DRAINAGE OF WET LANDS OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. 37 



densing engine. Steam is furnished by two 60-horsepower locomotive type 

 boilers. The machinery is on a timber foundation, supported on piling, and 

 the building is a frame structure covered with heavy corrugated galvanized 

 iron. In type the plant is very similar to the one on area No. 2 and is subject 

 to the same general criticisms. In capacity it has always been sufficient, but 

 due to the small reservoir it could only be operated at full capacity for rather 

 short periods. However, the new and large reservoir remedied this difficulty, 

 although on account of its length the collecting ditch will always bring in the 

 water rather slowly. 



The present conditions are favorable to a small percentage and a low in- 

 tensity of run-off. As the district is more completely brought under cultivation, 

 however, and the water is more promptly pumped out, both the amount and the 

 intensity of the run-off should increase, although it is not likely that this will 

 be large enough to require an increase of the present large pumping capacity. 

 In August, 1911, this plant burned; it was reconstructed, the present plant 

 being a duplicate of the former one. In a plant of this character, where most 

 of the structure is of wood, the danger of fire is much greater than in the more 

 recent type of pumping plant. These latter are equipped with cast-iron cen- 

 trifugal pumps mounted on concrete foundations and are built with some iden 

 of making them fireproof. 



Condition of Land for Cultivation. 



In bringing this land under cultivation the first crop was planted on the 

 higher portions after a year of drainage. Before the muck became decayed 

 it drained very readily, and, as stated on page 36, few laterals were necessary. 

 Good crops of corn were grown on this land with the water table only 1 foot 

 below the surface. Sugar cane has also successfully been grown on this land, 

 as have all kinds of truck. No special treatment has been given the land 

 before cultivation. Not all of this district has been cultivated, though it is 

 now all solid enough to be easily cultivated if the water were kept sufficiently 

 low. This tract could have been brought under cultivation much sooner if it 

 had been well drained the year around, instead of only during the growing 

 season. In draining new land it is important to keep it well drained all of the 

 time, so that the soft mud will have a chance to harden. 



AREA NO. 4, RACELAND, LA FOURCHE PARISH, LA. 



This district, containing 2,400 acres, is similar in natural conditions, such a;s 

 soil and elevation, to area No. 3, and borders it along one side. While in size 

 it is more advantageous than any of the districts heretofore mentioned, its 

 shape, due to natural boundaries, is not as good. However, the various details 

 of reclamation have been somewhat better carried out in this district than in 

 those previously discussed. The map of area No. 4 is shown in figure 10. 



Levees. 



Most of the levee was built by a dipper dredge with material taken from the 

 channels which the map shows outside the protected area. No ditch was cut 

 in the base of the levee nor was any other preliminary work done. Along Bayou 

 False the levee was built from material taken from both inside and outside the 

 district. This bayou had been opened for navigation several years before the 

 levee along this district was built. The spoil bank had settled until it was 

 quite firm, so that the material taken from the reservoir canal, when deposited 

 on this firm base, formed a levee of sufficient cross section the first time over 



