The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1890-10-25
FIFTY YEARS AGO /!
81 UNCLE sILAs-

The canal that nov divides Thibo-
daRx dla-onaily was first cut about
the year Is25. Bayon Terrebonne had
II source and once flowed FROM Bayou
Lafa4rehe just above the sax mill
above own.
Tie canal wa> designed 70 connec
Basou Lafourciie with Bayou Terre-
bouHe . tl.r foot OF Jackson street.
aud IL dredging that bayou navigation
"S secured for the people Of Terre-
bonnie. by which they transported
their produce 70 Thibodaux. 10 be
reshipped by way Of Bayou Lafourche
u New Orleans. and through the
n means transported machinery.
merchandise and such other Eecessi-
ties a their circumstances demanded.
OFigiEall5 there were locks made al
the intersection of the canal aud the
Lafourche. but they were soon dis
pensed with.
The amount of trade that annually
passed through this canal was very
large, as all the trade OF a great part
OF the Parish of Terrehonue had no
other mode Of transportation. unless
"n-oHS anu NAI1S. Il eAS HUI
unusual to witness wagon trains OF
ten 10 twenty III number coming up
from Terreboune loaded with sugar.
molasses and other products and
return with the goods and supplies
required by the inhabitants OF the
interior.
The merchants of Thibodaux cup
piled the people with nearly everything
that Vas necessary for their Use and
comfort, and did a thriving business.
They received their goods. not as they
nov do, every day. as their demand
calls, but generally laid in their sup
plies twice a year. and consequently
often had immense stocks on hand.
In the winter a large trade was
conducted by western men who bought
fat boats down the river loaded with
corn, meat, potatoes, apples. whiskey.
-four &c, which were sold 10 the
planters, and took sugar and molasses
IN exchange for their merchandise.
These boats commonly called
''broa6 horns" came principally ont
of the Ohio river. Some of them
would dispose of their loads. TOW their
boats TO Doualdsonville. where they
would reload them with produce
brought by steamboats, 10 that town,
and, thus dispose of two or three
loads in one session. The late Ben
jamin F. Holden, who built the
Franklin Hotel. first came to Thibo-
dauA as a captain of a ..oroadiIornH
which he hoated from Ripiy Ohio,
..u.. 4rr,- ,.I.- nlc-r G-a~I
subsequently, lie settled in ThibUdaux
and became a useful and prominent
citizen.
A nan by the name of Miller came
regularly for many years with boats
from Rising Sun Indiana; besides
many other transient traders came in
the bayou TO sell their loads. or rem
Dants of loads. The people bought
their empty fiatboats, changed them
into packets with which they carried
u sugar and molasses to Donaldson
vile, il low water, aud brought back
merchandise for planters and mer-
chants.
An extensive trade was carried on,
also, by small schooDers or boats,
known generally under the euphonious
name of chicken thieves They
were fitted to carry groceries and dry
goods. and, stopping in front of the
residences, obtained a good trade,
exchanging their goods for chickens
aud eggs which they took to New
Orleans for sale when they went to
that city to r~eplenish their stock.
They were moved. either by tle
current, wind, or the cordelle which