From the Lafayette Advertiser of July 24th, 1907: IMPROVEMENT OF VERMILION BAYOU. Making it a Navigable Waterway from Railroad Bridge to Gulf. Last Wednesday a committee from the Progressive League composed of Wm. Campbell, Dr. F. E. Girard, G. C. Babcock, T. M. Biossat, F. V. Mouton and W. A. LeRosen left on Dr. Girards handsome gasoline launch to make an inspection of the Vermilion and to meet a committee from Abbeville to discuss measures to be taken looking towards improving the navigation of the bayou. Owing to a tree having fallen across the bayou about eight miles below Lafayette, the boat was unable to proceed to Hunters Canal, the meeting place. The following day, however, the Abbeville committee was communicated with by phone and a report was then made to the League which adopted the following resolution: Whereas, in section 2 of the Rivers and Harbors Bill passed by the second session of the Fifty-ninth Congress, it says; improving the channel, bay and passes of Bayou Vermilion and Mermentau River and tributaries, Louisiana, for maintenance, $25,000; section 3, that the Secretary of War is hereby directed to cause preliminary surveys or examinations to be made of the following localities: Bayou Vermilion to Lafayette, with a view of obtaining six feet of water, be it. Resolved, That we, the Board of Directors of the Lafayette Progressive League, hereby respectfully ask and urgently request Captain J. F. McIndoe, U. S. A., to use his best endeavors to visit our section at his earliest convenience, and that he seriously consider our present necessity and give the matter his prompt attention; that the Secretary is instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to Captain McIndoe, with our pledge of any assistance in our power. Committees were appointed to report as soon as possible on the following subjects: Steamboat tonnage between Lafayette and New Orleans, via Morgan City and Houma; conference with similar committee from Abbeville for the purpose of securing six feet of water from Lafayette to the Gulf. The League strongly endorsed the course of Hon. R. F. Broussard in securing appropriations for this work, and expressed their appreciation of his tender of acceptance. A resolution complimentary of Hon. H. L. Gueydan was also adopted, and that gentleman thanked for his valuable service in furthering this and other public enterprises. The trip down Vermilion bayou showed that a comparatively small cost, the bayou could be made a valuable stream. From the railroad bridge down a width of from fifty feet to one hundred feet was easily possible and sufficient depth to render it navigable the year round. Lafayette Advertiser 7/24/1907.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 12:00:06 +0000
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