The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-07-14
SATURDAY JULY II 1874
CONNECTS LIT TCH

Through a kind invitation of Mr.. H.
Tetreau. M Of onr popular livery
men of Thihodaux. who dove u up
to his Artredge plantation GU Tuesday
morning. We visited tile eonylcts at
work oil tile new levee located by tie
state engineers a short time ago, on
the West hank Of Bayou Lafourche,
beginning at the upper line Of Art
redge plantation. and extending to a
short distance above the Laioulche
Refinery; this leyee is 1900 #. long.
We believe that this is tie first time
in the history of Lafourcile that con-
vict labor has been utilized within its
limits.
These eonvicts. in charge of Capt.
f. J~emeyson and 1G guards, reached
their camping grounds 81 tie Ntbre
plantation OF NessIs Morvant and Lee
vert on last Saturday evening. pitched
their camp on Sunday, and early Mon
day morning were at work on the new
ievee. and have since been progressing
rapidly with the leyce work.
When we reached the place where
tile conylcts are at work, we called on
Capt. Jemeyson whom we found am
oDg the ccnyicts. experimenting them.
He told Us that the gang consisted Of
Isl conyicts, 5 whites, aud $50 col
ored. The wolk was getting along in
a very orderly manner, and the con-
victs worked regularly witIloR: preci-
pitatlon. During our stay there. which
lasted fully two lours, not an unkinl
or harsh word was uttered. ard the
work progressed like clockwork, and
In their trouble these convicts seemed
to be working happily together. Not
a command was given during our STAY
by either the Capt. or his assistants.
The work is all done with Il e wheel
barrow and it is q pleasure TO see
how well these conrlcts do this kind
of work.
Capt. Jemeyson informed MS that lie
had very little trouble with the gang
under his charge; as a rule they al!
behaved well and did their best to OBJ
serve the rules.
While at work, nine guards keen
watch oEer them one, on the upper
leyee, n on the lower levee. one a.
cross the bayou, and the other six in
the rear of the stretch Of the new lev
&c ID process of construction, located
in sufficiently close range and at equi-
distance from each other. The guards
located on the upper and lower levee
are prnyiGed with Winchester Rifles
for IA long range III case Of emergency.
while the other guards are armed with
double-bairel breecli-loading guns.
containing II buck-sllOts in each cart
ridge
This levee of 1900 #. runs along the
entire front Of tie Ar. redge plantation
and Forest Grove Of Mr.. JOHN s. See
ley. Both these planters, Messrs.
Tetreau & Seeley. are very much pat,
out concerning this new levee. and
think there was 10 necessity for the
construction of a new levee along
their front !; that the old levee was
still strong. and with a sutficiency at
backing and raising would have lasted
as loI e as the levee just above it. As
it is now, both OF these gentlemen see
themselves forced to unnecessary
haldsIits :, which they think could
have been avoided. Mr.. Tetieau has
to remove two buildings, q warehouse
and IA cooper shop. besides sustaining
the loss of two-tlIirds of an orchard
III front Of tie house now occupied by
MIR. Ursin Ndquin. Mr.. John S. Seely