Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-02-28
THE la F0UUcHE DRAINAGE CONGRESS
At MONROE.

The La Fourche Drainage Con-
ference attracted to Monroe We'd
nesday February 18th, more than
a hundred residents of Richland,
Morehouse, Caldwell and Ouachita
Parishes, who came to discuss plans
to drain 100000 acres of rich allu-
vial land, now worthless, and con-
vert it into a rich agricultural do
main. Large delegations were pres
ent from Rayville, Bastrop, Mer
Rouge, Oak Ridge and Columbia.
besides many men of prominence
from a distance.
Chief among the visitors from a
distance was Edmund T. Perkins of
Chicago, Acting President of the
National Drainage Congress. Other
visitors Of prominence were Major
Frank M. Kerr, Chief of the State
Board of Engineers; Captain H. NJ +.
Marshall, Assistant United States
Engineer, Vicksburg; Dan Jacobs,
Assistant General Freight Agent OF
the Iron Mountain at Alexandria;
]. F. Morgan, Memphis, Tenn. ;
John G. Foster, Crystal Springs
Miss; w. M. Neptune, Assistant
Engineer, Missouri Pacific, St.
Louis; c. H. Miller, Engineer,
Little Rock, Arkansas; Frank Saun.
ders, Commercial Agent of the v
S. q p, Shreveport; Senator w. T
Barham, Oak Ridge; Senator Geo
w. Smith, Rayville; Senator T. l.
Hood, West Monroe and Mayor Al
ford of Columbia, Louisiana.
The first session of the Conference
was held in the City Hall at tire,
o'clock in the afternoon. Charles
Titche, President of the Monro,
Chamber of Commerce, under who's,
auspices the meeting was held, pre-
sided. Mr.. Titche welcomed the Wis
itors and explained the object of tn,
Conference. Senator George w
Smith responded and gave the prop
osition his unqualified endorse
ment and stated he would use hi
endeavors to promote the plan
Captain H. M. Marshall, Majo
Frank M. Kerr and r. l.. Morris
former Lewiston Engineer of th,
Iron Mountain, spoke on the prop
Osition from an engineering stand
point. All agreed that few diff
culties are in the way of complet,
accomplishment of the plan. Levee
will have to be built at the uppe
end to prevent water from running
out Of Bouef River in the four par
ishes interested; canal following
Bayou La Fourche, with four latter
ais to Monroe, Girard, Bosco an,
Windsor, would solve the drainage
The probable cost to bring abou
the reclamation of this vast area @
: rich alluvial lands was fixed at be
tween $3.50, 900 and 100000.
Brief talks were made by C. P
Balfour, President of Richland Pc
lice Jury; Capt. L. N. Polk, Pres
ident, Morehouse Police Jury; ]. S
Role, Oak Ridge and Mayor Alfor
of Columbia. At the night session
held in the City Hall, the princips
addresses were delivered by E. I
Perkins, of Chicago, who discusse
the subject OF drainage from a broa
plane and told of the benefit derive
from it; d. K. King, Industrii
Commissioner, Iron Mountain Raj
way, St. Louis, and T. F. Flournoy
President of the Ouachita Nation;
Bank, Monroe, La.
A Committee composed of twent
one of the leading business men an
property owners; six to be selecte
from Ouachita, five from Morehous,
five from Richland and five fror
Caldwell, were appointed by ii
Convention to meet at an earl
date and arrange plans, etc. relatiV
to the carrying out of this vast vi
dertaking. The Conference W;
concluded by a luncheon at IL
Elks Club in honor of the many vi
itors present.
LUTHER ELLISON, Sec'y.