The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1905-01-14
Improvement Of the Teche

In an interview with Congress-
man r. F. BIoussard, he outlined
for us what effort is being made
for the improvement of the Teche.
lie is asking the present Congress
of the United States for an ap-
preparation of $245, OS6, in order
to carry out the recommendation
of the Government Engineers in
reference to this stream
The project contemplates 6 feet
, OF water in The Teche throughout
its length, the year round. In or.
der to accomplish this two locks
will be necessary; one near Breaux
Bridge, just below the north of
Bayou Fusilier, and the other at
Keystone plantation, just below
the mouth Of the Lake Tasse
canal. The river Is to he dredged
and cleared of all snags and over
hanging trees.
The appropriation asked tor is
to be incorporated In the Rivers
and Harbors Bill, now in course of
preparation in the hands of the
committee presided over by T. +.
Burton. The only impeachment in
the way thus e ;s The General
disposition of congress to scale
down all appropriations on the
pretext of economy.
/ Chairman Barton has recog
nized the value of the Teche and
its commerce IN most positive
manner by placing it next to the
head in the list of rivers to be i'm
proyed-followed by the Ohio
river, from Pittsburg to the Miss
issippi. "The reason for this is
the fact that the commerce of this
section ranges into very pretty
figures. The crop of 1903 was
valued at *26. 600, 900 in round fig
ures and the indirect trade of the
same year at GA, 100000 more-
making an aggregate of $40, OOO,.
600. The commerce of 1908 was
123. 900 tons in excess of the pre-.
ceeding year; and the traffic of
1902 was 1000 tons greater than
that of 1901. If the same ratio of
increase in values prevailed for
1904, as did for former years, the
1904 commerce of the Teche valley
will undoubtedly reach the stu
, pendous figures of over $4,000.
, 600 when the statistics will have
been compiled.
, There is not another river with
in the borders of the United
States, the Improvement Of which
could be effected at so little cost.
} and carrying so great q commerce
The natural conditions surround
ing this water way of South west
ern Louisiana are such as make it
easy Of improvement and would
give a character of permanency to
such works at a small maintenance
cost. The lower section of the
; Teche, below the proposed Key
> stone lock, would be dredged to a
depth of six feet, mean tide level.
The middle section would have a
, moderate lift at Keystone, which
, would carry fair sized boats to the
second lock. From this point
they could be carried on up the
Teche and into Bayou Courtab.
leau.
When it is taken into consider.
. alton that only $50, 900 has been
: expended on this river by the
: national government in all its
history, it becomes apparent al
. once that the present claims fol
> recognition and Improvement Of
: the stream are both moderate and
= modest.
i That Congre ssman Broussard
: fully appreciates the value Of
). what he is asking for is shown by
. his deep interest in the project
> and the interchangeable manner in
: which he is coaching the interest
of the Teche. now In the hands Of
the Rivers and HarbOrs commit
tee.
Washington, Jan. 9--Represen
tative Broussard called to day Oh
Chairman Burton of the Rivers