The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1921-02-03

tile larger companies CueH DeluS IOfHleu
in the parish. Why they were here in
Benton sixty years ago yesterday we
can't say. Perhaps in an effort to gain
recruits or, more likely. to go through |
their drills with the Benton, Collins |
burg ana Rocky Mount companies.
Fifty Years Ago.
The Banner Of Feb. 4, 1S71--Bellevue.I
g The dams across the outlet Of VIII
low Chute and the bed of Old River
have been finished for some Time The
work has every appearance Of being of
the most substantial character.
The bed of Old River surrounds
some 100 acres, forming an island of
high river land. In the center Of this
island lake filed by rain water COW
ers, perhaps, about third OF It's area.
To drain this lake Mr.. r. +. Stinson Is
having dug, ditch to Old River, which
will have the desired effect now. but
could not have had were Willow Chute
and Old River not closed.
Again, into Old River is the outlet
of lake lying to the north against
the hills When the bed of Old River,
in high stages of water, was filed up
Ethe water backed up this outlet, over
flowed the lake, and covered several
hundred acres of back river land, which
will now be entirely reclaimed.
! !" But this is not a twentieth of the
benefit the great work will confer, for
it will keep large body of water off
of a hundred or more square miles Of
bottom land"
The old river bed here referred to
can still be quite easily traced. In fact,
there is at times good fishing in por-
ton of it. The course Of the old river
bed makes an immense horseshoe. !"
Leaving the river near the former Stin-
son plantation residence site, swinging
east then south in bend to within a
quarter mile of Old Benton 1t continues
far beyond the Willow Chute planta-
ton residence and then swerving to
the west and north comes back to the
present course of the river near the
point where it left it. So 1t is to be
seen that Benton at one time must have
been quite near the river and no doubt
boosted its well patronized steamboat
landing. MT. L. W. W. Stinson, eldest
. son of the StfllsOn above mentioned,
now owns the plantation on which his
/ father resided. He has Kept It. under
cultivation all these years ana mas also
greatly added to ITS acreage through the
purchase OF adjoining properties. The
lake IN the center OF the surrounded
IOeacre tract mas meen greatly re-
duced through drainage ana cuitiea-
tioh. Inc iake lying 70 the nof.n
against the Nils Is. OF course 1leir
Lake. ~ was aiso no uount heu NV
efs Ded az one Time. ror'ahateis. y. .he
entlfe stre.cn oI country mere uiiiel
discussion Is protecteu ny weil.hep'
iesee syseei a preiA u tne ''l,i.o !,
leVee uuIins ah eAceI.ioiian. ni,sn
Stage OF lieu river wou III result ~ 'lt
noodlhg or practicaIN al .ne p'ich
'anls VI tne oossiei i'e'ee n.s''e.
prn p,vrp p.rr
..n. parors - ArIans.s has 10
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