DEPARTMENT OP THE PYRENEES, 299 



means of securing the height of Bareges by the help of stoccadoes of stone, 

 or dry stone dikes consolidated by being filled up behind with earth. 



" In fine, in 1843, the Departments of War, of the Interior, and of 

 Agriculture and Commerce, brought about the meeting of a special com- 

 mission, called Commission des Avalanches, charged to consider the localities, 

 and formulate such propositions as might relate to the matter. Unhappily, 

 projects, resolutions, and regulations were passed, but never applied, and 

 they remained ia the state of a dead letter. 



"In 1859, the Emperor was sojourning at the waters of Saint-Sauveur. 

 He visited Bareges ; with his own eyes he took the measure of the danger 

 which threatened this important thermal station, and determined to 

 exercise it. 



" The eficct of this resolution was soon felt. On 31st August 1859 there 

 met, summoned by the Emperor, a commission composed of the prefect of 

 the department, of the inginieurs en chef des pants et chaussees and of mines, 

 of the commandant of military engineers, of the syndic of the valley, of the 

 sub-prefect of Argelfes, and of the inspector of forests. It was perceived, 

 after a thorough discussion, that reioisement was the only means of cora- 

 bating the evil, save indispensable artificial works to be executed under the 

 corps of military engineers, to guarantee the hospital from the attacks of 

 the ravine Theil. 



" The work was begun in 1860 as soon as the ground could be reached ; 

 and on the 22nd August the same year was prepared a detailed project — 

 prepared with a view, on the one hand, of replanting the mountain of 

 Laogrand ; and, on the other, of arresting the dejections of the Eielut, a 

 ravine, the effects of which will be afterwards described. 



" Finally, on the 1 1th May were commenced the sowings, and before the 

 heat of summer had come to interrupt them, they had been carried over an 

 area of 47 hectares. 



" But it was necessary to regulate the execution of the works, both as 

 regards the law and regulations, and as regards the interest of the commune 

 and of the individual holders of property along the banks. The requisite 

 formalities were duly observed ; and an imperial decree of the 21st February 

 1863 declared of public utility reioisement to be efiected on 280 hectares of 

 land situated on the territory of the commune of Sera and Betpouey. 



" It remains to considered what has been done since, against what 

 diflEiculties it has been necessary to contend, and to what extent it has been 

 found practicable to surmount them. 



"I. — The imperial decree of 1863 ruled the area to be rewooded as 280 

 hectares 38 ares, but it was in point of fact 302 hectares 32 ares, of which 

 232 hectares 87 ares belonged to the canton Lacgrand, and 64 hectares 45 

 ares to the canton Ayr6. 



" It was in the canton Lacgrand that the first works were tmdertaken ; 

 and therefore attention will first be given to these districts. 



'■' The mountain Lacgrand is situated in front of Bareges, on the right 

 bank of the Bastan, with a southern exposure. The crest of it terminates 

 in the peak Capes at an altitude of 2400 mfetres. Three principal ravines 

 furrow the slope : the ravine Midaou, which debouches below Bareges ; the 

 ravine Theil, which menaces the central portion ; and the ravine Aygunave, 

 coming down a little above the town. All these bring down avalanches : 

 the ravine Theil is the most formidable in this respect. 



