The St. Mary banner., 1921-10-15
Col, Beach and Bayou
1eche.


by Col. Lansing H. Beach to Con
gressman W. 2. Martin of the
Third Congressional District in re-
gard to the menace to commerce by
the water hyacinth in Bayou Teche
and the filling up of the channel OF
that stream. These water lilies have
been increasing for some time, unit!
now they threaten to destroy the
navigation of the Bayou Teche AMI
greatly damage rich country
through which that stream courses.
Hon. Wilson T. Peterman and others
Of Franklin have been for some time
in correspondence and conference
with our Congressman and District
Engineers in regard to the condition
of Bayou Teche, but so far have been
unable to bring about the desired
results.
Colonel Beach proposes to lift the
burden of destroying the water hya-
cinths off the United States govern
ment by requiring the police juries
and the people of the parishes through
which the bayou runs to do the work
and stand the expense thereof. He
states such has been effected in GER
tain localities by the people them
selves, and suggests that in this in
stance the aid of the resident people
and the local authorities be required.
We differ with Mr.. Beach and differ
emphatically. 1t is true that some
private concerns have destroyed and
eradicated the water lilies from the
canals owned by them. But Bayou
Teche is a large, navigable stream
it is public property, and is under the
control and management of the U. 5.
government. The government is obli-
gated to keep it open to navigation
and commerce. 1t is able to do this
to take care of the public streams,
and it should do it. The government
can wsrk by human agents. Her
agents by adopting Ineffective means
have prolonged the life Of the water
hyacinth for years. They are reach
ing the end of the delay problem.
The government has wasted large
amount by yearly sprinkling the
leaves of this water plant with a
poisonous solution. The vitality of
the plant is not effected. The next
year it multiplies and sprouts with
renewed life and vigor The present
remedy is as effective as spray of
cologne water. The present remedy
destroys fish and the cattle that are
forced to drink poisonous waters of
the stream. The remedy is to float
these lilies out on the outgoing tides,
and establish, maintain and properly
operate boom at the mouth of the
bayou.
Washington, D. c., Sept. 20, 1921.
Hon. w. p. Martin,
House Of Representatives.
My Dear Mr.. Martin:
Conditions affecting the navigabili
ty of Bayou Teche, La, were brought
to the attention of this Office in a |
letter from the New iberia Chamber
of Commerce dated August 20 and
transmitted to this Office in the letter
OF August 26, signed jointly by your
self, Hon. Jos. E. Ransdell and Hon.
E. s. Broussard; and also in a letter
from E. c. Taylor Co., Inc, dated
Sent X and loft at thic of4ico h,, ,,o,,
In the first of these letters it was
stated that the channel in Bayou
Teche was filling in so boats drawing
5 feet were delayed. In the second, it
was reported that the stream was
blocked with hyacinths, making navi-
cation difficult, if not impossible. !
am now in receipt of report from
the district engineer on both of these
aspects of the case.
From these reports, it seems clear
that the principal difficulty is the
unusual accumulation of water hya-
,inths experienced this year. A very
serious jam in Bayou Lafourche has
Just been broken, and both of the
spray boats were, on
Sept. 20, en- route to Bayou Teche to
break up the jams in that waterway.
After this is accomplished, they will
20 to the Vermilion River, which is
llso blocked. 1t may be expected,
that the situation in re-
.ard to water hyacinths will be re-
ieved very shortly, if indeed, it is
lot already disposed Of. Is
As for the shoaling of the river,
he district engineer states that this n