Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-10-16
engineers REPORT NOT
final SAYS SHEPPARD

Senator Sheppard today made
the following statement regard
ing the j @ II erson- Shreveport
Observation-Disclosures, d. &.
October 9, 1913.
The recent unfavorable report
by the L. S. Engineers on the
Jefferson Shreveport waterway
is in no sense final determine
ton of the matter. 1t is a report
in response to a survey obtained
at my instance to ascertain the
practicability of connecting this
waterway with Red River by way
Of Cross Bayou and along the
line of the proposed drainage
canal of the Caddo Levee Board.
| secured this survey after con
versing with members of the
Caddo Levee Board about three
years ago when the Red River
Improvement Association met
in Sherman, Texas, in the hope
that solution satisfactory to all
concerned could be reached.
The report develops the fact that
the government considers the
channel by way of Cross Bayou
too high. The estimate of the
cost varies from one million to
two millions dollars, in approx
mate numbers, according to the
period Of navigation in view 1t
is instructive to note, however,
that the report is based entirely
on its estimate of the direct
benefit to commerce which would
result from the proposed water
way as a means of tranSporta
ton, and not upon such indirect
benefits as might result from
its effect in controlling railroad
freight rates. In other words,
the report does not take into
consideration the principal bene-
| II which would result from this
Improvement and which has
been one of the fundamental OBJ
jects Of its advocates, namely,
the regulation Of freight rates
for large section of our coun-
try, involving a saving Of nearly
two millions Of dollars annually.
The report Immediately pre-
ceding the present report had
reference to a channel from
Caddo Lake to Red River by
way Of Twelve Mile Bayou and
estimated the cost at 1928, 600.
The examining engineer recon-
mend the Improvement, but the
reviewing board took a adverse
view, which | think may be over.
come on further presentation Of
the case.
The Caddo Levee Board OBJ
tanned permissi on veral
months ago to close Twelve Mile
Bayou at point near its mouth
in Red River on condition that it
would put the channel by way Of
Cross Bayou in such condition
that it would provide at least
four foot navigation when Red
river is at stage of ) feet on
the Shreveport gauge, and on
condition that all distractions to
navigation would be removed.
The board is given three years
in which to accept these condi
tons. If the Board will accepts
these conditions and construct
the channel, | am confident that
by the time of its completion
conditions will have so changed
that another examination by the
government will result favorably
If the Caddo Levee Board
does not accept these conditions,
! the advocates of the Jefferson.
Shreveport waterway will again
take up the Twelve Mile
channel, with bright prospects
| of ultimate success.
believe that negotiations
could advantageouSly be opened
between the Caddo Levee Board
and those Interested in this wa
terway. | am keenly alive to
the necessity of taking some
steps to save a large and fertile
territory i'm Caddo Parish from
overflow, and | believe that a
mutually advantageous arrange.
ment may yet be made. The
advocates of this waterway can