The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1911-06-24
THE TECHE-LAKE CANAL
Meeting held in Mayors Of
flee to Discuss with Maj.
ker the Aims of the Pro-
motors of the BOutte Canal.

On Friday morning of last week a
meeting was held in the Mayors Of
fee, of a number of the promoters of
the plan of connecting the Teche
with Grand Lake, to confer with Maj.
+. N. Ker, Chief of the State Board Of
, Engineers, who was present. for the
purpose Of discussing the feasibility
of the scheme, and the best plans to
! be pursued to the desired ends. 1t
was the plan originally to have both
Col. Beach and Maj Ker present at
the meeting; but as Col. Beach left
for Europe few days before, Maj.
ker came up alone in order not to dis
appoint the people here and 10 make
the present situation Of affairs sur
rounding the proposed PROJECT plain.
Mai. ker was accompanied by Mr..
Lombard.
After a presentation OF New 1beria's
plans and hopes by Mr.. +. =. BrOus-
sard the whole project was discussed
in III informal manner and with the
greatest candor on the part Of all
present. Maj. Ker explained the
work now in progress under the direc-
ton of the levee boards and what
might be expected as a result. affect
ing our plans.
Maj ker said that the State Board
of Engineers had gone on record as
advocating the closure OF the Bayou
Courtableau at its mouth, and the
present work is being done tending to
that end. Navigation cannot be maiL-
tanned between the Courtableau and
the Atchafalaya at all seasons OF the
year, for the reason that the extreme
low water IN the Atchafalaya IS rs
much as ten feet below the crown o!
the bar now formed across the mouth
of the Courtableau. If that bar were
cut out completely the Courtableau
would 20 dry at Washington at times.
The Red River Levee Board is now
the Atchafalaya and it hopes to &C
this year. About two and half miles
more of building will bring the levee
chain to the mouth Of the Courtableau,
to the end of the Red River Levee
District, and to the beginning, or
northern boundary of the Atchafalaya
Levee District TO keep the Courta
blcau open into the Atchafalaya would
necessitate the building Of long line
of levee up both banks Of that stream
20 high land. The benefits are too
questionable to warrant such an out
lay. For these reasons the State
Levee Board has gone on record. ia
voring the building Of the levee right
across the Courtableau on the way
down stream. At the proper time the
State Board will apply to the War De-
partment for the necessary permit,
which. it is thought, will he granted,
as the National Govern
ments supervising engineer in this
district is on record as favOring such
course.
After the 1evee line will have reach
ed the Courtablpau, the work of its
will be taken up by the |
Levee Board, and the |
levee will be built on down the west |
bank in an unbrOken line to point |
opposite Jeanerette, when IL will be
turned westward to high land. The
engineers appreciate the fact that the
building Of such line Of levee will
necessitate the making Of provision
Tor the care of the drainage waters of
he COurtableau, as we'll as those from
hat very large area embraced between
he Courtableau and Jeanerette on
he ends, and between the levee line
Ind the Teche on the other hand. This
AN be accomplished by an opening
INTO the Tcche. 1t was first thought
hat this opc ming could be made we'll
Up the Teche. somewhere in the vici
lity Of Breaux Bridge; but the build
ng of the locks at keystone, to raise
he water level of the upper Teche, /.
NJ to- o1k :.,A | .
riginal plans. Such an outlet must
ONE below the locks. 1t must now
inter- the Teche at some point below
he locks and above the lower end of
he levee Iine-Jeanerette.
The turning Of this drainage water
,to the Teche will very materially
meliorate the present conditions Of
ne Teche, and the greatest benefits
ill come to this stream by the lOca- u
on of that connection as close under
he locks as practicable conditions
ill warrant.
From this statement it may be read
Y inferred that the cutting of the
Quite canal. as New lberians propose, Il
ould interfere with the plans of the Il
wee boards and State Engineers. It
ow looks as though 1t will be the bet
# policy to abide the completion of .
le undertaking of the State and. if &
lis does not provide all the relief o
eeded, then to direct effort along the r
ost promising lines. The next two :
,ars will bring developments which I
i'll make the situation clearer. q
This western levee against the wa Il
RS of the Atchafalaya is demanded X
: the people Of st. Landry and Ibe- =
a parishes. and it promises, not only =
e protection Of improved lands from u
undation by the Atchafalay waters.
It the reclamation of great area OF .