The Donaldsonville chief., 1919-04-26
I.evee Board Meeting Fails.

A number of prominent men from
the parish Of Lafourche, composing
committee Of the police jury ana CIV
tizens Of that parish, came to Donald
sonvilIe Thursday to appear befofe
meeting Of the joint executive com
mittee Of the Lafourche and A1cIai-
alaya Levee Boards, scheduled TO
| be held here on that day. The COM
mittee was composed Of Judge raw
man Thibodaux Of. Raceland, and Us
car lDresner Of Lockport, represent
ling the police jury, and E. =. Dlckln--
son. Alex Barker and DR.. J. ]. Ayo,
| all of Raeeland, representing the cltl-
zens.. But owing to the lack 'o1 g
quorum the meeting did not ma
terialize.
The purpose of the meeting was TO
hear discussions, pro and con, on the
route selected for the proposed gray
el road along Bayou Lafourche, IRON
i Lockport to Theriot Canal
It appears that about four years
ago the citizens of that section voted
a special tax for the building OF kah
proposed road, and turned the mat
ter of construction over to the state
highway engineers. A survey was
/ promptly made; the road was graded
and the work Of laying the gravel
was begun. It seems that the pro-
posed road, at certain points, passed
within fifteen feet of the waters
ledge, and the levee boards in dfedg-
ling the bayou in this section, found
lit necessary to deposit the earth ex-
cayated on this new road. covering 1t
in some places to a depth OF four or
five feet. Thereupon the. work OF
graveling was stopped, and .negotla-
!. tions were opened with the 5lt Ieyee e
) boards looking to an adjustment OF
the matter.
In the negotiations the levee boards
: took the position that space OF at
|least rs feet wide was required Tor
depositing the earth removed from
{ the bayou and advised against the
:, building of roads within that dis
tance. It is said that the majority
of the citizens of that section ap-
: proved of the stand taken by the
!, llevee boards.
Charles Matthews, one OF the
: largest land owners of that part OF
! the parish, whose plantations have
: frontage of about three miles on the
J bayou, within the distance to be
:, traversed by the proposed new road
!. was. also here to appear before the
J meeting. It is said that he contends
: !. that the. road should be built along
:, the route surveyed and graded bs
, THE engineers. And his contention
: docs not seem to be without justice
= when it is asserted that to remove
. the road along his plantations, z;
feet from the waters edge, will de
prive him of many acres of rich cul
Itivatable land, and cause him TO in
:
V eur considerable expense ia movln,
stI back several mammoth warehouses
II which now stand on the batture nea
leII the edge Of the channel. But it ais
q seems that the requirements Of tn
IL lIlevee boards are entitled to som
lel consideration since they must hay
y room to place The earth which the
ael remove from the bottom of the bayou
n. It is very much to be hoped tha
1e some means will be found by Whic
d-I 1.-THE matter can be adjusted to th
80 satisfaction Of all concerned, an
er this stretch of road which is said t
q. Ibe a very important link IN tn
IS graveled highways of the parish, COZ
1g |structed without further delay.
CHI