The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1900-01-13
Lower Louisiana Drained.

~ ~ oANA R0OAAoA
of general interest, | wish to speak Of
a project that if carried through
would prove of i~ncalculable benefit to
Louisiana and more especially to the
Southern portion of the State.
There is an old project on record
at the War Department at Washing
ton, D. c., to connect New Orleans
and Galveston by a inland canal by
making use as far as practicable all
rivers, bayous, lakes and marshes ly-
ing on its prospected course. The
federal government was interested in
such a scheme owing to the useful
ness for coast defense also for COM
merce and navigation. The canal
was to be dredged deep enough for
light draft steamboats,, and the esti-
mated cost was not much aver one
million dollars.
This project was not mentioned at
the Louisiana Waterways Convention,
held not long ago at New Orleans,
but it was fully discussed at the Wa
terways Convention of Texas that
met in Galveston a few days ago.
The Times Democrat in rendering ac-
count of this conference says:
"One of the most important mat
tiers that came up for consideration
today was an inland light-draft canal
to provide light-draft navigation along
the coast country of the Gulf from
the Mississippi river on the east to
the Rio Grande river on the west.
The proposition, however, did not
embrace all this territory, but if ac-
complished, it will ultimately result
in the continuing of the canal to con-
meet these two rivers. The estimate
prepared and the maps drawn include
1900 miles of this waterway from
Corpus Christi on the west to the
Sabine river, on the Eastern boundry
Of Texas. From recent surveys il is
estimated that the dredging of 100
miles will open up 1900 miles of light
draft navigation. The approximate
cost is stated as ST., 800, 900, or $1,000
per mile. 1t is estimated that for
about So, 500, 900 the canal be ex-
tended to connect Morgan City or
the Atchafalaya river which would
give direct connection with the Mis-
sissippi river.
"This would admit small stern
wheel river steamers plying between
Texas points and the Mississippi as
far west as Corpus Christi, and for
$3,000,0 900 navigation can be ecur-
ed from the Mississippi to the Rio
Grande along the coast. This would
render tributary to this canal an i'm
mense territory of rich and produce
tive land. It is estimated further
that the cost of maintenance of this
navigable waterway would not exceed
500, 900 per annum. This includes
the cost of maintenance of three
dredges, which is calculated can do
all the work necessary to keep the
canal clear and navigable at all sea
sons of the year."
Now, why cannot Louisiana join
with Texas in reviying this old pro-
ject, and all the Senator'S and Con-
gEessmen from both States working
in conjunction obtain the necessary
appropriation from Congress for car
rying out this important work. A
little of that good money that our
Government is now spending in far
away Philippines could no doubt be
employed to better advantage right
here in developing this wonderfully
rich portion of the United States, BY
canalizing all the low lands that bor-
der on the Gulf and thus making a
Holland of it in productiveness.
The Louisiana Waterways Associa-
ton, now a permanent organization,
could do a great deal towards pre-
senting the project before the coun-
try in a proper form, by giving in
formation as to the best course for
said canal, the Importance Of water