The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-06-03
Louisiana Planters ard Lumbermer
Want Water Transportation.

from the American Lum herman. 0
Chicago, of date May Goth, and is
well worth careful reading by
our readers. The whole subject is
of vital interests to the whole
country, with the possible eXccp-
ton, of course, of the railroad
monopolies. which would neccs-
sarily be injured for few years
| by the introduction of any material
competitions; but they all would
| adjust themselves again. and the
increased number of outlets would
so broaden the field of production
that all competitors would regain
what the monopolies had lost.
We are informed that those in
charge of the Plaquemine locks
construction work, estimate that
the same will be finished and
opened for traffic within three
years: that means, of course. if
the railroads and others interested.
in the suppression Of the work, do
not get in Their bribe-giving work
again, as they have been so gen.
orally charged with having done
in the past. The article follows:
Southern Louisiana commercial in
tereStS are endeavOring to secure adj
ditional appropriations and support
from the national government in order
To carry out and perfect a system of
canals which will afford water trans
portation. a glance at the map show
ing the rivers. lakes and bayous in
what may be termed the lower levee dis
trict-that portion of Louisiana south
Of Lake Pontchartrain and west to the
border OF Calcasieu parish-shows
exceptional opportunities for the
establishment of facilities for water
which materially would
benefit lumbermen and planters in
terested in this part of the state.
Even the maps are inadequate to show
the Importance of the water system of
this section. and necessarily so. be-
cause constant changes are being
made. The whole Of the district, how
ever. is gridirOned by numerous
bayous and dotted with lakes. some
OF which are very large. others small.
but nearly all OF them being connected
in some way with others and terminal
ing in an outlet to the Gulf Of Mexico.
All of the territory roughly included
70 10
Father of Waters has carried particle
by particle much of the substance
which found repose at its one-time
mouth. The work is still being carried
On, as is evidenced by the gradual.
steady accretions at the delta. All of
this country is fiat. and the surface is
but little higher than the sea level.
The soil in most places is composed
largely of silt deposited by high water
through past ages. Covering this
erritory is the 9randest BODY of cy-
press timber the world has ever known. |
Timber is one of the special induce
nents offered for the settlement Of the |
and. which during the last few years
las gained considerable Roadway !
'riOr to the permanent establishment |
If the large saw mill centers, however,
much Of this territory was entirely |
neglected. Progress has decreed that |
he soil of this country is too rich and
Is resources too vast to allow it to
'emain the habitat of the alligator and
bait. Lumber milling enter
'rises have been established. planta-
ions cleared up and an era of progress
nd development has begun in this
'ortion of the state that will not be
tayed. The country is not adapted
Q railroad building. Many of the
ogging ROADS that have been put in
re built on piles from end to end.
'Ome. OF the mills, however. have
ecided that logging operations can be
arried on at less expense by the
'aterways nature has provided and
here they were insufficient for the pur-
ose have improved them. Some of
re large companies have a number of
team dredges at work scooping out
he soft soil in order to provide
venues along which the great cypress
mber can be carried to the mills.
his work in a general way is of a
mpOrary character and as soon as
le woods operations have been com
eted the canal is abandoned and in
u ~ oHoiI 1lIut HIS up ana Is no |
niger of any use.
Those whose lot has been cast in this
irt OF the state or who have made in
.StmentS in timber or other lands :
sire to redeem large areas of now ,
lproductive soil. In general way
may be said that considerable part
the swamp land can be drained and
made available for agricultural {
lrposes. This land as we'll as that '
)W IN cultivation is extremely rich a
Id fertile and produces crops that '
nply reward the farmer for the time =
I'd money expended in their cultiva-
on.
One Of the greatest drawbacks to this .
ction is the lack of transportation
cilities. AS stated, it is difficult and
pensive to put in railroads of any I
aracter. 1t is practically impossible
draw line between any two points
this section of the state without
o>sing large lakes and many streams. )
say nothing of the swamps and low )
nds whose character is not set forth t
the general maps. 1t is held, how II
er. that II proper assistance should 5
given by the government it would :
possible to perfect a system of u
iterways that would furnish the {
anters and lumbermen with excellent Il
tier transportation. S
W nile canal system for Southern