The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1906-09-01
JacK,,TMe Dreamer.
Why 1t Was Advisable to Cut
the Canal on othe Teche.


Drainage Canal was finished, a
few years ago, the people Of this
sectiOn-especially of iris city
thought they had accomplished
and perfected great work. The
great accomplishment was un-
questioned; but the degree of
perfection was disappointing
The cutting Of the canal through
a submerged forest was a task;
the dredging of the long stretch
through the higher levels. near
the city limits, was another But
it was finally accomplished accord
ing to contract and the work de-
livered. The perfection Of the
work, however, renamed for the
future.
Before the industrial features
of the canal could be developed,
Experience began placing some
hard problems before our people,
demonstrating the fact clearly,
that if something further were not
done to perpetuate the work, that
1t would soon fall into disuse for
all purposes save drainage. The
basin was entirely too small for
the purpose for which 1t was dc
signed. The question OF enlare
ing it at once became problem
with those who were clever at
figuring-but the results OF the
figuring had lettering influence
upon the launching of any action
All estimates Indicated very
great cost for the enlarging of the
basin to anything like the SIZE it
should be. Finally, the happy
suggestion was presented that in
stead of charging the basin, the
canal should be connected with
the Teche. 1t was declared that
this would be cheaper in first cost
and would render the canal less
expensive to maintain. The idea
was not we'll received at first and
it took much argument and igur
ing to demonstrate its practical
features and advantages.
One day a number of young
folks returned from the bay in one
Of the pleasure launches, and as
they were asserting their belong
ings preparatory to disembarking
one of them threw overheard an
empty bottle, corked, in the old
basin. When his a tentlOn was
called to the fact that he was
violating a city ordinance, he re-
piled. ooh, that bottle floats, cant
sink, and will 60 to sea with the
first outgoing tide."-Bnt il did
not. Two weeks later there had
been no rain IN the mean tlme)
that same bottle foated in the ba-
SIN not far from the point where
it was tossed overheard This
fact was cited and set people
thinking. Daily that bottle
would rise and fall with the tide,
but it never left the basin. Being
protected by the high walls of
the basin from all winds except
those from the sOutherly direction
blowing up the canal, there was
no chance for its being blown out.
In the basin it renamed till after
the first heavy rain, when It Was
washed out by drainage water
Thus the bottle demonstrated that
the water IN the upper end of the
canal was but little changed by
tidal action-that the same water
remained there till forced out by
succeeding rains.
The idea of using the canal al.
a means of dispOslng Of sanitary
sewerage was advocated. The
city needed such u system, had
needed it for q long time, and
that need was annually growing
more imperative. When the bot
tie instance was cited, picturing
the horrors Of the canal, all inter.
ested on or near the canal regis
tered their opposition and threat.
ened injunctions. 1t was then
suggested that the main sewer
pipe should follow the course of
the canal and empty in the sea.
marsh. No objection was raised
to this beyond the cost of the
scheme. 1t was figured that S4O,.
600 would make q good start to