Tensas gazette., 1915-10-22
PRESIDENTS REPORT.


To the Hon. Members of the Board of
Commissioners for the Fifth Lou
isiana Levee District
Gentlemen:-Acting on the authority
granted me at our April meeting, / ar
ranged loan for ESQ, 600. 00) with the
Merchants National Bank, of Vicksburg
and retired all of the outstanding war
rants against the revenues of 1914.
As the remsining ($70, ,000 0O worth
of the bond issue could not be disposed
of at par now, l borrowed $25, 900. 0O)
from Messrs. Helgason Brothers, and
applied on the amount due the Caddo
Levee Board.
The old contract for cutting and
draining Canal at Kemp Levee. entered
into in 1911, we closed up, having the
contractor cut out some inequalities in
the bottom of this canal, a dam at each
end and paying him for the first exca-
waited. To complete the drainage Of
this levee, the canal should be extended
up to the basin at the sand boils, oppo-
site the piling put in by the Government
last year.
The Government enlargement at
Bunches Bend is about IS per cent COM
pleted. The new contract has been let;
taking in the stretch from O'Possum
Point to Wilson Point.
The work at Bayou Vidal, Carthage
and White Oak Lake has been DELAYED
by high water.
Active caving has been going on at
the lower end Of White Oak Lake-the
Government has this bank included in
its project for revetment this year. so
this will be taken care of as soon as
the river falls sufficiently.
The outlet for drainage canal at
Diamond Island Levee should be in
creased to take care of improved drain
age for this levee that the Government
will provide when it brings this levee
up to the new standard of enlargement.
High water has prevented the repair
Of slides at Reid d-Biggs and Black Hawk.
No more slides have occurred in the
Reid-Biggs Levee.
Have advertised "Weed Cutting"
Bids will be presented for your consider
alton at this meeting.
The State will undertake the en-
largement of the New Salem Loop this
year.
Several minor repairs should be un-
dertaken to improve the condition Of
our levees, such as cutting q ditch to
drain the Green Levee. Cutting the
willows from the BERN on each side of
the B0ugere levee-cutting sprouts and
vines from the land side BERN of the
Reid d-Biggs and Cabin-Teele Levees.
Since making up the foregoing re-
port for last meeting all levee work has
been retarded by the unprecedented
stage of the river-the water not get
ting below II feet on the Vicksburg
gauge during the summer and fall.
This abnormal stage has also delayed
Revetment work. The grading for
revetment at upper end of Hard Times
or opposite White Oak Lake has been
stopped, laying of the mats still contin-
ues.
The continuous bank full stage of the
river for such a length of time has
caused great deal Of caving of bank
this season. Active caving has been
going on at Mascot, Cabin -Teele-th
bend below Duckport-upper end of
Lake Palmyra, White Oak Lake, the
bend above Duckport and above Fair
view. At Reid-Biggs, further erosion
has occurred below the revetment where
the river Is already close to the levee.
This revetment will be extended furth-
er down next year, and the u. S. Third
District will, probably, revet the Mas
cot bend, also. A short loop will soon
be needed at Fairview. While the bank
line at the landing where it is nearest
the river has changed only q feet this
year, considerable caving has taken
place above.
The contract for drainage of canal at
Diamond Island was let to S. X. Jones
at $N. SIC. for 20 foot bottom. had
. bid of $19.H for a 30 foot bottom
canal; but as the diferenee .e enc e. in yardage
in cost, / accepted the bid for 20 foot
bottom. Have cut and repaired the
slide in levee below Black Hawk. The
water has not yet been low enough to
cut out those at Reid Biggs.
Respectfully submitted,
E. c. RHODES. Pres.