Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-04-28

Claggett will require a new levee, con
tanning from 100 to 100 thousand cub,
yards. a week ago with the cave coming
to within II feet OF the base of the levee
this looked like it would he an emergency
that would have to he met at once, 20 w
advertised for bids 10 he submitted al
this meeting OF the Board. NJ this date
with possibly not more than Al feet or
the Nicksburg gauge in sight, will give u.
regular manner.
18th. At Fairview, where the construc-
ton of new levee is under way and
work has been delayed on account oi
back water, short emergency loop will
he put as the present line is in danger OF
being preached by caving bank during
this rise, this will he inexpensive though,
as it will be only 100 feet long and will
only have to be brought up to to height
of feet to bring it above water in sight
/ The following weaknesses were dcvel-
/ oped 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 enlarged. Sand
boils at Hollybrook. Search ditch and
banguette on river side, about two sta
tons, at Henderson, all in East Carroll
parish. Wave wash should be restored at
Mascot, bad seipage at Villa Vista, will
require few stations enlargement, wave
wash on new Cabin Teele loop should be
restored, five large sloughs have occurred
since the water went down in the Reid
Biggs levee, these should be removed, re-
filled and river side banquette placed
along the base of about 20 stations of this
levee to prevent recurrence Of this
trouble. The proposed Government ell.
largement will take care of the lower
portion OF Madison parish.
A very dangerous situation has devel-
oped in the old levee between Ashwood
and WOODBURY.. This will be cared for in
the extended Government enlargement
this year. There is very bad wave wash
in new leyee at upper Hard Times that
should be restored, sand boils at Claggette,
a sub-levee should be built at Kemp and
Arcola to remedy serious sand boils and
drainage canal extended up to the. points
at kemps, where bad sand boils exist,
to drain that basin. The slides at Kemp
should be cut out and restored. This in
Tensas parish, small slides at Grassmere
and Warnicut should be cut out and re-
stored, in Concordia.
The following levees should be enlarged
Wilton, lower Miliken Bend to Cabin
Teele, Sparta Front from lower end Of
new loop at Duckport down to upper end
of Garbish enlargement. From Lawrence
enlargement back of Winter Quarters.
around Botany Bay to Bondurants.
To facilitate the work during high
water, we should have telephone line
constructed along the levee with booths
at convenient points and riding guards
equipped with portable instruments that
they could connect at any point that they
might call for assistance in time Of
danger, or give valuable information
without unnecessary delay.
Every high water fight is expensive and
we all know that scarcely five per cent of
the money expended is OF lasting benefit
to the levees. Our hopes OF reduction
of this expenditure is based on our faith
in our National Government making all
ample appropriation, which together
with what We are able to contribute will
bring our levees up to new commission
grade in the next five years, which will
reduce our high water expenses to patroll-
ing
| herewith submit a synopsis of the
approximate expenses of the last high
water:
East Carroll par. 50 miles, Sl9,994.62
Madison parish, 80 =" 9,453.73
Tensass 4" 81 l.l57.S4
Concordia " Sc L" S.4l7.O3
Total Expenditures .... S49,O23.22
This in addition to the amount spent
by the Government in boats, barges,
labor and material furnished and paid
for.
In response to the invitation of the
Congressional Committee on Flood Con-
troll to the various Levee Boards to ap-
pear before them, Mr.. Young an myself
went to Washington and represented the
interests of our District before this Com
mittee.
The interest manifested by the men,
bers of this Committee in the facts as
ably presented by Mr.. Young and their
intelligent questioning, convinced us that
we had the sympathy of each individual
Of that body in our cause.
With this Committee recommending a
bill that provides lump sum appropri-
alton, based on figures furnished by Gov
eminent engineers, that will provide for
continuous contracts being let, and this
bill approved by the President, will when
passed, furnish the means of completing
ou: levees in the least possible time.
Respectfully submitted,
E. G. RHODES,
President Board Commissioners, Fifth
Louisiana Levee District.
On motion of Commissioner Young,