The Madison journal., 1916-04-29


TO the Honorable Members OF the Fifth
Louisiana Levee Board
Gentlemen:-In the past NINETY davs
We have Set n the highest water Of
record against our levees, which culml-
mated in 4 break at Limerick Planta-
ton in TenSas parish.
During thls unprecedented strain
against oar levces, we had many places
develop weaknesses that would have
caused break had they not received
! prompt attention. A system of guard
ing the line was established as soon as
the river reached food stage, - the
number of guards being increased as
/ the river rose. During the critical
stage every mile of the levee was in
spected each hour Of the cay and night;
every development was reported and
received immediate attention fr0m our
| local member and the Government engi-
neerS.
In our district we have less than ten
mics Cf levee up to a grade and section
cCnteE plated. With $50 miles of levee
/ incomplete and a stl ain of Is inches
more OF water than ever known before
against them, the failure OF less than
half d NIL u the 24O in our line, would
indicate that leveeS properly construct
I'd and carefully guarded will protect
ds against floods.
It's a notable fact that the evees now
up to commission grade gave US no
/ troutl4 and stood the test perfectly.
fnat no more brakes OccGrred was due
% Careful guaruing, thanks are due to
ne Government through the Mississippi
River Commission, MaJcrS S!attery and
Gapies and their Junior Fns!ne erS, in
the field 70" their valuable services and
the cooperation Of the State Engineers
with our local Board. rendering mvhiu-
able assistance during this great 1ight
Each member of the Board sacrificed
( his business interests and devoted hIs
entire time to ievee duties. And eSpe-
clally are thanks due the planters III
our district for their hearty cU-pprration
, with our local members. giving personal
attention to the levees along their
fronts and getting labor together az the
call OF the local members.
The break at Limerick was probably
due to defective foundation that could
not stand the strain put against il by
the great pressure of water These
! weaknesses will in a great measure be
overcome with the increase section of
our new levees that cover more ground.
thereby offering greater resistance to
the water pressure. From what
know OF the levee and the develop
ments, no blame can be attached TO the
guards.
Then the following emergencies have
shown up: lst, the closing of the break
at Limerick; the Government took
charge of thiS-moved four large ma
chimes on the work a. soon as the water
had fallen stiff ,ientlv to get them on
the grouni-and have a temporary levee
now cons tructed sufficient to keep out
the water in sight. which with the force
at hand they can increase to meet any
emergency, While Major Caples would
ordinarily have sent only one Of his
large machines to place the quantity of
dirt needed to build this levee, the wis
dom Of having assigned Sour to this task
Is shown by the eany r.Se winch would
have put more water through the break
Ind. A failure Of a portion Of the re-
vetment at Sycamore neceSsitated a
new loop which the state undertook and
with characteristic promptness had
force of two Quarter Boats of convicts
on the work in a few days after the
slough was discovered.
3rd. A flanking of the revetment at
Claggetta will require a new levee. con-
tanning from 100 to $50 thousand cubic
yards. A week ago with the cave
coming t. within q feet Of the base of
the levee. this looked like it would be
an emergency that wonld have 10 be
met at once. s. we advertised for bids
to be submitted at this meeting Of the
Board. At this Gate with possibly not
more than tt feet on the Nlcksburg
guage in sight. will give Us ample time
to advertise this work in the regular
manner.
4th. At Fairview where the con-
structiOn of new levee is under wav.
and work has been delayed on account
of bacY water. short emergency loop
will be put as soon as the present hne
is IN danger Of being preached by cav
ing bank during this rise; this will be
inexpensive though, as it will be only
100 feet long and will only have to be
brought up to height of 5 feet to bring
it at o!e water in sight.
The following weaknesses were de- T!
veloped by the recent high water and !
should be corrected as soon as possible: !
Sand boils at Hicks Slough; about ten
Stations at Elton Slough should be en-
larged; sand boils at Ho,IvbrooL.