" Robert Ruffin Barrow moved from North Carolina to Louisiana in the early 1800's, intent on making his fortune in cotton and sugar." "Thomas A. Becnel relates the efforts of Robert Ruffin Barrow and his son, Robert Jr., to establish the Barataria and Lafourche Canal as an important shipping link between New Orleans on the Mississippi River and the Attakapas District of Bayou Teche to the west." "In addition to relating the foresight, determination, and questionable business practices of Robert Barrow and his son, this study adds significantly to the field of transportation history. It provides an opportunity to compare Louisiana's canal ventures with those of other states and reveals the extent of sugar and cotton planters' involvement in public transportation." -- cover Includes surnames and vital statistics of Barrow, Hunley, Slatter, and Tennant, as well as many other contemporaries.