The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-01-10
GOING AFTER LOCKS.
Chamber of Commerce and Congress-
man Morgan !naugurate Strong
Movement to Have Bayou La
fourche Reopened to Navigation.

man Morgan !naugurate Strong
Movement to Have Bayou La
fourche Reopened to Navigation.
The following correspondence.
which is self-explanatory, will be OF
interest to many of our readers:
Donaldsonville, La, Dec. 26, 1918.
Hon. Lewis l.. Morgan, Washington,
d. G.
Dear Strive note that in de-
1ston handed down by the supreme
ourt of Louisiana June 22, 1908,
versing the judgment of the dis
act court which granted an in
function against the Lafourche LeVee
Board, restraining them from build
ing a dam at the head of Bayou La
fourche. Justice Breaux cites the ac-
ION which congress took in 1902, as
sllows: ..s
s"The rivers and harbors bill, ap-
poved June 13, 1902, sets forth that
ck and dam may be constructed by
g Atchafalaya and the Lafourche
usasin Levee Boards of the state O.
Louisiana, to be paid for by these
boards jointly as provided for by the
act to which we referred above. The
works are to be subject to the SUI
pervision of the United States en-
gineers, and the work is to be done
in accordance with the plans and spe-
q cifications of these boards, and is to
3 be approved by the Secretary Of
War.
'The Secretary of War, If in his
judgment the United States will not
be prejudiced thereby, is authorized
to grant permission to these boards
to place a temporary dam across the
Bayou Lafourche, and to maintain
the temporary dam for a period not
exceeding two years and six months
from the date the act was adopted in
1902; and the act further provides
that, before beginning the construc-
tion of this dam, the boards are to
bind themselves as set forth in the
act.
''The Secretary of War gave his ap
proNal to the levee boards to place
a temporary dam across the Bayou
Lafourche.
Thereafter, in July 1902, the gen.
eral assembly passed a second act.
supplemental of the act of 1900, au-
thorizing these boards to place a
temporary dam at the head of Bayou
Lafourche.
A Further on, Justice Breaux COM
Aments as follows:
THE laws of the general govern
tnent upon the subject are permissive.
Is left to the state, through the
sVee boards, to execute them.
1t Is in the nature of an obligation
on the part Of these levee boards to
properly carry out the permissive
grants Of the general government"
IN this connection, We should thank
you TO send us several copies of the
rivers and harbors bill of 1902. refer
red to above.
Trusting you will not relax your
efforts to secure favorable action by
the federal government, We are.
Yours very truly,
DONALDSONVILLE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.,
R. S. VICKERs, Secretary.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 20, 1913.
Honorable Walter Lemanu. Mavor,
DonaldsonVille, La.
Dear Mr.. Lemann:-After I com.
Meted my bill for the construction OF
iocks across Bayou Lafourche at its
junction with the Mississippi river
carrying an appropriation Of three
aundred thousand dollars. wired
ooth you and Mr.. Vickers that il
would be introduced the moment con
gress convened.
Immediately thereafter, armed
myself with copies OF these docu
ments and proceeded to the war de
partment, there giving Major Taylor
resume Of the facts leading up tx
the construction of the temporary
Gam, and the stipulations aud GOV
enants made by the Atchafalaya ant
Lafourehe Basin LeVee Boards. al
OF which was sanctioned and author
azed by the federal government,
especially invited his attention IL
80 the fact that before the secretar,
. OF War would authorize the leye
boards to construct such temporar,