New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-04-22
BAYOU COURTABLEAU DAM
PLAN MAY BE ABANDON
ED BY GOVERNMENT

ihen' proposition to build "a dam
across Bayou at Port Barre. the
ConrtabIeau at Port Bara. lhp
plan will 90 like a Judgment by
default, and with it the plans
OF the Atchafalaya Basin Levee
District This was the unduaIi-
He'd statement made yesterday by
j. j. Burdin. Of ST. Martinville.
lie was a guest at the Montcleonp.
SO utterly dumfounded was
Mr.. Burdln when he obtained the
information that he could hardly
understand the full import. He
sought a conference with Cover
nor Sanders. but the governor had
Left New Orleans. lie could not
talk with Major Kerr, chief Of the
State Board Of Engineers, because
he is in Washington City on bus
mess. Mr.. Burdin SAYS that the
building of the proposed levees
along the Atchafalaya and the
opening up Of Bayou Teche for
navigation further than Arnaud-
vile have vanished for hong
period of time unless prompt ac-
ton is taken.
The very fact of the matter is
that Mr.. Burdin obtained his in
formation from Colonel Beach. of
the United States Engineers.
cit has been the topic of con
versation of every man. woman
and child in the district" said
Mr.. Burdin. "that reclamation
plans would be realized by the
building Of levee system next
the Atchafalaya River to protect
the Teche country.
"The levee system is now built
few miles from the mouth of
Bayou Courtableau. and cannot be
built further than the mouth. AS
long as Bayou Courtableau re
mains open the comprehensive
system of levees outlined by the
governor and surveyed by the
State Board of Engineers. will be
delayd indfinitly, unlss tn po----
delayed indefinitely. unless the
people of the Teche country re
.alize. the great Importance of the
closing of Bayou Courtablean |
which is the KEY to the reclama-
ton of at least 100000 acres of
the best lands in the State of LOU
isiana.
"Tn nutshell, the protest
against the proposition is in st.
Landry Parish. It is claimed that
the damming of Bayou Courta-
bleau would affect the Union IT.
rigation Company. of st. Landry.
It is their contention that they
would not obtain sufficient water
for the irrigation purposes out
lined by the canal.
"Colonel Lansing II. Beach
told me that the damming OF
will really beneflt the
canal instead of hamparing 1t.
as no one lately in the
Teche district has taken interes'
in the closing of Bayou Courta-
bleau and the further develop
ment of Bayou Teche, Colonel
Beach said that in his report to
he will point out
that it is useless to force an I'M
,rovement on a people when they
10 not appear to want it.
"Hc said further that there are
MANY streams which are in need
IF Improvement. and that he Will
recommend the present PROJECT ne
and recommend ap-
where the people
want the improvements.
"The land embraced in the un.
on Irrigation Canal Company, OF
It. Landry. according to the
claim of the company, Is about
| 100000 acres. With the clos
NC of Bayou Courtableau the
canal Company can get all OF the
water it needs from Bayou Court
lbleau.
az make this statement because
Colonel Beach advised me that he
,ad made this assertion to the
people of st. Landry.
"The land embraced and al
'ected bv reclamation west OF the
Atchafalaya River is about
, 100000 acres.
"If action is not taken at once
% prevail on the people of st.
Landry and persuade them they
ire in error and get their co-ope- |
,ation and support. Colonel Beach
will make his unfavorable report
o Washington. and at least fif-
,een years will elapse before a
similar opportunity to close ia
,ou Courtbleu will present itself
"I do hone that the people IN
he Teche district will awake and
axe this matter.in hand before It
$ too late and not remain qulet
md let their lands remain under
water to raise catfish and frogs.
Iow is the time for action.
Mr.. Burdin is the. senior mem
,er of the lumber firm of j. j,
,mdin & Bro. at st. Martin
lille He was hopeful last. night
hat all difference of opinion may
- settled so that the proposed
|am for Ravou Courtableau at