The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-01-22
Isaynm PlanuenaIne.

PhAQUEMIEE Jan. 20. 1873
Hlifbr Democrat Considerable surprise was
felt here yesterday upon receipt OF infornla-
tion from Hon. J. NJ tafvillr, one of our Rep
resentatives, that an act WIS before The Legis-
latre 10 have Bayou Pauuemine opened for
navigation. and that such act was received
with favor A petition to the Legislature was
ut once put in circulation aud signed by all to
whom II was presented, and will be taken to
your city to-day by J. A. Dardenne, Esq,
president Of our police jury, together with the
following resolution. adopted by our town
council
Whereas. 1t Is stated that an act is now be-
fore the General Assembly of our State for the
object of opening Bayou Plaqueune: and
whereas, IL Is also stated that same is being
favorally considered: be 1t
Resolred By The Mayor and Board Of Select
men Of The totcn Of Ptaquemiie. /. That we view
with regret such action and depreeate the
Same, because 10 open said bayou will entail
upon the people of the interiot Of our State,
disaster. without the possibility Of benefit TO
any one, I'm the destruction of the navigation
of said interior country, established since said
bayou was closed, and the Overlooking of tho
country to an extent almost ms disastrous and
ruinmis as the overflow of 1874.
2. That u copy Of this resolution be sent to
our Representatives with the request to lay the
same before the General Assembly, and to
urge the fullest investigation before taking
any action in favor Of the opening of said
bayou.
This resolution Is as true as 1t Is brief. and
we feel confident can be CLEARLY shown to the
satisfaction OF any reasonable man or body OF
men In twenty minutes by any one having n
knowledge Of the facts yet every new Legis-
lnture is annoyed and our people worried with
a move to open Bayou Plaquemine. II the
busy bodies who SO persistently push this
matter will only act, upon that grand priln-
eple the wisdom OF ages, embodied IN the
oath taken In all matters affecting the rights
Of others to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth we need have no
apprehension, for we know that Bayou Plaque
mine will and must remain closed.
This bayou was closed by n dyke thrown
across it nj this place in 1865 by the police
jury. and the fact that the police jury did SO
Is the only reason which cun be urged against
It, The absolute necessity for such action, no
matter by whom. was too well known Mt the
time to raise any serious opposition, and its
wisdom has long been evident and becomes
more SO every year.
This stream was not navigable In old times,
but was made 50 some forty years ago by the
Attakapas Navigation Company. and then 1T
became 81 only during high water The
natural fall OF this stream IL. for some six
miles from its he,tl, over two feet to the mile
1t Is needless TO say it took In o great deal OF
water and drift To keep it navigable cost
immense sums. The State Board Of Public
almost all the time, and yet the deposit OF
drift etc. from ii filled up every outlet to the
lakes in the interior except Bayou Sorrel. In
1860. believe. these State boats were sold,
and Bayou Plaquemine left TO care for itself
The people here knew too we'll what the result
would be. The next high water closed Plaque
mine to navigation.
In 1863 Cen Banks sent boats from Brashear
City to clean 1t out. They begun In Bayou
Sorrel The drift reformed behind them and
they could not get back but worked on up,
and were captured by the Confederatcs and
burnt.
In 1864 the water was very low and no harm
done. but in 1866 our section was Hooded by
two breaks In the levees above us and the
Bayou Plaquemine. We knew we would be
flooded every year through this bayou, even
Ii the breaks above us were closed. and 80 our
police jury determined to dyke it and did 80.
In the big waters which followed 1867 and
1874 it is safe to say that the country lying
between the Bayou Plaauemine and Belle
| river and tho Iafoulehe, which escaped over
flow. would have been almost, IL not entirely,
covered had Plaquemino been open.
The formation of a bar in the river just
above us here on the opposite side is another
reason why this bayou, situated as it Is in q
sharp bend of the river. must remain closed.
Asking investigation, II desirable, of this
matter. am Mr.. Editor, yours truly,
r. Il. GRACE.