Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-03-22
RATION ROTGEs LOUISIANA. TUESDAY, MARCH o. 1881.
are almost equally pertinent and con-
elusive upon this view Of the subject. T,

are almost equally pertinent and con-
elusive upon this view of the subject.
The report says, page 295, Of the
Bayou Manchac, that it's dimensions
were always insignificant. Dupratz,
one hundred years ago, calling it
"chenal,' or natural canal, and quotes
the report of Mr.. A. D. Woodbridge to
the Senate of Louisiana in 1852, when
State engineer: "This bayou isthe first
natural outlet of the Mississippi on the
east, and is fourteen miles below the
termination ofthe highlands below Baton
Rouge. The distance following its mean
behring's, to the junction with the Amite
river, is about twenty-five miles, and the
total distance by this route to Lake
Borgne is about one hundred miles.
| Nine miles from the head of the bayou
it receives Bayou Crocodile from the
south, and Bayou Fontaine from the
north one-half mile further on. At. it's
head the Bayou is 80 feet wide and II
feet deep, measured at the surface OF
high water of 1851. AS that stage was
AZ feet above low water, the bottom of
the bayou is 20 feet above the low water
surface of the river.
| From the head Of the bayou to the en-
trance of the Crocodile it is usually dry
and very tortuous. One mile below the
head the surface width is Al feet, and
depth, 10 feet and it retains nearly these
dimensions to the Crocodile Below
Bayou Fontaine the width from bank to
bank is 100 feet, and depth Is feet. Be
low this point the Bayou is in some sens
capable Of navigation.
From the head Of the bayou to thu
Crocodile the banks are very low, ant
are subject to overflow from s to Is feet
From the bayou to Amite river the banks
are tolerably high. The bed for thu
whole distance is stiff close clay. TIT
, report adds: "If this were opened ;
large portion of the parishes Of AsceD
sion and Baton Rouge would be flooded
and several hundred thousand acres 0
land must be abandoned, or protecte'
by continuous heavy levees from 10 t.
Is feet high. Therefore it is recommen
{ ded to leave the bayou in its presen
{ condition"
, From the above statements which
have condensed the authority of the es
innate Of $4,000 for opening the bayo
to navigation is manifest, as tue excava
ton of a channel some nine miles L
: length, and from ten to thirty feet deer
t is impossible. Or that sum even if
e minimum width be adopted, and the GU
rent on enlargement.
If an aspiration is asked for fror
e Congress it should be for the locatio
! of canal at most favorable point, to b
c determined by survey, following the al
ternate indicated by the report of Gen
, eral Humphreys. Bayou Manchac ca
D already be considered worthy of exam
: ination, as the saving of distance to Nc
bile by that line is compensated by tn
: greater length of narrow channel owe
either of the alternates suggested, a
could he shown if the limits of al arti
Gle permitted. Moreover, location il
the vicinity of New Orleans would dis
, arm a powerful opposition, and afford a
opportunity for obtaining an increase q
F. dockroom, which will in few years b
demanded if the movement of grain to
e ward that outlet should progress mat
f ter in which the whole West is NOR
deeply interested than they now realize