The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-07-26


This resolution, identical to one
offered at the last semi-annual meet
ing Of the boards, and which was
voted down at that time, precipltat-
ed a spicy discussion and finally met
the same fate as the one previously
submitted.
Mr.. Lemann in his remarks re-
ferred to the moral and legal obi
CATION resting upon the boards to
construct the locks in Bayou La
fourche. Mr.. Wilkinson, who open
ed the debate on the resolution,
said that even a greater moral and
legal obligation rested upon. the
boards to furnish adequate leVee pro-
lection to the people residing in the
parishes under their jurisdiction. He
declared that for every one man de-
handing locks in Bayou Lafourche,
one hundred could be found asking
for better levee protection.
Mr.. Perez said the two boards are
in no position at this time to UNI
dertake the construction Of locks,
and he deprecated the agitation of
the subject, which he said might di-
rect the attention of congress to the
matter, resulting in legislation com
polling the construction of the locks
at once.
It seemed to be the attitude Of GER
tain Of the commissioners participat'
ing in the debate that consideration
l-.S Sc vv
that the entire matter should be per.
mitted to sleep" as one member
phrased it, lest congress take a hand
in the proceedings and order the
boards to construct the locks in
stanter, as per their promise# to the
people and their legal obligaWon to
the state and national governments,
Mr.. Leblanc wanted to know, ii
plans for the locks were furnished,
what practical solution could be sug.
gested Of the problem of finap6lng
their construction, without jeopardiz
| ing other interests Of the two boards.
Charles Maurin, formerly mayor OF
Donaldsonville, asked permission TIC
address the meeting, and pointed out
| that it had been stated that consid-
cradle sums were being expeNded an.
nually in keeping Bayou L4fourche
navigable. He asked, il this is true,
wouldn't it be a good business prop
osition to build the locks and avoid
this recurrent expense.
Mr.. Wilkinson replied that in Ba-
you P1aquemine and Company Canal,
which are connected with the river
by locks, dredges are operated con-
stantly to maintain sufficient depth
of water in the streams to per-
nit navigation. He protested yehe-
mently that leyee protection was the
first duty of the levee boards, and
that the construction of locks could
well wait until more propitious
time
After a long discussion, vote was
taken on Mr.. Wilkinsons motion to
table Mr.. Lemann's resolution, re-
sulting in its adoption by a vote Of
seven to two in the Lafourche board,
and a unanimous vote in the Atcha-
falaya board. The only commission
bic were Messrs. Martin and Lemann
Mr.. Martin, as chairman of the ex-
eeutive committee of the joint or
ganization, reported that for the past
three weeks he has had fifteen men,
at a cost of $3.50 per day each, and
one boat, costing 81 per day, at work
removing water hyacinths from Ba-
you Lafourche in its lower extremity,
and that during this period twelve
!, ali
said the obnoxious plants enter the
bayou through the Harang and Lock-
port canals, and that. he had asked
the boards legal adviser, District At
torney Philip Gilbert, of Napoleon
vile, what action could be taken to
compel the owners Of these canals to
remedy this condition. In accordance
with the provisions OF a resolution
previously adopted by the boards,
Mr.. Gilbert advised that ten days
ndtice be given the owners of the
two canals to make proper provision
for keeping the lilies out Of the ba-
you, by meNas of booms, and that if
they fail to comply with the instruc-
tons, dredgeboat be ordered to
proceed to the canals and dam them
without further delay. This advice
was concurred I'M by the boards, and
Mr.. Martin will act upon it at once.
John A. Fox, president of the
Mississippi River Levee Association,
addressed the boards on the work
of that organization.
Teachers Examinations.
Notice is hereby given that the
regular examinations for white