The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-03-09
TO REMOVE WATER HYAcINTH
Plan Worked Out by United States
Engineer Office to Eradicate
Pestiferous Plant from Water
ways Of Louisiana-Hsarlna on
Subject March 16.

The Chief is in. receipt of the fol.
lowing communication from Lieuten-
ant Colonel Lansing H. Beach, IN
charge of the United States engl-
neer office at New Orleans:
'"The bayous and canals Of south
arn Louisiana are to this state what
wagon roads and railroads are to
other parts Of the country. They
are the highways of travel and COM
merce, and anything which interferes
with their free use or restricts their
navigable capacity is detriment to
the community and drag upon de-
velopment and prosperity. The eff
feet OF the water hyacinth upon the
free use of these waterways needs
no description, as it is known to
ALL
The work of removing this plant
has been placed in charge OF this
office, but the experience OF sever
al years in destroying this great pest
and INSTRUCTOR has proved beyond
question or doubt that little Derma-
nent improvement in conditions can
be obtained by the United States
working alone as in the past. A
blockaded stream may be relieved
for a year perhaps, in some cases
longer, in others less, but nothing
has been accomplished toward eradi-
eating the plant or preventing its re-
turn, and a careful study of the
problem leads to the conclusion that
permanent results can be secured
only by the cooperation of the par
ish authorities, land owners and bust
| ness interests affected.
| GA plan has been worked out by
| this office which will, it is hoped, do
much toward providing permanent re-
lief. and even if it does not result in
| Graduating the plant, it will, at least,
keep it under such control that 1t
will cease to be the pest it has been
| to this time. This plan requires,
however, the assistance Of all par
| ties concerned, little from each,
not much from any one, and practi-
cally no expenditure of money by pri-
vate parties No money is desired.
.s'To this end youa cordially invited
and earnestly requested TO attend q
meeting at which this subject will
be discussed and definite measures
taken. This meeting will be held at
the United States Engineer Office
room 326, Customhouse, New Orleans
at 10 o'clock a. m. next Saturday
March Is. The work proposed fol
the meeting can be accomplished tina
day, SO that those who desire to re
turn home in the evening can easily
do so.
1T is desired that the meeting be
as representative as possible, and t.
this end you are requested to ex
tend this invitation to any persons
Il or business firms or associations Wit
may be interested and willing to at
I tend. AS it is believed that substan
I tia. good can be accomp lished To-
the entire southern part OF Loulsi
I ana, it is. earnestly hoped, you vii
! he able to be present and give cor
Hal assistance.
! The removal and permanent eradi
cation of the water hyacinth from thu
5ayous and streams Of this section
is a matter of the utmost Importance
. to all our citizens, and it is urge1
that Donaldsonville and Ascension
parish. as well as the entire terri
tory contiguous to Bayou Lafourch
from this city to the gulf, should b.
represented at the hearing to b.
held in Col. Beaeh's office next Sat
!, urday by a large and Influential del
, egation.