The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-10-15

tlme, evidently threatened Dy lieu
River.
Conferences between those inter
ested finally led to petition to the
General Assembly of the State, in
1892, praying for the passage of an
Act, permitting the formation of
Levee District under the direction
and control of a Board of Commis-
sioners, with enlarged powers to
assess, collect and apply taxes to
the building and perfectlng of a
levee system. Similar action was,
at the same time, taken in the Par
ish Of Caddo.
The enactment of these laws gave
most pronounced impetus to levee
building on Red River, and has re-
suited in the wise expenditure of
large sums of money tor the ulti.
mate protection of the district from
high water, by the District, the
State and the United States; the
levees built SO far aggregating
2,351, $50 cubic yards, costing 1884,
O97 SO, exclusive of cost of admins
tration, discounts, interest, ETC., and
presenting a continuous liue of
levee from near Hurricane Bluff to
Arnold's, and from billiards. to
Buckhorn, distance, by the river,
of seventy-five miles, the grade of
which is not less than three feet
above the highest water SO far re-
corded in Red River, with slopes
closely approximatiug three to one
on each side, and a crown of six feet
wide.
The lapse in the line from Arnold's
to billiards., a distance of five miles,
apparently shown in the foregoing,
is, however, also covered by line
of levee which, though in many
places too close to the bank of the
river, and insufficient in grade and
section, as compared with the levees
more recently built, has, with the
care and attention so far bestowed
upon it by those residing behind it
and affected by it, succeeded in re-
sisting the high waters of the past.
1t may thus be, therefore, said that
the line of levee in the Bossier Le-
vee District, is practically contin-
uous from a point near Hurricane
Bluff to Buckhorn.
There is no doubt, however, but
that the line from Arnold's to Dill.
lard's should be improved in loca.
tion, grade and section, at as early a
date as possible, and that the line
from Buckhorn to Swift Chute Bay
ou, the lower end of the district,
should be built with equal prompt.
ness.
At this time, the only work 10
progress in the district is at Buck.
hall, Cash Point and Pandora, un.
der contracts recently let out by the
State, and payable from the one mill
tax for levee purposes imposed upon
the State at large. This work
amounts to upwards of 100000 cubic
yards, and will cost about S13, 10000
This will probably be all the levee
work which the State will be able tc
undertake in the District this sea
son. There is, however, some rea
son to believe that the United States
may be able, at later date, to also
assist the District to some extent
this season, and it is understood tha,
Major j. Fl. Willard, US. Engineer
in charge of Red River, has recon
mended the construction of levet
work by the United States at Hall's
(above Ghilder's), and from Magent;
to Knox Point, amounting to abou
125,00O cubic yards.
| But, even if the district be fortu
nate enough to receive this outsid'
aid, there will still remain the stretcl
from Jeter's to billiards., and from
Buckhorn to Swift Chute Bayou
already referred to, for which moth
ing at all has, so far, been done
The Board of State Engineers would
therefore, urgently recommend tha
the best efforts of the district b
unremittingly continued to provid
means to undertake the necessar
work still required in the distric,
as we'll as for caring for, protecting
preserving and maintaining the line
built, and for putting into operatio
plans which will permit intelligen
cooperation by the State and Un
ted States authorities, in securin
the best results for all concerned.
Gross abuses are constantly bein
being visited upon the levees b
! travel, by the roofing of hogs, b
the cutting Of pathways and roat
ways through the levees, by pc
: hitting weeds and trees to overgro
them, and by the building OF fence
and placing distractions upon chen
These facts should be especial
- taken into consideration by tt
| Board of Levee Commissioner
/ within whose hands the power
prevent these abuses fully rests, an
:. every endeavor made on their ma