action in the matter. Oul
commercial community can hardly fail
to appreciate danger SO threatening o.
) serious disaster to all our interests
The steamboat interests are not less in
volved, and we are satisfied that they
will respond to all demands made upor
, them with characteristic liberality
In fact, we notice that Capt. Dicl
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