The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1910-02-05
THE PURIFICATION
OF THE TECHE


On the 18th instant. under the
auspices of the State Board of
Health, there will be held a meet
ing Of the members Of the board
and the Parish Health Officers Of
several of the parishes or the
Teche Valley. The object Of the
meeting is to consider ways and
means of purifying the Ieche.
The trouble with the Teche is
that it is recepticle of the waste
waters from the many refineiies
located along its entire length IN
rainy seasons, where there is main
tanned a good head Of water I'LL the
upper part Of the stream, and a
constant outflow is kept up, there
is no trouble. But in dry seasons,
when there is practically no cur
rent in the stream. the aceumuia-
ton of these waste waters cause
the death of the fish in tho stream
1T being impossible for them ~
escape. From these compound
causes the stream becomes very
foul during certain seasons.
Efforts have been made to COM
pei the refiners to drain their
waste waters elsewhere. There is
the problem. TO enforce this
means to stifle at least 2 number
Of these factories and 70 destroy
the greater part Of their owners
investment and life work. Some Of
the refineries are so situated that
there is no escape for this waste,
except through the Teehc. II
thrown back from the stream its
quantity is so great that il must in
undate valuable lands greater
part OF the year, thereby running
them and working great hard
ship to their owners. IF held in a
stagnant body. it ,would create q
greater menance to the health of
those living i'm the locality. 1t is
jmpracticable to consider basin
large enough to hold the waste
from any one .! the Teche fac
tories. Absorption and evarora-
ton will not dispose Of II together
with the usual rainfall. The rain
fall. alone, cannot be cared for
without drainage into the Teche.
We have especially in mind that
section known as Little Fausse
Pointe, all but surrounded by the
horse shoe bends OF tho Teche.
There are two large refineries N
this section. Similar conditions eX-
ist in the Irish Bend.
Ii The waste were drained back
into the interior of these sections it
must find its way back TO he
Teche, even though its course be
long and crcuitous. And even
then there is no probability that,
it would be less harmful and oh
jectionable.
1t appears to us that there is an
easy solution to this great prob
lem, and, while it would involve a
considerable expense in its first
cost, yet it might promise to be
the cheapest i'm the end This
scheme would be one Of flushing
the Teche. IL water sufficient
could be directed through the ba-
you daily to dilute to a great de-
gree the waste from the refineries,
Il would become innocuous. This
can be done. The heart throbs of
the ocean can be utilized in this
Ceaseless and tireless task with
all but unerring certainty.
The Hanson Lumber Go. has q
canal leading from the Teche to
Cote Blanche Bay. The Intercoast-
al canal will open another avenue
from the Teche, probably at Jean
erette, to Weeks Bay. Continue
the New iberia Southern Canal to
a junction with the Teche below
this city. Then resuscitate the
Clarendon Canal scheme Of years
gone bye and cut the Bayou Boutte
canal. Then we would have, with
these canals all open, tidal flow
daily through them and the Teche
into Grand Lake, just as is witness
ed at Morgan City through the
Atchafalaya. When Grand Lake
would be above its normal or sea
level in consequence of flood wa
tiers from the upper rivers, then
we would have a continuous flow
seward.
The advantage to river COM
merce of such a system of canals
would be untold. The disadvanta
ges, If any, are few and might pc
readily overcome.
w