The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-08
THE MOUTH or RED RIVER.

10 Iub LuiIUI VI Iu0 D5luOCIHt.
MY attention is called to the communica-
tion Of p Fl. Thomson, Esq, civil engineer.
published In your Issue OF the fifth. reviewing
my letter to you published on the first in
stant.
fully agree with Mr.. Thomson's propo-
sition, "that when an engineer is called on to
suggest plan, he must not only look to
what is Immediately required, but 50 shape
his plans that whatever money ts expended
will prove OF lasting benefit" But / fall to
sec where any benefit is to be derived from
the plan proposed by the engineer depart
ment for closing the mouth OF Red river.
and II no benefit is to result, 1t follows that
the money expended In carrying out the plan
would be waste. And as 1t would impose
loss OF time and increased expense to the car
rier. shipper and traveller. 1t seems that In
stead Of benefits to all concerned, losses would
be the result.
totally disagree with Mr.. Thomson's sug-
gestion that 1t may require from 100000 to
100000 annually to dredge channel at the
mouth OF Red river. II he is aS far from the
mark on all his other propositions as he is on
this, then his study OF the Mississippi for
over twenty-five years has not enlightened
him much on the subject. In the letter which
he reviews l stated, and now repeat, that re-
sponstble parties are here ready to undertake
the work OF maintaining sufficient channel
there for less amount per annum than the
interest on the cost Of the works proposed by
the engineers; and now add that they are
willing to do 1t for what IL would cost to keep
the proposed lock In repair, pay. lock-tenders
and the general expense OF running 1t.
In my former article l made no allu5ion to
the fact that the lock when built would ocoa-
slonally have to be closed for repairs, and that.
for the time being. all naUiOdti0n to the Red.
Ouachita, Atchafalaya. and their ritutdries,
aoould be suspended. | presume the locks on
the Ohio ut Louisville, built on and hewn
through solid rock. ara as substantial as any
that could be constructed at Plaquemlne. and
as they have to be occasionally closed for re-
pairs, It is but fair to infer that the Plaque
mine lock would also, now and then, require
like attentions.
The Atchafalaya Is a difficult and danger
GUS stream to navigate, as compared with
that portion Of the Mississippi that we navl-
gate to reach the mouth Of Red river, and the
underwriters recognize the fact by charging
a much larger rate OF premiums for the risks
they take. but 1t was that portion Of the pro-
posed route leading from the Mississippi to
the Atchafalaya thatI characterized as being
the most dangerous and difficult known to
eteamboatmen. just think OF boats like the
Frank Pa.goud. Fred A. Blanks or Jesse X.
Bell. and there will probably be larger ones In
the near future, with their valuable cargoes
Of life and property going through the mar
row, crooked bayous and swamps, by courtesy
called "lakes," which will compose the route,
filled as they are with cypress stumps, and
projecting and sunken logs. Lakes that In
low water are swamps, and In high water are
''overfiOws." with no place to land In case OF
fire or other disaster. And again, think OF
the fact that our pilots would all have to learn
the route all the way from Plaquemine to
Red river before they could safely take the
wheel; and remember that 1t takes years for
pilots to learn any such route, and then de-
eide II am wrong In calling 1t difficult and
dangerous.
Before Bayou Plaquemlne was closed, 1t
was navigable for small class OF boats dur
Ing that portion OF the yeas that the Missis-
sippi was high. When the Mississippi was
low, the Plaquemine, like the Lafourche. was
vasses below the mouth OF Red river are
closed? Il so. would we not be cut off for
months OF each year from the Atchafalaya,
Ouachita and Red rivers?
Az Mr.. Thomson has brought uD the tout
let" question might as we'll have my say
on the matter, and think my opinions may
be as near correct as are those OF some who
have studied the matter from partly scten-
tific point OF view. l believe that from the
highest point on the Mississippi, where the
influence OF the gulf tide Is felt. and from
where we have good outlets to the sea-which
point designate as the mouth OF Red river
that the more outlets the fewer overfiow5 we
will have. as at present constituted. The out
leI from tne mississippi through tne NOUN OF
Red river to the Atchafalaya and thence to the
Gulf is In reality one OF the mouths OF the
Mississippi, and our safety requires that 1t
should be left open. The same may be said
OF the Lafourche. and OF course the argu-
ment tis equally good for reopening the Plaque
mine and for keeping open the Bonnet Carre
crevasse. But, In the case OF the two latter,
the damage resulting from their Overfiows, IL
kept open, would probably overbalance any
damage resulting from their closure. would
have all the water passing through my out
let's 70 direct to the Gull, as via the La