The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-03-04
THE BAYOU MANCHAc BRIDGE.
Wen-known Citizen counsels Against
Movement for Stationary Structure

The Chief takes pleasure in giving
space to the following communication
from Gen. A B. Booth, the founder
of Hope Villa and still an owner of
property in that locality, and we COM
mend to the consideration of all who
are interested in the subject the
seemingly conclusive reasons urged
by Gen. Booth why the movement for
the building of a stationary bridge
across Bayou Manchac is unWise and
why draWbridge should be secured
instead. According to the showing
made by our correspondent it will be
easier to get the better kind of bridge
than the other, and unless this state
ment can be controverted there would
seem to be no room for two opinions,
as to the best course to be pursued IN
the premises. Gen. Booth says:
New Orleans, La, Feb. Is, 1916.
Editor DonaIdsonvilIe Chief
"Dear Sir:-I note by publication
in the New Orleans papers that a
number of citizens at Hope Villa, La,
have petitioned the United States
government for permission to build a
stationary bridge across Bayou Man
chac at Hope Villa. As one inter
.ested in property at that point, | be-
lieve this would be mistake, and
believe those really interested in
property and navigation there will
agree with me.
1.-The United States government
ruled, in 1906, and again in 1916
when our state highway department
had the matter up, that stationary
bridge would not be permitted. Ba-#
you Manchae is navigable for some
miles above Hope Villa, even beyond
where the L., r. & N. railroad crosses
the bayou, and this railroad will final
ly be compelled to put in draw
bridge. 4 believe the road is now IN
court on the proposition. The day
must come when Bayou Manchac will
be dredged out and opened again into
the Mississippi river by means Of
locks, making another outlet for Ba-
ton Rouge commerce through the
Amite river and the lakes to the Gulf
coast and Mobile. And this, by con-
nection with the Plaquemine locks,
would give us commercial water
way clear to Brownsville, Texas.
ssThe state highway department is
now ready to join with the parishes Of
East Baton Rouge and Ascension IN
building a drawbridge over Bayou
Manchac at Hope Villa, and has Of
fered to pay one-third Of the cost,
leaving only one-third each for the
parishes. This offer should be ac-#
cepted speedily, SO as to put us IN a
position to secure the passage OF the
Jefferson highway through Baton
Rouge to New Orleans via Hope Villa,
the shortest and most practicable
route. The people should get to-
gether on this matter and have the
police juries of the two parishes ac-
cept the state highway departme
so as not to lose this op-
portunity for this year, because ! UNI
derstand that il not accepted prompt
", the funds now available for this
work will have to be used elsewhere,
causing much delay. It is a great
mistake to now go against the ruling
OF the government and try to get q
stationary bridge, which is only cal
culated to delay this important mat
ter, without results. &c the state |
highway departm ent's proposition is
accepted, and the jefferson highway
route ii established there & road
will be maintained always lthout {
any cost to- our tax pays rs.
Yours truly,
b. BOOTH. Il