The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1881-06-18

SOs - &SCrfOSsAAyS 49, @-e<>>>'
The Aschafalaya Cut-OG.
The following. which we clip from
the New Orleans Democrat. is an
extract from the report of the River
Commission. 1t will be seen that
the views expressed in it are the same
as those contained in our issue some
weeks ago.
THE ArcHAFALAYAtAND RED RIVER
Much attention is due to the con-
sideration of the affairs at Red river.
Shreve's cutoff, IN 1881, severed
from the Mississippi the bend in
which Red river discharged, and
from which the Atchafalaya was sup
piled. Prior to this the navigation
Of lower Red river was impaired by
backwater from the Mississippi, which
occasionally extended to Alexandria,
on the Red, and to Monroe, on the
Ouachita. Atchafalaya was RATED
heavily. After the cnt-of, Red river
sought the Mississippi by the short
est route, through upper Old river.
north of Turnbull's island; while
lower Old river, from the head of the
Atchafalaya to the Mississippi, silted
up and bore heavy willow growth.
Until 1865 bayou Plaquemine was
open, and through it and the Atchafa-
slaya was the navigable approach to
the Attakapas. Opelousas and Atch-
afalaya country. To maintain this
route the State Of Louisiana removed
the raft obstructing the stream. TO
this work, and the disturbance Of the
equilibrium between the Mississippi,
Red and Atchafalaya rivers by the
cutoff. are due the enlargement Of
the latter stream.
It will be observed that for several
years after the cut OF the discharge
Of Red river passed to the north Of
Turnbulrs island. In 1873, after
great enlargement Of the Atchafa-
laya, lower Old river, silted and grown
up, cut out, and the northern chan
mel closed, in which condition it now
remains. Cown the Achafalaya had
become the line Of least resistance,
and only the surplus discharge of
Red river passed beyond its head
along the southern channel to the
Mississippi.
As the Atchafalaya continued 10
enlarge it's demands became more
exacting. and this surplus Was 30
reduced and uncertain That lower
Old river became . wide slack-water
basin, receiving its sediment alter
nately from the Mississippi and Red
river. In 1876 this process had nearly
closed low-water connection, and the
waterway near the lower end Of
Turnbull's island was only about 100
feet wide and twenty inches deep,
with fall of about two feet in
quarter of mile towards the Atcha-
falaya. By the end of the low-water
season this bar cut ont. In 1871
similar bar formed nearly a mile
towards the Atchafalsys. the second
channel Of 1875 remaining open with
raised banks. This bar was dredged
out by the State Of Louisiana. Sim
| liar obstructions occurred in 1873.
1879 and 1880. reforming each year
at point nearer the Atchafalaya.
aud the channels dredged in previ-
Gus years remaining open.
It may, therefore, be observed that,
through all these changes. one in
creasing purpose runs. The process
| in lower Old river during the past
Eve years has been that Of . sedi-
ment-bearing stream discharging into
An estuary. The how from the Mis-
sissippi. now nearly constant. is build
| ing delta with we'll defined channel
| and banks. into the wide shallow ex-
panse of lower Old river, and towards
Che head Of the Atchafalaya.
Other conditions confirm the prob
ability Of the continued enlargement
Of the Atchafalaya. And the increas-
ed outlet from the Mississippi re-
quired to supply it.
Another aspect of this question
that win demsnd attention has refer
lence to reclamation. It is probable
that the Atchsfslaya is quite able to
carry of the discharge Of the drain
basin Of Red and Black rivers. II
so, the restoration Of the Mississippi
river levee above Red river. and the
checking or closine Of the outlet from
the Mississippi to the Atchafalaya
would reclaim the banks Of the Atch-
afalsya, Red. Black. Ouachita. Bar
tholomew. Boeuf. Lafourche, Bonnie
ldee. Tensas, Macon, tJoee bayou
aud other streams now annually sub
jected to food from Arkansas aud
upper Louisiana crevssses. and back