The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1888-07-07
to Southwest Pass.

Inc OIL Tue projected TallFoau llON
Alexandria to Jennings, then to
Lake Arthur and Abbeville, accord,
ing to agreement arrived here on
the 9th Of June. and on the morn
ing Of the 2Sth left on the steamer
Barmore with the excursionists for
Soutt. west Pass. Below We give OBJ.
servations taken by him, as far as he
was able, under the circumstances,
to make concerning the depth OF
water in Vermilion bay, and the
geographical position Of the sur
rounding country, also information
derived from parties on board the
steamer
On the 25th ult., l took passage
on the steamer Barmore for the
Southwest Pass of Vermilion bay,
and with the aid of q field glass l
could view the country on either
side of Vermilion river, where tim
Der did not interfere. The boat
was crowded with excursionists and
l had an excellent opportunity to
make enquiries and obtain reliable
information of the inhabitants along
the river, and have outlined the
route on my plat to deep water, as
follows: Running south from Alb.
beville about IS miles to the west
arm Of Vermilion bay, i%ntersecting
said arm near the west line of sec
ton Is, 7 Is, 81; thence south
to the northeast corner of section 6,
T Is, S R 3 e; thence in o south
eastcrly direction to the northeast
corner of section q, same township
and range; thence east along the
south shore of Vermilion bay to the
cast end Of the peninsula ~intersect-
ing the channel at this point, and
was told by the captain Of the boat
and many others that know the
depth of water in this Pass to be 100
feet, aud that the water in the chan.
mel that passes over the bar, near
the gulf shore, is from II to Is feet
deep, and has an average width of
SO feet, and about half q mile in
length. I made no sounding, as
there was q fresh wind blowing and
the steamboat had no conveniences
for doing that kind Of work. | am
fully satisfied that with a suitable
appropriation from congress, q most
desirable harbor can be made at this
Pass, that will admit the largest
class of ships that sails the briny
waters. / found here the remains
Of q lighthouse which should be re.
built at once.
1t is evident, therefore, from the
above that the projected railroad
from St. Paul, MIMI, to the gulf can
find a good and safe harbor on Yer.
million bay to connect with ocean
steamers. We need a railroad to
Vermilion parish to encourage a
good class Of immigrants to this
section to assist in developing its
vast and unlimited resources, as we'll
as to afford speedy transit for the
boundless supply Of fruits, vegetables
and grains our lands are capable Of
producing, and which would be pro-
duced coRld we but End sale for
them without having to pay almost
the entire value of the goods when
placed in market, and without taking
into consideration the great delay
caused from having to ship by water,
thence by rail over the round about
way via New Orleans. There is no
doubt whatever in our mind that if
some Of our great railroad magnates
could only see this country, they
would recognize at once its vast
capabilities, and the time would no:
be far distant when the neigh of the
iron horse would be heard awaken.
ing the stiffness of our row quiet
prairies. Let US then by all means
have the railroad from Alexandria