The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1905-09-23
Significance of Deep Water
to the interest of Central
Southern Louisiana.


government to be expended in i'm
proving the waterways OF that
district. This section Of southern
Louisiana offers opportunities for
water transportation which in the
past largely have been neglected.
Berwick bay, near the mouth OF
the Atchafalaya river, at small
expense could be opened for sea
going vessels. The bay itself has
a depth of 60 to 100 feet and a
channel over the oar could be
dredged that would permit of lis
use by heavy draft vessels North
and west of this land locked har
Dor stretch the Teche bayou and
the Atchafalaya river ana their
numerous tributaries, all of which
are navlgable for miles.
The territory drained 10y the
two streams named is in the heart
of the Louisiana cypress district
Some of the cypress mills are
logged by rail, the railroads being
built Oh piling through the woods.
A considerable part Of the timber
is brought out of the woods by
pull boat and RATED to the mill.
In carrying OH this work the oper
ators have found it necessary in
many instances to dig canals so as
to connect boSies of water between
which natlhe has interposed
ridges.
This country is rich not only in
timber resources, consisting of cy
press, pine, gum, oak and other
hard woods, but is one of the
most fertile agricultural districts
of southern Louisiana. famed for
It's sugar, rice and cotton planta
tons. The lands are exceptional
ly rich. TbeyieId of sugar cane
often has gross market value OF
between $50 and $50 an acre and
results from cotton are almost
equally satisfactory, The growth
in the operation and development
of resources of this section during
the last few years has been won
terfnl
The production Of lumber. cot
ton. cane, fruits and grains is
very large 1t would be natural
to suppose that considerable
portion of this traffic would be
moved by vessel when the excel
lent facilities for developing water
transportation are considered
Such, however, is not the case
In late years practically all the
lumber and farm products original
ing in the Teche district or along
the Atchafalaya river moves out
by rail and under present condi
tons must necessarily be carried
by the railroads if at all.
Government assistance has
been sought and given. Influence
from some quarter must be had if
the delay that has occurred in
carrying out the plans submitted
and approved is to be obviated.
These plans contemplated the
building of lock at Plaplemine,
on the Mississippi river, with
channel connecting it with the
Atchafalaya river, which would
throw open the entire district
watered by the Atchafalaya river
and the Teche bayou and tribu
tary waters. The government
work on the locks at Plaquemine
when completed will have cost in
the neighborhood of s., 900. 900, of
which amount 81, 800, 600 has been
expended. 1t was thought when
plans for this lock were formula
ted that about a year would be
required to complete the work;
five years have elapsed since the
start was made and the lock is
not yet ready to open.
OWater rates are prOverbially
low when compared with charges
for rail transportation. Those to
be benefited by the establishment
of waterways until recently have
not realized the advantage to be
secured by the completion of the
Plaquemine locks, which would
enable them to ship their products
to New Orleans or to any point
along the Mississippi river or it's
tributaries at much lower rates