The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-04-07

THE RIVER AND LEVEEs.-Snfyey0r Oar
ton reports at 7 o'clock this morning that
the river rose d inches in the past twenty
four hours and now stands 10 inches below
tie high water mark of 1874, and only 8
inches below that of 1882, as shown by his
gauge at the Donaldsonville wharf and also
by the one placed at the Ashland landing.
seven miles above this town, by United
States engineers. 1t seems almost certain
now that TIE present flood will not only
equal that of last year, bnt may even go q
little above the latter. The river rose 3
inches at Vicksbusg on Sunday, rose inch
on Monday, fell inch on Wednesday. and
was stationary Tuesday and Thursday,
during the five days ending Thursday eve
ming. At Cairo, during the same period,
there has been a net rise of 9 feet, inches,
and at Memphis a net rise of feet, inches.
At New Orleans, Thursday evening, the
water was only S inches below the highest
point attained in 1874, having risen inches
during the preceding five days. The net
rise at Donaldsonville since our report last
Saturday morning has been 49, inches.
Our Police Jurors, planters and citizens
generally are on the qui uiue respecting the
levees, and weak points are being watched
and strengthened call along the line"
Capt. barton made Il tour Of inspection on
the lett bank of the river yesterday and
found the levees i'll good shape from the
lower to the upper boundaries of the parish.
Some danger of q brealS was anticipated op-
posite the Bocagc plantation, but the Messrs.
Kelly have had their levce thoroughly re-
paired and now consider it safe. In the
upper portion Of the parish Gen. j. L. Brent
has displayed conspicuous energy and vigil
lance in having the levees watched and kept
in proper condition. Tuesday night a soft
spot was discovered just above the Arizona
lovee, opposite Isam Fowler's place, caused
by a crayfsh hole. A foree of men was con-
centrated there carly Wednesday morning
and the danger OF a break averted.
So far as we learn, the river levees on the
right bank, between the Ibarvile line and
Bayou Lafourche, are in excellent condition.
There are number of suspicious places
along both banks Of the bayou, however,
and it is here the parochia1 authorities and
interested planters are exercising the great
est vigilance. The principal cause Of danger
arises from The fact that there are several
stretches of recently built levcc on this
stream, and the abrasiDns caused by the
current and waves have seriously affected
the strength of the new embankmcnts. At
Nolan's, near the Crescent place, Mrs. Allie
mans, Port Barrow and other points, the
levces have been strengthened by fascining
with lumber and filing in With sacks of
EARTH where caving has occurred. Messrs.
Mccall Bros, Richard MEGA II, Lcmann &
Lum, H. C. Wilson, Myer Lehman and 9th
ers have vigorously co-operated with the
President OF the Police Jury and Road and
Levee Ovcrseer Richard in tho work OF
maintaining the Lafourche levees.
There are fears of u crevasse in LacroiN
bend, about four miles below Donaldson
vile, and a number of laborers are at work
there to-day endeavoring to avert the dam
ger. Nessrs. Coiold Bailey and their
neighbors are on the spot and will no doubt
succeed in putting the threatened hvee in
good rcpair~ A break at this point could
soon get beyond control and prove very dis
astrous, as the levee is quite high and skirts
an abrupt bend in the river where the cur
rent strikes the bank with great force.
The little bre axis this morning at Brauds.
s;ew-mill and on Bayou Lafonrche opposite
DR.. Wand egriff's residence we have noted
elsewhere. Both have been made secure.