The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-01-31

the dam began to grow and widen and
it was not Ion. before the water was
again rushing over the banks and into
the Atchafalaya, which was once again
booming, rushing river. The Atch-
afalaya, being more than 200 miles
nearer the Gulf than the Red or the
Mississippi, and being much greater
in its descent, found great induccmcnt
to offer the waters that had been con
fired in the two sluggish streams. and
therefore nature was an active aid to
the Atchafalaya The government
began to make greater appropriations.
and more experts were sent to the
scene Of operations, where the work
is still being actively carried on to-
day.
GREAT COMM ERCIAL WATERWAY
The Atchafalaya, though rival Of
the Mississippi, Il robbcr waterway,
securing it's supply and Importance by
stealing from the Red. has already
proved of magnificent profit to the pco-
pie Of the parishes who before had no
means Of reaching the markets of the
world. These places, far removed
from the rumble Of the cars, because
Of impcnctrablc swamps, and not
touched by boats, because there was
no navlgablc stream nearer than the
Mississippi. were lost to the bcnciiccnt
effects of being in touch with the
throbbinS trade Of the city Of New Or
leans. There was no way in which
their products could reach the sea and
the question Of import was just as Sc
rious. Handicapped by these condi-
tons, the people of these parishes
lived life Of mean existence, and their
children grew up in ignorance and pow
erty.
1t was, therefore, with delight that
these farmers watched the waters rise
higher and higher in the new river
that was to bring them commercial
connection with the world and was to
furnish them Il means Of transporting
their sugar cane and rice and cotton
and corn to their cities. Now the
river is the slave of large boats that,
heavy laden, sail up and down on it's
wide bosom, dispensing commerce and
receiving in exchange the products of
the interior.
The Mississippi at New Orleans, at
the foot of Canal street, is 1000 feet
wide, not quite half mile. 1t is
about 200 feet deep and very sluggish.
The Atchafalaya, at a distance from
its mouth the same as Canal street to
the Mississippi, is more than mile
wide, more than 200 feet deep and
very swift in the flow of its current.
Thus it will be seen that already the
Atchafalaya has taken from the Mis-
sissippi vast amount Of water, which,
by right of precedent, should pass by
the Crescent City, whose existence is
owed to the river.
Interesting, indeed, is the conclu-
sion that can be drawn from the study
ofthc condition. Interesting, indeed,
to the city Of New Orleans more than
to all, for the people of this city is
watching the rise and fall of the Atch-
afalaya more closely than all the bal
ancc of the world. Suppose the Atc.-
afalaya should steal all the water Of
the Red river, and the natural and
logical solution Of the problem is that
this will be true, as the Atchafulaya
is nearer the G ulf, the fall is much
greater in the new river than it is in
the Red and the Mississippi and the
dropping of the water, day by day
theory, is all in favor Of the final tri-
umph Of the Atchafalaya. Suppose,
too, that the Mississippi, always un-
decided aud restless, should cut across
to the mouth Of the Atchafalaya, what
then would happen? Where would
New Orleans be?
TIE answer has been thought about
often by the people of New Orleans.
whose fortunes are dependent upon
the river. They used to say that there
could be yellow fever cpidcmics in the
city, there could be financial rcvcrscs,
but the river, the great father of riv
crs, the gem Of all rivers, was there,
and as long as the river rolled past the
city her future was full Of realization
aud promise. And this is true. So
long us the great river rolls at the feet
of the mighty city there will always
be money by the millions to be made
ont Of her commerce.
And it is upon this line Of reason
ing that the people Of New Orleans
opd Rotnp Rc57oa Tho ownoro ne tbo