The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1886-01-09
BAYOU %Piaauemine.

by some OF our exchanges. Nhi'e
the New Orleans Times Democrat
seems to favor the closing up of the
.AtcI1aialaya. those who seem most
directly interested, IN its Immediate
vicinity, are opposed 30 such meas
ufes. The Louisiana Fun'sr has
this to say OF the subj Ct
Tie Tincs,Democrat is ~unmindtnl
of our Interests (anintcn!ional no
donb,( when It advocates the perma-I
nent closing Of the Atchafalaya-as
that would place u@ mider the heel
iof a railroad monopoly. Tie liter
ests Of all shontd be considered in
this matter, as New Orleans does
not comprise the whole State. BY
constructing locks at pIaquemine
The question would be settled with
out giving a big job" to somebody.
The l~:,erville Democrat. published
in the town Of Pia9uemine, contains
The following paragraph with refer
ercn to opening Bayou Plaque
lmiMe
About three years ago. Congress
made an appropriation of 100000
for the purpose Of opening Bayou
Plaqucmine. We believe, the only
practical result of tbs action Of
Congress in behalf Of this much
needed work, has been some official
surveys, which is certainly Il the
sole purpose for which this az 5pri-
alton should be utilized. NJ we
believe the opening of this avon
aud the building Of locks, to be an
imperative necessity, and our utmost
~endeavors should be directed to.
wards securing the utilization Of this
appropriation, aud, if necessary, the
appropriation Of a further sum.
The Sugar Phnter, published at
West Baton Rouge, gives tie suu-
Joined article
In a recent issue the n. O. Even
ing Chronicle proceeds TO read the
riot act to the Mississippi River
Commission because that august
body failed to follow the instruction
'Iof Congress to close the A!chafa-
Iaya. and says that that channel,
400 feet wide and 100 feet deep: is
carrying off the entire foods o. Red
River and one fourth Of the Missis,
sippi." The Times-Democrat, TOO.
I IN a recent Issue, mathematics the
4, River Commission for its diIatori-
ness in closing that stream, and ex.
, presses the hope that Congress will
? empba'ically instruct the Commits
!, sion as to its duty in the premises,
, III order that the work may be push
cd forward at as early a day as
possible.
: 1t is estimated that the Atcha.
-, falaya carries off one fourth as much
water as the Mississippi-an esti.
mate generally accepted as being
about as correct as such estimates
usually are. This being the case
then, would it not be the height o!
folly to close that great stream he
fore adequate provision is made fot
the protection of the country soul
.. of Red River, rendered absolutely
= necessary by the largely increased
flow of water in the Mississippi
which will require more. and higher
~ievees in proportion as the food Ieve
:. is raised? The turning into ,ht
-, Mississippi Of the immense volume
Of water that pours down that stream
would, it seems to US, raise tho food
level Of TIE Mississippi proportion
q Ially. even though the Atchafalays
be closed gradually 4; aud to do suci
: a thing just at the present time
when our levees are not at ali ii
..fgooI condition, when the State i
unable to properly maintain them
and when the prospect Of the Ma
b tional Government taking charg'
tIof them seems as. remote as ever
o. would be ruinous in the extreme t.
. the country south of Red River
70 That the waters of the Mississippi
are being gradually detected dow
1t the Atchafa|aya seems probable
IS but it IS equally certain that tn
"a closing of the latter stream, wheJ
our levee system is as defective as
Z" is at present. will be more an iojnf
re than a benefit.
re just "bidc a wee" Messrs. ger
,e tlemen Of the Mississippi River Cou
mission, in your haste to close tn
AtchafaIaya j: or you may find tina
. in avoiding Scylla you have ell
Il countered Charybdis.
1t is evident in the minds of thinl