The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1905-07-15
The Clarendon Canal.

II Plaquemlne, La, remember
he Iberian office with pleasant
.all. In the course of his visit he
rave the information that work on
he Plaquemine Locks was pro
There are now employ
ID there on this work about 40
men, working constantly. He re |
;ently put down the deep wells,
which are to supply the power
louse with water. Filling around
the walls is steadily going on; the
work on the gates is progressing;
dredging is being done; the power
house is being arranged for and
It's machinery is arriving. The
cut to the river is yet to be made,
AS the Plaquemine Locks near
completion, the shipping interest
Of the upper Teche naturally
awakens at the mention of the
possible advantages of the cut
ting of the Charenton canal.
On last Tuesday forenoon MIR.
Geo. w Dallas, manager of the
Iberia Cypress Co., Limited, of
this city handed us the appended
communication which had been
addressed to him from New Or
leans on the 3rd instant. The
letter is full of good suggestions
and it is hoped that 1t may assist
in leading to some action, freight
ed with the desired results.
Dear Sir:
Referring to the Canal which
the Government proposed digging
a few years ago connecting Grand
Lake with Bayou Teche, at or
near Clarendon, but seems to have
been dropped after the Engineers
report, although there still re-
mains some so, 10000 of the ap
preparation to be expended.
In conversation with Mr..
Charles Gutekunst several days
ago, he told me that himself as
well as others interested, in st.
Martinville, were now looking into
this matter with a view Of learn
ing what further action the Gov
eminent proposed taking.
1t has occurred to me that this
would be an Opportune time for
all parties interested on the Upper
Teche to agitate this matter, as
with the opening Of the Plaque
mine Locks, which information
obtainable indicates will be dur
ing the latter part Of 1906, this
Canal would shorten the route
from Plaquemine to points on the
Upper Teche, Charenton and
north, approximately fifty miles.
When these locks are opened the
prospects are that there will be a
great deal of navigation from
Plaquemine to points on the
Teche and this route would no
doubt be used by perhaps half of
the vessels gong north Of Charen
ton. at least in one direction.
am informed that few par
ties interested bought the neces
sary land for this Canal a few
years ago and presented it to the
Government. If these parties
can be prevailed upon to take the
necessary action they should at
least be able to have the Govern
ment turn the land back to them
or put the Canal through.
If the business interests gener
ally on the Upper Teche could be
interested in this matter, no doubt
sufficient pIessue could be
brought to bear on our local
politicians to insure their getting
some action taken; with this end
in view, do you not think it would
be we'll to bring this subject up
before the Commercial League of
your city, and others interested
If l can be of service in any way
kindly advise.
l understand that the engineer
who investigated this matter re
commended locks at the entrance
to Grand Lake. Mr.. Gutekunst
states that he has looked into the
construction of the Canal, and
that there is absolutely no need
for putting in locks at any part of
il. This is also tho OniniOn al