New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-08-23
BIO CANAL PROGRESSING.

We publish the following from
the Alexandria Town Talk as
evidence of the progressivcness
and pluck of the kapld"s elt-
liens.
If They can see profit III such a
canal cut through imponctrahlo
forests and through great
swamps and thus redeem thou
sands of acres of lands for the
agriculturist. we surely, with
our canal scheme, with none OF
these obstacles toovercome. with
one half the expense, not only
redeem many thousands of acres
of land now worthless, but we
get a commercial business that
will in time hc worth many times
more than the land redeemed.
\ direct route to the sea for
small craft. with all the coast
trade is a scheme that is worth
lighting for. and had we the
push of our Alexandria neigh
bors we would now be i'll enjoy
mcnt of drainage and CONNER
cial canal:
The big canal now being dug from
Alexandria to Galatians lake, to drain
the alluvial plain between Red river and
Bayou Boeuf. is now being pushed rap
idlv. The canal is now completed for 4
distance OF between five aud six miles
below Alexandria, aud the big drodge is
working back of Mr.. William Harris
Hard Times plantation.
Several weeks ago the drcdge met with
quite disastrous accident. some OF the
lifting machinery. and the big timber sup
ports being smashed to flinders. This
accident caused delay of about two
| weeks. and the superintendent of the
dredge had trouble in getting saw mills to
furnish the big strong timbers necessary.
and after they were cut AT the mill there
was great trouble in getting the timber to
the dredge. which is away back in the
| swamp away from the public roads.
The Company who have the contract TO
do this immense job are certainly doing
splendid work, When the canal is fin
| ished the rain water falling III the basin
canal,
The cutting of a right of way through
the primeval forest where this canal leads
is a tremendous job, Mcssrs. Talbot
Bros, the street paving contractors. have
| the contract The right of way is loo
| feet. 30 feet on each side of the canal is
being cleared of all underground and
| timber The right OF way clearers first
80 through aud cut down all the small
growth aud carry It on the right of way,
| Then the trees are cut down and cut IN
sections and hauled off by oxen. As the
right of way is covered with thick timber,
some of the trees being fcnr feet in diam.
eter. some idea of the work to be done
can be grasped, a gang of from twelve
to fifteen negroes, with white superin-
tendent. is clearing the right of way and
| they are several miles ahead of the
dredge. 1t is thought that all the right OF
way will be cleared by next Christmas.
The canal proper will probably not be
finished until the fall of 1908.
A gentlemen speaking to the editor of
the great benefit to be derived from this
canal. said that he estimated that il
would add 100, 600 acres of the best alluv-
| ial land to this parish, land that would
produce from one to two bales of cotton
land as rich as any to be found any
where. and which will produce fine crops
for years and years without fertilization.
| He further asserted that in less than
| fifteen years. that all the alluvial soil.
between Bayou Rapides, Bayou Boeuf,
Red River and Avoyelles parish, would
be cleared and be producing magnificent
crops of COTTON corn, peas. sugar cane,
and all kinds of garden truck for the
markets. This territory, to be brought
into cultivation by drainage facilities of
this canal. will easily keep up aporulation
of five thousand more people for Alexan-
| dria