The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-12-28
HOW ABOUT THE LOCKS?

From an editorial in a recent issue
Of the Napoleonville Pioneer on the
subject of the intercoastal canal
and particularly. referring to the sug-
gestion of the Lake Charles AMeri-
can-Prsss that New Orleans might
secure the eastern terminus. Of the
new waterway by purchasing either
the Barrow canal at WestWego Or the
Harvey canal at Harvey-the follow
ing is quoted:
This same micronesia canal
when originally surveyed, and from
the last maps Of the route OF the
United States government, runs from
Brownsville, Tex, to DonaldsonVllle,
thus connecting the Rio Grande ana
the Mississippi rivers. On account CT
the danlming of Bayou Lafourche at
Donaldsonvilie there has been serious
talk Of diverting the route through
the canals mentioned by the Ameri-
can-Press. It seems almost a joke
to speak of locks in Bayou Lafourcile
at DonaIsisonville, because just now
The contract for strengthening the
dam at Donaldsonyille is about to be
let. But nevertheless, the logical
route Of the intercoastal canal IS
through Lake Verret and Bayou La
fourche to DonaldsonVille, and all
chat is needed to complete the route
in this. section are the locks. We
have first-elass water connections
from Bayou Lafourche to Morgan
City, and if we could get the solid
support Of New Orleans, together
with strong pull from every citizen
of Ascension and Assumption, who
Knows but we might land the locks.
And why shouldn't eve land the
Iocks?''
By every consideration of justice
and morality, of law and equity,
these locks should be constructed.
Permission to temporarily close Ba-
you Lafollrche at DonaldsonVille, as a
measure Of protection to the La
fourehe valley from the annually
threatened foundations, was obtained
press agreement and contract that
locks should be provided within
specified term of years SO as TO
restore the connection between the
bayou and the Mississippi river and
thus rehabilitate the impaired status
of the bayou as a navigable stream.
The act of congress authorizing the
Atchafa1aya and Lafourche leyee
boards to build the dam specifically
called for the building of locks to
replace the dam, according to plans
which should meet the approval of
the secretary OF war.
The leyee boards have. made some
pretense of complying with their con-
tract by preparing plans and calling
for bids couple of times, but the
lowest of the proposals received in
yolyed a larger obligation of ex-
penditure than the boards felt able
to assume, and so the matter has
been allowed to remain dormant for
several years.
Now is a good time to stir it up
again, and the newly constituted La
fourcfe leVee board can render no
better service to its constituency in
Ascension, Assumption and Lafourche
parishes than by taking up the lock
question forthwith and making a de-
termined effort to have the pledge OF
its predecessor in conjunction with
the Atehafalaya 1evee board fulfilled.
If the task Of constructing the locks
is beyond the means Of these boards,
a well-directed application to the fed
eral congress for aid would in all
probability meet with success.
We have new congressman in the
person of Mr.. Morgan who seems anx-
ious to signalize the beginning of his
service at Washington by obtaining
substantial recognition of the needs
of his district ongressmen Brous-
5sard and Ransdell both have special
reason to feel kindly toward the peo-
pie of this section and can undoubt-
edly be relied on to give US their as
sistance in this matter. Therefore,
let us bestir ourselves and get the
locks and the intercoastal canal