Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-05-24
SLACK WATER NAVIGATION.
MADISON PARISH, May 10, 1854.

MADISON PARISH, May -, 1854.
Editor Madison TINES:
DEAR SIR, ! send you this com
mulication IN response TO an invi
tatiou extended by you, through III,
columns % yorr paper to any on
interested n improving Roundaway
Bayou AMI Bayou Vidal, so tia
they could be made navigabie per
manently. The Bayous are admir-
ably situated for this purpose, anC
in any other portion OF this country
would have been utilized years ago
which would have saved thousand,
Of dollars annually, III freight.
alone, to the residents along the
Bay0us, leaving out Of The question
the great expense % hauling which
has tO be done when the roads ar.
III the worst possible COZ liIion. Al
a comparatively slight expense,
considering the benefits TO bl
derived from il the planters on
the Bayous could have direct access
- Mississippi river ar least ter
months in The year.
viii now prOceei'to give you
my ideas on the subject. as some
one must start the ball rolling. The
first thing to be done would be to
cut down ali exchanging trees,
also all underground and high
s,umps from the channel; a pile
dam should then be placed across
Roundaway, Just below the foot of
Bear Lake, and another across the
head of Mill Bayou, it would also
be necessary to place a small earth
dam across the head of Met heglin
Bayou at the foot Of Lake One.
There would then be enclosed a
vast reservoir, which would include
Bear Lake, Willow Lake. Eagle
Lake, Lake One and Grassy Lake,
whose combined waters could not
be exhausted. The pile dams
should be built just high enough to
secure good boating stage, in al
the Bayous included in the system;
their exact height could only be
found by survey, which would
cost about $40, or probably less.
In the event Of an overflow the
dams would be nc hindrance 10 the
water passing off.
The water privilege Of the dam at
Mill Bayou would be a valuable
one for capitalists, There could be
erected there central gin honse, or
oil factory, or wood working es;ab-
lishment, as it could be made to.
develop immense power. The above
dams would cost but
little, but now comes the most ex-
pensive part of the work and one
which demands considerable out
lay This would be the locks at
he outlet where the Carthage
Bayou runs into the Lake, TO give
egrcss and ingress to vessels with
put wasting water. The locks would !
consist oftwo water tight bulkheads |
With draw gates placed in each |
The bulkheads to be |
bout 80 feet apart. On each side
If the Bayou would be driven a row
II piles strongly braced and STAYED /
rom the outside, and boxed up
which when finished, would make
water tight compartments 80 feet
ong by about so feet vide, which
would be large enough TO accommo-
late any boat needed for the trade. l
a rough estimate for the work
nentioned, including steam barge
( about 100 tons which would be
irge enough, and cheaper than a
III powered steam boat, would be
bout SIS, 600 which could be di-
ided into 500 shares at $50 each.
nd by going to work even as late as
le first of August, this years crop
N be transported via "Roundaway{
arigaaon and Improvements Co,
rect from the gin without cost Of
auling ~ or gu miles, and at a re-