Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-24
COL. RODERTSON'S REPORT.
READS An EXCELLENT AND INSTRUCT
I'VE PAPER BEFORE The MEETING
or FIFTH LOUISIANA LEyEE
B0lsD-FkcTs AND
FIGURES Of MUCH
INTEREST.

WHICH Was Tau DCiOiC tilC ulSttiliS VI ttiC
Fifth Louisiana Levee Board on the Sth
day of April, when that body was in ses-
sion at Delta, La:
NEW ORLEANS, La, April 2, 1908.
Hon. j. Il. Mcclellan, President, and
Members Board of Commissioners,
Fifth Louisiana Levee District, Tai
lulah, Madison Parish, Louisiana:
GENTLESIEN-I have the honor to sub
NIT for your consideration the following
report on the condition and requirements
of the levee line in the Fifth Louisiana
Levee District, with some general re-
marks as to the condition of banks, and
bank protection work undertaken by the
United States government.
Up to this date there has been, this
season, but little over bankfull stage In.
the Mississippi river, but the water has
been against the larger dikes in the dis
trict, such as Hollybrook, Reid, kempe
and others since the latterNpart OF Janu-
ary. There has, therefore, been no APP
prehension as to the safety of the levee
line.
The general condition of the entire line
is excellent; all were cleared last year,
thick growth of Bermuda grass and hess
abuse than usual from hog roofing can
be noted. Some few leyees are rain and
wave washed, such as Morancy and l. Ar
gent: but as whole the condition OF the
levee line is better than it has ever been
before. Many of the lower stretches IN
the district have been raised, or are I'M
der contract for enlargement, to four
foot grade in the United States Third
District, and to the approved Mississippi
River Commission grade in the Fourth
United States District.
| The state and district have now under
contract and incompleted about $50, 743
cubic wards of earthwOrk, estimated to
cost, when completed, about SlO6, lOl.7 10.
Up to this time, this season, it has not
been necessary for the district to expend
any money in high water protection work,
but further rises may reasonably be ex-
pected during the month of April.
At the request of the president of your
board, this board recently prepared a
statement of the number of cubic yards
required to place the levee line in the
Fifth Louisiana Levee District, up TO q
| four-fo6t grade from the Arkansas-Louis-
lana lines to opposite Warrenton, Miss,
and to the Mississippi River Commission
approved grade, from opposite Warren
| ton, Miss, to the lower end of the dis
trict, and to construct such new levees as
may be required within the next two Nol
three years, to the same grade, with crown
! 10 feet wide and slopes of 3 and to l.
| This estimate aggregated 10, 000, 600 cubic
| yards, which, at % cents per cubic yard
4 would cost Approximately 81, SOC, 900.
This shows that the Fifth Louisian;
Levee District has still vast amount o
work to do before its lecee line can b.
completed to the grade and section de
signed for it. In fact, even with the com
bined efforts Of the United States, stat
and district authorities, it will be man.
years before his much to be desired goa
can be reached. Moreover, condition
may develop necessitating ther~construc
ton of dong lines of new levees, in add
ton to those included in the estimate re
ferred to, provision for which would hav
to be made.
1t has been stated by engineers-of ex
perience and ability chat between Green
vile, Miss, and the mouth of Red rive
greater amount of caving occurs thai
in any other stretch of the river. Tina
part of the Mississippi river, north O
Vicksburg, is known to steamboatmen a
''The Bends" which is self-explaIiatory
The caving banks along the Fifth Louis
lana Levee District make it source G
constant apprehension as to what will g
next, and in the past it has been ques
ton OF not what would be ultimatel
necessary, but where would be the mex
! Longtime of levee to be built. 1t 'is gen
/, orally recognized that the greatest amour
of caving occurs at the upper end OF bend
at low water. The rate of caving in year
has hardly ever been hess than 400 feet
i year-not 400 feet in length, but 400 fec
| from the river bank into the country
Among those points which have give
the greatest amount of Trouble in tn
past due to caving banks, are: Elton
Salem, Henderson to Cabin Teae,A Duck
/, port, Reid, Diamond Island. Kill
Krankie, Point Pleasant, Hard Time:
Bondurant, st. Joseph to Harper Bayot
E L.Argent, Marengo, White Hall, Greer
: Forest, Home, Glasscock, Bougere an
: Point Breeze. All of these points hay
been constant sources of anxiety and a
tention by the levee authorities durin
e the past four years, and will continue
e be for all time to come, unless a radio;
: change in the channel shall cause iii
ferent situation to exist.
The construction of two or three ne
levees will be required this year, one
5 the upper end of Biggs, and possibly OF
at Greens.
The Hard Times levee has been PR
vided for by the United States govern
, ment, and | understand will be let ver
4 shortly. The levee line located there /
+, the government is the last stand, and
situated above the st. Joseph dixie, an
wings in at the upper end of the dix,
. 1t will take care of the situation for tw
or three years, and by that time it is
be hoped that the United States govern
ment will protect this large dixie by n
2 yetment.
CONDITION OF THE LEyEES
i Ashton to Pitchers Point (0-256
/, Work under contract by the state, aboV
miles of enlargement completed, abol
miles remaining TO be done. Whe
t completed, this levee, although SON
800, 900 cubic yards will have been place
on it, viii still be deficient in land sic
I section.
> Bunches Bend (256-755).> In exceller
condition, but deficient in section ON ri'
er side.
Opossurn Point to Wilson Point (75;
I 500. In good condition as to section
but many sand boils are evident at I'll
lower end. A very great increase in SCI
ton is desirable.
Cottonwood TO Elton (957-1539). Goo
/ grade and section either exists or il prt
! vided for under outstanding contracts i