The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-02-17

We call the attention of our citizens
TO the action Of The Board of Alder
men having resolved il their session Of
last Wednesday night to petition the
United States Congress aud the River
Commission 10 protec, the Ehon leyee.
In 1901. The United States Govern
ment, al the expense Of 100000, built
This magnificent levee. which is Eve
miles long. Nothing was spared in
the building oft; according TO general
specifications, every vegetable matter
was thrown out, every tree was up
rooted. every root was yrubbcd. and
the leyec, built with n 3 10 l grade,
WAS when completed the finest ievce
that had been built in the parish for
many years. national work, Of waich
all, Engineers. Inspectors and conirac-
tors had many reasons 10 be proud.
Il was scarcely finished, when, owing
10 The peculiar soil. the base OF il sank
for several hundred feet, aud additional
money had to be expended by the
Government to bring it up 10 grade a
second time. In the years 1923, the
9Th. District Louisiana Levee Board
spent not less than $4,000 repairing
the deep washes that had occurred in
it, bringing it up to grade where il
had sank, and especially building back
tfit banquettes that doubled its re-
sislipg capacity.
In the last few months. however,, the
bank has started 10 cave, aud is rapid
~ ealing up the hattnre IN front Of
THE grand piece of work; il may be
one year, il may be two years. but
unless something is done to protect it.,
il will surely 60.
We know nothing of hydraulics.
hui our observafion of the works done
in The past by the Government in The
Providence reach and at Vicksburg,
has taught US that the current OF the
river can be sufficiently detected by
mattresses, wing dams and other
works, to prevent caving at the points
where such worksare done. Before i,
is too late, why could not such work
be done, or al least why could not the
uatier Of The saving Of The Elton leyee
be thoroughly Investigated by com
pe,eni authorities, before il is allowed
10 cave in the river? We feel sure
thai the levee can be saved for half The
price il originally cost.
Should il cave in the river, a new
line will have TO be built, and it will
have TO go either across or around
Providence lake. A levee around the
lake means lvee Is or l6 miles long.
The other alternative would he
levee across The lake. and that would
not he without its many and serious
difficulties. The stretch Of country
where the levcc would have TO be built.
having been once an old he'd of the
river, is composed Of sandy deposits,
marshy places. that would present. The
same difficulties that occurred in The
building of the actual Elton levec,
through the sinking of The embank-
iBems. Besides there would be the
crossing Of the lake, which would be
a serious matter. on account Of its
width. Of its depth, of the sofiness Of
It's bottoln;a solid Foundation would
be bard 10 get.
II appears 10 us that instead Of
building new levee, The simple build
ing of wiug-dam in front OF the
present Elton lerce would be the more
reasonable thing to. do aud Tie less
costly. AT any rate. the matter
deserves thorough investigation.
We hope our efficient Congressman,
Hon. G. j. Boatucr. will lay this matte
before Congress aud the River Com-
mission, aud use his every effort to
prevent the destruction Of the Elton
levec. which would cause a general
overflow of the 9th Louisiana District,
and thus ruin thousands of our citi-
zcns.