The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-05
RIVER IMPROyEM ENT.

| RIVER IMPkOfEMEN
The Bill for this Purpasc Recently APP
proved ~ the Cincinnati convention
4 ana Urged Upon Congress for tts
| Adoption.
Cincinnati Enauirer.l
Whereas, John Cowdon, of Memphis Tenn,
has proposed to deepen the channel oil the
Mississippi river from st. Louis to New Or
leans, 30 that there shall be, at the lowest
stage Of the river, at least eight ieet 81 water
from St. Louis to Cairo, and ten feet from
Cairo to New Orleans on oil the bars, giving
an unobstructed channel of those depths. and
also thereby preventing the overflow OF the
lowlands, retaining the same and dfspens-
ing with the use Of levees on the banks OF
said river; and
Whereas. for this purpose the said Gowdon
proposes to open q large outlet, about ten
miles below New Orleans, from the river into
Lake Borgne, the same to be from one-half
to one mile wide, and to turn the waters of
Red river into the Gulf of Mexico, through
the Calcasieu. by a Sufficient cut from point
above Alexandria, and to open a channel for
slack water navigation from the mouths of
| the Sabine and Calcasieu, through the tide
waters Of the Gulf to the Mississippi river
and New Orleans; and
Whereas, 1t L. for the public interest that
said proposition be accepted; therefore,,
BE 1t enacted On The Senate and House of Rep
reseatatiues Of The United States of America
|
don, with such others MS may be associated
with him, be- and he Ii hereby authorized, on
the conditions hereinafter mentioned, to exc
cute the works. aforesaid for the deepening
of the channel and improvement of the navf-
cation Of the Mississippi river, and the re-
clamation OF the lowlands bordering on It's
waters.
Sec Q. That the conditions herein prescri-
bed being fully complied with. the United
States hereby promise and agree to pay TO
John Cowdon, or to his assigns and legal rep
resentatives, for executing all the works
aforesaid, and obtaining In the channel OF the
| Mississippi river, at the lowest stage OF water,
q depth Of eight feet on the bars from St.
Louis to Cairo. and of ten feet from Cairo to
New Orleans; and the said payments shall be
made on the conditions In the following man
ner:
| On the approval Of his plans for the open
fng Of Lake Borgne outlet, by the local army
engineer at New Orleans, and the chief OF
engineers OF the army, and SO soon as Cow
don shall have acquired title to the lands
necessary for the purpose, and shall have
Mississippi river into Lake. Borgne, the
United States will pay to said Cowdon, his
assigns or loyal representatives the sum 81
$25OO0O, as follows:
engineer at New Orleans, the Secretary Of
War will pay all bills as the work progresses
to the amount of $15O,O0O; and when the
water in the Mississippi river at New Orleans
may be lowered by the effects OF this outlet
to within ten feet Of low-water mark, the
Secretary OF War will pay the remaining
| 100000; and for every additional foot thereof
ethat the high water mark of the river at New
Orleans may be lowered an additional $4,000
shall be paid by the Secretary of War to said
Cowdon and his associates or assigns.
| SEC. 3. On the successful demonstration Of
this plan for improving the navigation OF the
river and reclaiming the lowlands by Lake
4 Borgne outlet a. described, and the consent
Ix.F tI,x,G tpfl x.f irtn and 4hn
proval Of the Chief of Engineers Of the
army of the United States OF said Cowdons
plans for the outlet of Red river into the Gulf
of Mexico by way of She Calcasieu, and the
satisfactory completion of that work, the
United States agree to pay the further sum
of S1,50O,0O0, and when o navigable channel
| shall have been satisfactorily opened from
the mouths Of the Sabine and Calcasieu
through the tide-Waters Of the gull to the
Mississippi river and New Orleans, the
United States will pay further sum of
100000
SEC. 4. Whenever the depth of water on all
| the bars In the river from st. Louis to New
| Orleans now assumed to be five feet ii the
shoalest places shall have been increased to
six feet at the lowest stages of the water, and
on the report Of the Chief of Engineers of the
Army that such increased depth OF channel
has been caused by the works OF said Cowdon
and his associates, the United States will pay
the further sum Of ST 100000; and whenever
said channel shall have been deepened to
seven feet from ST. Louis to New Orleans, the
United States will in like manner pay the
further sum Of Sl0000O0; and when the chan
mel shall have been deepened to eight feet
from st. Louis to New Orleans, the United
States will pay another sum of 81 100000 and
for an increased depth to nine feet from Cairo
to New Orleans another sum of $1,000 900
shall be paid; and when the chernel shall
have been increased indepth to ten feet at the
lowest stages Of water on all TIE bars FROM
Cairo to New Orleans, the United States will
pay another sum Of S1,00O,O0O.
SEC. S. That in the prosecution of the said
works the said COWdon and his associates
shall have the right of way through all the
lands belonging to the United States, and the
use of all timber, stone, gravel, and other
material necessary to said work; the fight to
use all waters; to make outlets and cut-offs,
and to do everything necessary and proper to
carry out the provisions of this act; provided,
such acts shall not infringe the rights of
States or individuals, as proper and necessary
for the prosecution of said works. AMI it
shall be the duty Of the Secretary of War,
whenever requested by said Cowdon, to re-
quire the Chief Of Engineers Of the army to
report on any and all questions arising,
whether as to the proper prosecution of the
work or the payments OF any money claimed
to be due under this act
ability of the said Cowdon before the COM
pletion of said works, the same shall be pros
ecuted by his legal representatives and his
associates aforesaid.
Amend the title so as to read: "A bill pro-
viding for the permanent Improvement OF the
the lowlands of the States bordering there
on, and for hygenic purposes"
The king Of potted things-Shadines.
Nothing else will effect cure in fever and