The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1902-06-14
Techs Development.

In an interview with Congress-
man r. +. BrCussard the following
very interesting data was gather |
ed touching the future plans for
the development of the Bayou
Teche.
Some years ago an appropria
ton Of $3.50, 600 was made by Con
gress for the cutting and complet
ing of a canal at CharentOn be
tween the Teche and Grand Lake
Twenty two thousand dollars was
made available at the time to
cover costs Of survey, acquire
ment of right of way and etc.
After the accomplishment of this
part of the preliminary work the
project seems to have been lost
sight of and it has slept for nearly
a quarter Of a century-but it is
still live issue and has never
been abandoned.
In the past. those who ceeded
the land for the right of way for
the Charenton Canal, employed
council at Washington and at.
tempted to get Congress to de.
clare that the project had been
abandoned and to get the govern.
ment to agree to a retrocessiOn of
the land. This was defeated by
the prompt action Of Congressman
Broussard.
Later an attempt was made by
our congressman to revive the pro
ject, but due to the many changes
and improvements that have been
made in the methods of dredging
since the Canal bill was first in
troduced and passed, it would he
necessary probably to have new
legislation on the subject, and
there was the danger of uncertain
ity Of results in reintroducing the
matter at that time. A more pro
pitiOus time was abided.
| IL will be remembered that
through the efforts of Mr.. Brouss
ard some few years ago a project
was inaugurated to improve the
Bayou Teche and the making Of il
a greater highway of commerce
! than it ever has been. Govern
ment engineers were sent to in
spect the stream and to make re
concentrations. This fell to thu
duties Of Maj Quinn and his corp.
of engineers. Mr.. BrOussard ac
companied them on their trip III
the Teche. A feasible plan wa
endorsed and the recOmmenda
tions included lock in the Tech
at Keystone plantation; anothe
at Breanx Bridge; the opening O
the Teche into the COurtableau
diverting of waters of the latte
into the Teche; and the using o
J lake Tasse (or Spanish Lake. as
supply reservoir for the low sec
tiOn between the locks.
Capt. E. T. King gathered
vast volume Of statistics from tn
parishes of st Landry, st. Mai
tins, iberia and st. Mary, whic
. we're included in the report t
VI Congress adding great weigh
ls thereto, showing the urgent nee
of the Improvement Of this wate1
way. Strange to say st Landr
opposed the scheme N 50 far 9
the diversion of the COurtablea
was concerned and rather insiste
that the government should III
dertake the Improvement of the
stream by the cutting away of
raft which had formed therein ,
the junction of Little Bayou Fo
doche, in order to give safe NAY
40 CATION from Washington to Il
Mississippi river. The St. Landl
- people preferred this route to Il
one down the Teche, notwithstan
ling the latter held the advantal
u of q shorter route to New Orleal
Y. by so miles and the further d
)r advantage of the danger of Il
reforming of the raft in the
stream after every recarring hig
water, which was fully outlin
in the opinion rendered by t
= engineers.
The Teche locks went over al
the COurtableau raft was c