The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-03-15
Bayou Plaqucminc.
Reasons Why 1t Should he Open to Navi

mittee of the house in behalf OF the per-
manent improvement Of the navigation
of the bayou LafOurche and the reopen
ing of the Plaquemine route, has pre-
pared and forwarded to the Hon. Andrew
Price the following additional data rela-
ting to the latter project, for Use before
the rivers and harbOrg committee.
In 1917 William Darby, in his survey
of Louisiana, recommended bayou Plaque
mine as drain for the Mississippi river
and better, shorter and more reliable
means of communication between the
bayou Teche section of country and the
Mississippi river than by way of the
Atchafalaya. Said Mr.. Darby: From
the efiiUx Of the Atchafalaya to its mouth
there is but one place (the mouth Of Pla-
Quemine) where the river approaches
very near the Mississippi. 1t is only
seven miles in direct line from where
the PlaQuemine leaves the Mississippi TO
Its discharge into the Atchafalaya. In
autumn when the waters are low the
tide reaches up the Atchafalaya and Pa
Quemine to within five miles of the Mis-
sissippi.'
In 1915 tie steamboat Louisville en-
tered the bayou Plaquemine from the
Mississippi. and went to st. Martinsyille.
OH the bayou Teche. This was the first
boat to pass through the bayou.
In 1927, through legislature enact
mert, bayou Plaquemine was rendered
navigabIe for keelbOats. After this, and
mp to 1856, it was nayigdbe for all elias
ses of boats, was largely used, and ex
clusiveiy 50 by steamers engaged in car
rying freight and passengers to and from
the bayou Teche. and there are steam
bOatmen yet living who remember it, in
time, distance, and in other respects, as
route far preferable TO the one by way
Of the Atchafalaya.
Quantities Of drift passed through from
the Mississippi. which was kept from
forming obstruction and impeding the
waters flow by means of a steamboat
maintained at state expense, but after
wards. through neglect, the drift was
allowed t. lodge and accumulate, until
RATS were formed, which interrupted the
discharge of waters, and caused them to
back up and overflow the leyees and
lands adjacent. For distance of about
twenty-five miles down from the head OF
the Plaquemine. and on either side the
lands are very fertile and were in high
state OF cultivation, the product OF sugar
and mOlasses alone amounting to So0i,-
600. From the causes stated, and as a
means Of avoiding the ruin that was to
follow, the head OF the bayou was closed
with dam. under direction of the police
{:;ry Of Iberville parish. in 1866. Since
then communication with the bayou by
water has been cut of and maintained
with the bayou Teche section by means
Of the further, more difficult and expen-
sive Atchafalaya route, more expensive,
not alone in the costs OF carriage, but in
insurance. the rats Of which are nearly
double those that prevailed when the Pla
quemine r0ute was In use. But, owing
to the increase in population, the need of
competition az between carriers and the
demand for cheaper, quicker and increas-
ed facilities of transportation, and of
other certain and immediate results to
follow, the popular sentiment in favor
Of the restoration of the route under the
plan of locks recommended by the en-
gineers and adopted by congress is I'M
animons. Before the rivers and harbOrs
committee it was shown recently that
the value OF the products of the BAYOU
Teche shipped by steamboat alone. and
not including the shipments by rail,
amounted to Sl,37l $50. The return car
goes. consisting of supplies of all kinds
mechanical and agricultural implements,
machinery, etc, amounted in value to
t1,3S0WO. To this must be added the
coal received from the Ohio river direct.
valued at S226.0o0; the value of the cy-
press and pine logs manufactured into
lumber and shingles and shipped mostly
TO the western states, estimated at $780,
600. and the farm products of the PA
quemine and supplies purchased, valued
al $4oOOO, the whole will make a total
Of $4.lU.6So, for the year ending June
81, 1882.
Ii was asked by the rivers and harbors
committee If the estimate of the cost of
the locks was not excessive. and tbe an