Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-26

the city, This wouldgive abundance OF
water into Lake Borgne and be the near
est and most practicable water route to
Mobile, Either of the above routes
would possess every advantage over
that of Manchac aud not be attended
with one third of the cost. But, say those
who go in for depicting the Mississippi,
why have any locks upon the Bayou,
and let us have erevasse which can be
kept from overlooking the country by
continuous levees on through to the
Amitel Does any sensible person sup
pose this can be done without stopping
up the streams which drain all the allu-
vial lands in East Baton Rouge, her
vile and Ascension on the east side !?
This loss of drainage, even snpposing
the water did not 90 overthese levces on
the banks of the Bayou in high water,
would render the country as valueless
as before closing the Bayou, as the
mouth of the Bayou would be about loo
feet wide by II or Is deep, does any one
suppose it could be of any value rs de-
plotting outlet when, besides, the di.
mansions of the Bayou 8 miles down is
about half that at the mouth? So levee
it rs they may, it would inevitably over
flow it's banks and drown out the ada
cent country.
Connecting the Mississippi with the
Lakes, this geographical Importance is
well calculated to delude the friends OF
the canal idea, especially when sustain
ed by those who expect to handle the
appropriations that the United States
should be called upon to make this
grand outlet of the Mississippi ma
tional work and available for naviga-
ton. The folly of this scheme will be
demonstrated rs soon as investigated.
Should the West desire o more direct
communication with our Alabama
friends than by New Orleans, let
me suggest rail road from here to Mo-
bile, which would not be half as long as
by the water route, it would intersect the
New Orleans and Jackson route and
thus open direct communication with
the South East and lake shore, Develop
a,fine! country, bring our great tim
Der country into practical working, con-
tributing in the course OF time to make
Baton Rouge what it was designed to
be great, commercial, high land city.
REvERDY.
MOBILE, ALA, Dec. II, 1912.
CoLoNEL--I have the honor to submit
the following report of my examination
Of Bayou Manchac: The resolution of
the Senate of the United State requiring
the examination appears to have
reference only to the obstruction at the
head of Bayou Manchac, on the Missss-
ipp, about fourteen miles below Baton
Rouge. II consists of dam of earth
in continuation of the levee on the bank
of the river, wide enough for carriage
way for which purpose it is used. The
bed of the bayou between the dam and
the river a distance of about one hund-
red yards, has been filled up to within
five or six feet of the banks by deposits
made during high water in the Miss
issippi.
The Legislature of Louisiana passed
an act in March, 1896, authorizing the in"
habitants of the adjacent parishes to
close the bayou. The funds for the pur-
pose were raised by subscription. The
sole object contemplated by the Legisla-
ture in granting the authority was, if !
am correctly informed, t0pf0tect against
overflow valuable lands on the bayou,
and the back lands of river plantations,
which were inundated when the Miss
issippi reached high stage of water.
The cost of removing the obstruction in
question would not exceed fifty dollars.
A narrow trench cut through the de-
post outside of the dam, and an open
ing at high water in the dam itself,
would be sufficient to cause its removal
effectually.
The resolution of the Senate concludes
with the following words, viz: "and
reopening said bayou for navigation"
from which it might be inferred that it
had been customary to pass through it
to and from the Mississippi river. l
cannot learn that this has been the case
except in a few instances during the
occupation of Louisiana by Spain, and
during the embargo, when small boats
assembled to the river. twill be per-
ceived, from brief description, that
the dam at the head Of the bayou is not