The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-09-09

State engineer, relative to the advisa-
bility of closing the mouth of Red river
and opening up new channel of COM
munication through Bayou Plaque
mine, and we have before us the report
of Major Il. Il. Harrod and Col. Charles
S. Suter, of tho Mississippi River Com
mission, made to Gen. Gilmore in
November, 1850, on levces and out
lets.
That report, from which we print an
extract elsewhere in this issue, asserts
that ssthc Atchafalaya is tho controlling
factor III tho changes occurring in this
locality (mouth of Red rivcr), and that
no natural limit to its enlargement can
be assumcd.'
1t shows that the increase of secretion
ut tho head of the Atchafalaya was
from 1851 to 1858, l6.6 per cent, from
1851 to 1878, 61 per cent, and from 1851
to 1879, 1855 per cent. 1t shows that
s'the flow Of the Mississippi, now nearly
constant, is building a delta with we'll
defined channels and banks into the
wide and shallow eXpanse of lower Old
river and towards the head of the
Atchafalaya."
The Mississippi River Commission
after carefully weighing tho facts, ap-
pointed Mcssrs. Harrod and Sutcr u
committee to examine and report
specially upon the condition at the
mouth of Red river. The commission
meets shortly, and the report will then
be submitted.
ALEXANDRIA, La, Aug. 2G, 1881.
To tho Editor of the New Orleans Democrat:
Dco3 .S,'-I have read several articles
in your valuable paper about naviga-
ton in Old, Red and Atchafalaya
rivers and Bayou Plaquemine, and
that Major Benyaurd was under the
impression that tho Mississippi river
would soon change its course and find
its way to tho guilt by the way of the
leaving NcwOrleans high
and dry, SO to speak. This would in-
deed be 4 calamity. Such an occur
renee might happen, but my expert
ence is to the contrary. L have been
captain for 80 years, and in that time
have seen many changes in the chan
nels of Red aud Old rivers.
When i first passed through Old
river, in 1S49 fMy first stcamboating),
we had to pass in at the upper outlet
the lower or south outlet was closed
by a natural deposit of mud from the
Mississippi. This upper outlet was
gradually closed and tho lower ono as
gradually opened, and is now the only
passage way from the Red and the
Atchafalaya to the Mississippi, all of
which has occurred since the war. 1
am what is termed Il low water cap
tain, and have always been i'll charge
of the lishtest boats during low water
season, and think that in all this time
and with my experience should have
learned something. L know that dur
al r;,,
gradually filling up, and now in spite
of money spent by the Now Orleans
and Rod River Transportation Com
pany and the State and Federal gov
ernments from year to year and the
dredging now being done, q bar is
forming at the mouth that will shut us
out altogether. This docs not help the
theory Of Major Bcnyaurd, but on the
contrary it proves that if no artificial
means were used nature would close
the river itself. My experience is that
whenever tho Mississippi river seeks Il
new channel men cannot stop it, and
in my judgment the Mississippi is
showing no inclination to go tho way
Of tho Atchafalaya, but on tho con-
trary, intends to close that river, and
will, if let alone. Now, if Major Ben
yaurds IDEAS arc correct, and there is
any SucN danger, why not ShtiL up tno
Atchai;.laya, and give back to Red
river her natural outlet to the Missis-
sippi. We would then have II good
channel, that would maintain itself
without expense. 1t looks to me rs
though Major Benyaurd was working
in the railroad interest, or intended to
put the government to u still heavier
outlay to carry out his plans, which
will virtually shut out from New Or
leans the commerce of the Red and
Ouachita rivers. If the people of these
sections knew of the danger that is
threatened they would rise in their
might to thwart any such scheme;
they would not let any barrier be put
in tho way Of navigation. The Atcha-
falaya is the stream that is doing all
the mischief; then / say close it, but
do not shut out either the Red or tho
Ouachita, for neither of them are at
fault. We don't want locks at Plaque
mine or canal dug. God has given
US 4 river and we will not allow it to
be closed. AS your paper is all power
full, and is circulated 50 extensively
throughout the State, ! hope you may
give this letter space in your columns
that the whole people may read of the