The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-01-19
PUBLIC HEARING ON
BAYOU COCODRIE
CLOSING TO BE HELD
Senate Bill, Now Pending,
Would Declare Stream
Non-Navigable
ALEXANDRIA PLACE
FOR THE ARGUMENTS
Proposed Irrigation Canal Of
Bradford Would Benefit
Thereby

The war department of the United
States has issued notice of a public
hearing to be held at the city hall in
Alexandria, La, at a. m, on Tues
day, next January 25, in order to en-
able interested parties to express
their views in regard to the desirabiliy
Of legislation proposed in a senate bilI
which provides that Bayou Coeodrie,
from its source to its junction with
Bayou Chicot, is declared to be not
a navigable water of the United States
within the meaning of the laws enact
ed by congress for the preservation
and protection of such waters.
The notice of this hearing states
that "for accuracy of record, all inn
portant statements should be reduced
to writing and submitted in triplicate.
Oral statements will however, receive
consideration"
If any opposition to the passage or
the congressional legislation has ma
teriaIized, or is about to materialize,
it has not become apparent yet. The
declaring of the stream as non-Hav
igable one viii remove many obstacles
in the, construction of the Bradford iT-
rigation and drainage canal from Red
River south. as also remove the neces-
sity of building draw bridges over the
stream by modern roads that are pro-
posed to be constructed in tnat see
tion of the state.
This newspaper has already publish
ed the skeleton OF the plans of Col.
Welman Bradford for the great canal
which he proposes to build. Mr. Brad
ford has been working on the plans
for several years, and as he is a civiI
engineer of much experience, particu-
larly in this class of work, he has ar
ranged all details Of the scheme with
mathematical precision. He well Hn-
derstands the need OF fresh water for
rice irrigation, and as supplies here
tofore obtained from existing canal
companies was, in times Of extreme
drouth. impreganted with salt water
from the gulf, and deep wells generally
'go dead" after several years OF use,
the canal of Mr.. Bradford, receiving
its supply from the inexhaustfbIe Red
River, will prove of inealculable bene-
fit to the rice interests of the south
western section of the state.
The antiquated system OF rice cur
ture made no provision for drainage,
which is just as important as irriga-
tion. The farmer had his ideas con
centrated only on furnishing water for
his growing crop, and gave no heed to
Importance OF draining this water OFF
the fields after the rice was mature
and feady for the harvest. Thus the
water, a benefit to the growing rice,
became a menace when harvest time
arrived. Mr.. Bradford has wisely
thought of this matter, and besides
: furnishing water for irrigation, pro
poses to also furnish a drainage sys
tenn for the getting rid Of the water
after the crop is ripe.
Mr.. Bradford says he has capital
back of him to put through the cana
scheme in time for benefit Of the ricG
men in year or two. At present h'
is engaged in securing all data neces
sary for the full working out OF hii
plans. The matter Of the Bayou Co
codrie, now about to. be settled b.
: congressional action, will remove on'
/ of the chief obstacles in the way o
t building the proposed canal. opposi
3 tlon to the closing Of the stream il
rot expected to materialize at the pub
t lie hearing in Alexandria.