The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-03-15

certain aspect OF the proposition.
The uncertainty to which reference
is had may be summed up in the follow
ing facts, viz:
First--The closure of Twelve Mile
bayou can not be considered until au-
thorized BY the United States Govern
ment.
Second-The opposition that it must
be recognized will be maintained by the
promoters of the project to establish
navigation between Jefferson, Texas,
and Shreveport, La.
Third-The fact that the channel pro-
posed to be substituted for Twelve Mile
bayou, for drainage purposes, will not
satisfy the requirements of a channel
for navigation, even equal to that which
now maintains in Twelve Mile bayou.
Fourth-The ability and authority of
the Caddo Levee District to meet the
cost of the proposition, without co-ope
ration from local interests, the railroads,
the United States, etc, all of which lat
ter must, at best, be recognized as large
| ~ predetermined.
There is one view of the proposition
that the board must first and last always
recognize: That the closure of Twelve
Mile bayou, in advance of the compile
ton of the channel designed to take its
place and perform its offices, can not
under any circumstances be considered.
Next to this, it should not be overlooked
that to construct the extension with the
exception of Twelve Mile bayou, that
is, leaving Twelve Mile bayou open,
pending authority, arrangements, devel
opments, etc, as has been suggested by
some parties at interest, would be invit-
ing the probability of having some four
miles of levee line left on the hands of
the district that would serve little or no
material purpose The basin above
Shreveport, fed by back water from Red
river, receives the bulk of the volume of
water so overlooking it, through Twelve
Mile bayou and Cross bayou, before the
stage of water in Red river becomes
high enough TO overflow the banks of
Red river, and it is, therefore, already
practically submerged to its full extent
before that time. Thus line of 1evee
with Twelve Mile bayou open would eff
feet no material benefit to the interests
i'll question.
Of course, if the Board of Commits
sioners of the Caddo Levee District is,
Notwithstanding this explanation, insist
emf upon detail survey of the situa-
ton, at its own expense, the Board of
State Engineers will as promptly as so
advised, put party in the field to that
end
In regard to Mr. Lombard and | GO
ing to Shreveport day or SO previous
to the meeting of the board, on the 18th
of March, to confer with the members
of the board and parties in interest, and
to remain over for the meeting, it will,
of course, be a pleasure for us to do so,
and you may so assure the board, I'M
less something unforeseen precluding
our doing SO intervenes. Yours very
truly, +. NJ. KERR,
Chief State Engineer.
On motion of Mr. Robinson, duly Sec
onded, President S. A. Dickson and a |
member to be selected by him, be APP
pointed a committee OF two to go to
Washington, D. c., to urge before the
Secretary of War and the Chief of En-
gineers, early and favorable action upon
the memorial of the Levee District to |
the Secretary of War under date of |
September ri, 1870 to authorize and
permit the Levee District to divert the |
channel of Twelve Mile bayou in the in
terest of the extension of its levee sys-
TEN, from its present lower terminus
down to Cross bayou, all as set forth in |
said memorial Carried
The following resolution was offered |
by Mr.. Robinson:
That the attention of the Board of |
State Engineers be again called to the
situation on Adger's point, in Bossier
parish; that the board be requested to
make such examinations and surveys as
may be necessary to determine how Sc
rious the situation there may be. as af-
fecting the Caddo levee system, what
remedy should be applied, and requested,
II practicable, to recommend that the
State undertake such work there as may
be deemed advisable Carried.
On motion of J. NJ. Robinson, second
ed by w. B. Means, the following reso-
luton was unanimously adopted:
Be it ordained by the Board of Com
missioners of the Caddo Levee District,
IN legal session convened, that for the
purpose of providing a revenue to carry
out the objects contemplated by Act No.
"a of the Acts of 1892, and especially in
accordance with Section s of said Act,
1 tax is hereby levied for the wear IoII