The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-03-19


justified in mourning i'll the present TN
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 ALL
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 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
ly problematlcal.
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 lnvlt-
ing the probability of having some four
miles of 1eyee 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 a line of levee
with Twelve Mile bayou open would eff
feet no material benefit to the interests
in question.
Of course if the Board of Commits
sioners of the Caddo Levee District is,
notwithstanding this explanation, insist
ent upon d detail survey of the sltua-
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 a 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 pleasure for us to do So
and you may SO assure the board, TN
less something unforeseen precludine
our doing so intervenes. Yours very
truly, F. NJ. KERR,
Chief State Engineer
On motion of Mr.. Robinson, duly sec.
onded, President S. A. Dickson and &
member to be selected by him, be ap,
pointed a committee Of two to go tc
Washington, D. C., to urge before tht
Secretary of War and the Chief of En-
gineers, early and favorable action upor
i the memorial of the Levee District tc
the Secretary of War under date Of
September ri, 1910, to authorize anc
permit the Levee District to divert the
channel of Twelve Mile bayou in the in
tterest of the extension Of its levee sys-
TEN, from its present lower terrninu:
down to Cross bayou, all as set forth IL
Esaid memorial Carried.
The following resolution was Offered
by Mr.. Robinson:
That the attention of the Board 0:
State Engineers be again called to the
situation on Adger's point, in Bossie
parish; that the board be requested tt
make such examinations and surveys a
may be necessary to determine how Sc
rious the situation there may be, as at
fecting the Caddo levee system, VIVA
remedy should be applied, and requested
, if practicable, to recommend that tn
/ State undertake such work there as MAJ
: be deemed advisable Carried
s On motion of J NJ Robinson, second
i ed by w. B. Means, the following reso
} luton was unanimously adopted
Be it ordained by the Board of Com
niss1oners of the Caddo Levee District
!. III legal session convened, that for tn
purpose of providing a revenue to carr.
out the objects contemplated by Act Nc
!, ~ of the Acts of 1902, and especially il