The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-07-31
FUNDS FOR LAF0URCHE LOCK
Method Pointed Out by Which Construction Can be Fl
nanced-Present Expenditures Bayou Waste of
Peoples Money Governor Halls Course in Premises
Clearly Defined.
Editorial in Times -Picayunre. July 2l.

The meeting at DonaldsonvilIe of
the two leyee boards, the Atchafalaya
and the Lafourche boards, to consider
the construction of d lock at the juno
&c Ton of the Lafourche and the Missis-
sippi to take the place of the present
dam, and thereby open the bayou to
navigation, left the question in the
same unsettled condition it has been
for the last ten years; and with very
little progress toward its solution. The
two levee boards disagreed as former
ly, one favoring the resolutions cali
ing for the innae edlate construction of
the lock, the other voting against it;
and, as a consequence of the tie, the
whole matter goes before the COVER
nor for his decision.
1t cannot be said, however, that
the meeting was q complete failure,
for while little progress was made to-
ward getting the lock, a great deal of
misunderstanding was brushed away.
The delegation of citizens from the
Lafourche basin, some two hundred in
number, presented their demands
earnestly and vigorously. They dis
posed entirely Of the absurd story
that they wanted the dam removed,
even if they did not get a locka
story that should never have been
credited by any sane person, as they
would be the worst victims of such
an engineering folly as turning the
floods of the Mississippi down on
themselves in the event of high water.
The matter of cost was also dis
posed of. It had been figured very
high by those who opposed the Dom
aldsonyille lock because of the cost of
the Plaquenine one, where conditions
are entirely different. It was finally
agreed to. accept the federal estimate
that the cost would not be in excess Of
$500, 900.
The Atehafalay "a basin levee board,
from which nearly all the opposition
has come, frankly acknowledged that
the boards are legally and moral
" obligated to construct the lock and
it asked only for time, declaring it
did not have the money now or in
sight to do it's share of the work. 1t
was finally decided to approve the lock
plans; and that each levee board set
aside $50Ga,a year ssra its share Of
the work. the United States to give
half Of the total cost, or $3.50 900,
and the levee boards to divide the
other half between ahem. These prop
positions met with unanimous ap-
prevail With a contribution annually
of only 500 promised, it would
take many years to complete the lock;
and it is not to be imagined that either
the federal gOvsrnrnent Or the resi-
dents I'LL the EssI u reae basin would
think OF waiting SO long.
In the tie between the two boards,
the casting vote rests with Governor
Hall; and the question will be put up
to him and presented in the strongest
manner possible by the people of the
Lafourche; but they must realize that
the outlook is not promising. No one
realizes more than the governor the
financial situation as regards the
state, its by<ards and IS institutions,
and the difficulty Of providing the
money to carry out many great and
even needed improvements. We can
not but regard it as very doubtful
whether the governor will order the
Atchafalaya board, IN the face Of Its
declaration that there are no funds
available for this work, to build the
lock at once with or without money
Yet we cannot go on trifling in
this way forever. Not the levee
boards alone, but the state is under
pledge and promise to restore the La.
fourche to navigation; and the fedora
government is not likely to grant
further delays, especially when nc
progress is being made toward carry
ing out its pledges, nor any disposi
tion shown to do SO.
The people who suffer from thei,
broken promises deserve and enjoy
the sympathy and good will of ths
rest Of the state; and if they car
suggest any plan by which the money
needed for the lock can be raised, pub
lie opinion will force its adoption
Louisiana levee boards cannot close
navigable streams permanently, ant
the state or its subdivisions or board
Icannot break faith without causing
discredit and injury. The Lafourch'
llock has become state question ant
the people call for its prompt and sat
isfactory settlement.