The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-02-09
WANT DAM REMOVED.
Committees Representing Ascension and
Assumption Parishes Meet at Napo-
IeonviIle and Draft Strong

Assumption Parishes NJ eet at NapO-
1eonville and Draft Strong
Resolutions.
A rousing meeting of committees
representing Ascension and Assump-
ton parishes was held at Napoleon
vile last Saturday afternoon for the
purpose of devising ways and means
to bring about the substitution of
locks for the present dam that shuts
off Bayou Lafourche from its natural
connection with the Mississippi river
at jacksonville. The delegates from
this parish were Messrs. r. N. Sims,
Charles Maurin, S. Goette, DR.. E. K.
Sims, Meyer Meter, G. A. Gondran,
NJ. Tobias and Frank K. Sims, while
Assumption was represented by G. G..
Barton, E. L. Monnot, r. G. Martin,
Sr., and r. j. Legardeur.
The meeting was called to order by
Mr.. Legardeur and permanent organ
ization was effected by the election of
the following officers: r. N. Sims,
chairman; r. G. Martin, Sr., vice
chairman; E. D. Gianelloni, secretary.
The subioined letter from James P.
Kock, president of the Belle Alliance
Co., Ltd, was read and received:
Mr.. E. Sundbsrry, President Assumption In
migration and Progressive League, Ma
poleonville, La.
Dear Sir-I regret my inability to be present
at the meeting called for February to protest
against delay by the proper authorities il the
fulfillment of their pledge to build locks at the
mouth of Bayou Lafourche.
/ am, however, pleased to see that much
interest is being shown in the matter, ard ask
to be respectfully allowed to call attention to
some facts connected Herewith, for while the
effort was made 10 make the people living on
Bayou Lafourche believe that the closing of
the bayou would be beneficial to all, the fact is
it has worked hardships on many and the re-
suits obtained by having the bayou damned
are far from satisfactory.
In this age, when every state and every COM
munity is seeking to improve waterways, why
should we be deprived of the use of what was
once considered the most used and most i'm
portant water-course of its size in the country?
To permanently close the bayou would be a
crime, for where can you find water-course
more densely populated than Bayou Lafourche7
Late in the seventies the writer furnish 4d TO
meeting of the rivers and harbors committee
in Washington actual figures of the tonnage in
and out of Bayou Lafourche which were con-
sidered so very extraordinarily large that sew
no other natural stream of its width which
could boast of SO much traffic.
To what now is all this diminished! couple
of oil boats and a few fat boats and gasoline
propelled craft alone travel on its water, whose
tonnage in twelve months hardly amounts to
the tonnage of two weeks in former days. Want
exact higher freights and the movement of
freight is slow and unsatisfactory, while we
have before us the possibility that fuel oil will
soon be unavailable, necessitating return to
the use of COAL in which contingency when aud
how will we obtain our supply of this COM
modify when we have the railroads alone to
depend upon7 There is no doubt that with the
car shortage now existing and the slow service
our factories will be many months IN satisfying
their wants.
The past manufacturing season ought to con-
vince even the most skeptical that had traffic
on Bayou Lafourche been possible. all having
sugar and molasses to ship would have been
able to market their crops without being forced
to wait until the railroads were willing. or
able. to furnish the necessary empty cars.
After touching on the commercial disadvan-
tages of having Bayou Lafourche damned, / do
not want to close without referring to the re-.
port of the member of the board of state en-
gineers who has had the matter of closing
Bayou Lafourche in charge, as expressed in his
recent report to tho joint organization of the
Atchafalaya and Lafourche basin leyee boards.
This report is remarkable to Say the least
No inspiration is found for Improvement in the
continued unsatisfactory condition in which
the waters of Bayou Lafourche are found at
present, after two years of effort to better the
alton made in 1905 will suit the conditions
as they exist today. To urge the construction
of canal from Lake Yerret to Bayou Lafourche
and flush out the bayou by removing from the
Mississippi river to Lake Verret the pumping
station, which is now almost complete wreck,
and attempt with this during periods of low
water to pump from one body OF water having
identically the same level and Influenced in 10 y
water by the same tidal effects. is unreason-
able, and can only be done at great expense How
it can be expected that water will run up stream,
or go to replace denser water at the closed
end of the bayou, is something in hydrostatics
not according to rule.
Certain it is that il the water from Lake
Verret is always free from salt water, which is
doubtful, no relief would be given that portion
of the bayou between the dam and the opening
of the canal.
The system now in practice is certainly wrong,
and relief should be given the entire Lefourche
valley by putting in locks as soon as possible.
Whatever flushing is necessary should be done
from the head of the bayou, and think your
meeting should strongly protest against any
further delay in at least making me necessary
praiminaries.
No one can expect the national oYernment
to help us, in view of the fact that when the
leVee boards pettioned the secretary of war to
dam the bayou, permission was granted on
condition that the levee boards would. in given
time construct the locks themselves without
aid from the national government
1t is therefore up to US to demand strict
question, now, is one of locks, and the sooner
they are constructed the quicker relief will
come to all.
/ sincerely trust your meeting will have the
effect SO much desired, and beg to remain,
Yours very truly,
The following resolutions, drafted
81