Where was the log jam on the Red River?

Where was the log jam on the Red River?

Around the end of the 17th century, a massive log jam called the Great Raft (actually a series of log jams) began forming on the Red, backing up the river upstream from present-day Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Who cleared the log jam on the Red River?

Shreve
The logjam had met its match in Shreve, who designed a “snag boat” hydraulic lift and supervised its military crew in the use of dynamite and cross-saws. In their first day on the job, in 1832, Shreve’s men cleared the river for a distance of four miles.

What caused the Great Raft?

The Great Raft began forming sometime around the beginning of the last millennium. Periodic flooding of the Red River dislodged great number of trees from the river’s flood banks that was made up of easily erodible soil. The trees filled the river and formed a series of intermittent log jams that stretched for miles.

How long did it take to clear the Great Raft?

The removal of the logs was done one by one and took the crew five years in Shreveport. It was a long process done mostly by sheer manpower. It opened up a navigable waterway to what later became Shreveport all the way into Jefferson, TX and Fulton, AR.

How deep is the Red River in Shreveport?

width of Red River at Shreveport when full is 1,360 feet, while at Alexandria it is 726 feet wide, and up to this point a minimum depth of three feet may be depended upon, but steamers of four feet draught can ascend to Shreveport, as shown in the history of navigation.

Who is responsible for clearing the Great Raft?

Is Red River salty?

The Red River is salty. The saltiness is caused by a natural phenomenon that dates back to ancient times. About 250 million years ago, an inland sea blanketed parts of what is now those states. As time passed, that sea evaporated, leaving salt deposits – mostly sodium chloride.

What was the name of the man who invented the Snagboat He used to clear the Mississippi River for steamboats?

Henry Miller Shreve
Henry Miller Shreve was instrumental in the realm of early American waterway navigation.

Why is Shreveport significant to the history of the state of Louisiana?

Shreveport soon became a center of steamboat commerce, which carried mostly cotton and agricultural crops to downriver markets and goods to this trading center. Some of the cotton was shipped overland from Texas to Shreveport.

What fish are in the Red River in Louisiana?

Great fishing for Crappie, White Bass, Channel Cats, Bass, Bluegills. …more. Lake. Whether you to out the boat or fish from the bank, it is a seriously fine fishery.

How deep is the Red River?

Channel widths: from less than 100 feet to more than 500 feet in the north. Average depths: from 10 to 30 feet; flow can fluctuate dramatically.

What did Captain Shreve do?

Henry Miller Shreve, (born Oct. 21, 1785, Burlington county, N.J., U.S.—died March 6, 1851, St. Louis, Mo.), American river captain and pioneer steamboat builder who contributed significantly to developing the potential of the Mississippi River waterway system.

Where is Henry Miller Shreve buried?

Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, MOHenry Miller Shreve / Place of burial

Are there bass in the Red River?

Here’s a quick guide to fishing the Red River: The river is made up of five pools, all of them containing plenty of bass in the 3 to 8-pound range. The river lakes area is also great for bass.

Why is the Red River so dirty?

The Red River is polluted by excess sediment and damaging nutrients for most of its length, while large sections are becoming unsafe for swimming because of bacteria from manure and broken septic systems, according to a major new assessment by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Are there pike in the Red River?

The Red River boasts more than 70 species of fish including some of North America’s finest game fish. The Red River offers excellent fishing opportunities for channel catfish, walleye, northern pike, and some lesser known fish.

Why is it illegal to swim in the Red River?

Not only is the river proving to be dangerous at times for swimming, rescue crews are also being put at risk. Authorities said it’s not illegal to swim in the Red River, however, with the recent drownings taking place throughout the summer, they said it might be best to think first before jumping in.