Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1911-08-04
CONGRESSMAN morris Sheppard
WRITES FAVORNC CONTINUING WORK ON TEXAS RVERS-W0Rk
ON DAM AT FOOT OF CADDO LAKE WILL SOON BEGIN AND
EFFECTS TO OPEN WATERWAY TO SHREVEPORT PUSHED.

waterway must be reopened to Shreveport effect
material reduction freight rates. but the dam at the foot
Caddo Lake is valuable not only essential step
that direction but essential step also in the
ervaton of Caddo Lake and the establishment waterway
between Moorngsport and jefferson The tonnage shipped
than million and half dollars in value during the year end
ing June 80 1911, Captain Jacksons report will show
Work on the dam will begin and our efforts reopen
the waterway to Shreveport 20 miles beyond the DAM will
in AS to Red and Sulphur and other Texas
government will continue despite reports We
have had an investigation of upper Red River by special
result the recommendation of enlargement of the
present plant and the expenditure of $50 900
gng and dredging operations This project endorsed
by the Reviewing Washington by Chief of
Engineers and will undoubtedly be carried by Congress
1t is that appropriations such large scale
needed to make Red and Sulphur Rivers permanently nav
gable Small the appropriations in the past have been
they have been confined to snaggng work. On the Red
River such system is employed the Mississippi
is needed including bank protection revertmen mattress
ing wing dams, dredging leyee strengthening, etc On
Sulphur River single lock and dam necessary near
it's mouth in Red River This would make Sulphur perma
neny navgable for river distance of about % miles from
its mouth Aside from the question of navigation and freight
rates. however, dollar that has been expended for
snaggng Red and Sulphur Rivers has been of untold
value The tendency OF these rivers toward gigantic
to adjoining lands from overfows and occasoned APP
paing destruction to property Twice during the last cen
RATS of logs brush etc. from fifty seventy
miles long developed in Red River completely blocking the
channel and rendering the valley unnhababe for miles
If certain that boats again to be
Red River the government would be more than justified in
appoprang for the removal of lessen the damage
recurrence of the destructive Of the last century
Furthermore the clearing of the channel in upper Red
lower In Sulphur River the removal of snags ndispen
sibe to the safe cultivation of the valley To say that if
these rivers made navgabe resulting would
be insufficient is merely the expression of opinion without
basis of facts Until the rivers actually made navgabe
who truthuly they will not be used? am too firm
believer the general and undsputed value of waterways
in the enterprise and energy of the people entertain
rivers really and safely navigabe they will be navgated
The Red River improvement Association organized
in and hoI iprrp
It's general purpose is the restoration of navigation Red
tributaries and the reclamation and develop
of the valleys of these streams The territory involved
amounts to nearly 10000 miles Red River is 1900
miles long and about the third fourth largest tributary
of the MsSpp the has neglected to
such extent that navigation not yet permanently
sible.
- to Cypress River the reopenng the waterway
from Jefferson Shreveport will make Jefferson again the
head of and establish water base for freight
northeast Texas One of the fundamental
needs of north and northeast Texas all of Oklahoma Of
large portion of Arkansas is better and farer rate stand
ard 1t would legitimate saving of millions to the
people, and waterpont anywhere in the section mentioned
would effect the saving The dam at the foot Of Caddo Lake
is only part of the project for the development Of navga
ton from Jefferson to Shreveport The entire project con
ssts of dam tho foot of Caddo Lake lock connection
wththe dam and the widening and deepening of the channel
from the dam to Red River The cost of the entire project
is in the neghborhood of half million dollars one hundred
thousand dollars having already appropriated for the
dam preliminary hearing was held as to the lock and
channel by Capt Shreveport in May this year.
and result of that hearing complete survey has been
ordered Should the result favoraby the entire
ject will be assured If should not result avoraby we
will say again Failure unknown Texas. 1t
shown at the Shreveport hearing that navigation JEFF
would saving Of freight for the territory
within radius of 100 miles of Jefferson million eight
hundred thousand dollars and saving based dis
lance from Jefferson for other sections of Texas The bene
fit to be obtained by this Improvement and the
small in comparison, that it is of
that the government has undertaken it long And
have confronted the past less than five unavor
able reports from the engineers
Let emphasize this fact. In making these unavora-
BILE reports the engineers do claim tina
be made naygabe Let all those who scof any effort
improve and who that nothing
done with this that of peculiar char
acterstics remember this The engineers they do
believe that resulting would Justify the
men in going TO the of making the river navgabe
They led to this by the general public apathy the sub
of The universal awakening people
the value and the necessity of improved waterways would
do to elicit favorable from engineers than any
thing else today.
As for myself, feeling that cheaper transportation
Will contribute perhaps than other agency
10 the comfort the happiness and the prosperity OF the
pie feeling that waterways afford the cheapest of
known 20 feeling that every dollar spent for the
removal OF obstacles in Texas rivers toward the
right result and coners little benefit in the better
drainage and less destructive floods, propose whether
Office out Of Office 10 keep up the hight for improved rv
and better rates a. long have left any strength
Yours very truly
NORRIS SHEPPARD.