The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-03-21
The Rafture.

/
! tord streets.
The alluyjal deposit in front of the Second Mu
nicipaity, Familiarity known as the Batture, ha
| been subject Of strife from the admission OF Lou
isana into the Union until the present time. This
depost has. within the memory of man. extended
from Tchoupitoulas street to the present ship ant
steamboat landings. That part of it which is ap
propriated to private uses forms the most valuable
property in the city of New Orleans. But the vas
extent of recent formation is tnoccupied and pre-
sentng great surface between the front ware
houses and the river-being excessively dusty il
dry, and muddy in rainy weatler-it has become
4 positive nuisance to commerce; worthless to
public purposes, yet great part OF it (all between
Common and Dciord streets incapable from the
operation of general laws and special contracts
from being converted to the of individuals
The great object of all parties is TO abafe the nui
sance and turn this useless batture to some proflta
BILE account but the great value OF the properly,
coveted by SO many, and 10 which each OF the
claimants alleges plausible claim, has hitherio
prevented any thing like reasonable action tor the
attainment of this end If we can point oht any
means to accomplish what all seem TO deslre' we
think that we shall have rendered some service 10
the city and the State, and VIII deserve soli'e
thanks though in the progress OF the Undertaking
we NAV tread so hardly OH the toes OF some as 10
receive payment in very different com.
The batture extends along the whole front of the
Second Municipality, from Canal street to the line
of LAFAYETTE Above DelOrd street the portion of
the batture in front of the aubourgs DelOrd, Saule,
Lacourse, and Annunciation, is governed in its
ownership by the well settled laws of the country
it belongs to the front proprietors, forming an ex
tension of their estates by the right of accretion
but the use of it for commercial purposes is secured
to the public, under the administration of the City
Council Frequent decisions of our courts have
placed that matter beyond controversy. In the
most recent of these decisions, that rendered by
Judge Billiard, on behalf of the Supreme Court
in the case of Municipality No. Two Us. The New
Orleans Cotton Press Company, all the authori-
ties upon this subject are reviewed. the former de-
cisons of the same tribunal affirmed, and the
batture adiudged to belong to the Cotton Press
Company, but its to be in the public so long
as it was needed for the convenience of commerce.
In relation to that part of the batture, then, lying
above Delord street, there is no difficulty. The
Council of the Municipality have only to declare
that it is no longer required for public purposes,
to authorize squares to be laid out and streets to be
opened, and Immediately the whole is converted
TO private uses, and will be well and rapidly i'm
proved. II is true that the Municipality will not
receive the proceeds of the sales Of the lots by
some it was once fondly imagined, and by others
only pretended to be believed but still it would
lerivea large revenue from taxation upon the pro-
oerty thus improved, and would add millions to the
wealth and resources of the city. Why this course
has not been pursued it is not our present purpose to
inquire, Parts of the nature from Delord street to
Felicity road, were by the city fathers considered as
much of anuisance before the decision of the Cotton
Press case as that between Delord and Canal streets
has since appeared, but subsequent TO the decision
lothing has been done in the matter. Then it was
susceptible of being formed into streets and squares,
now it seems to be very we'll as it is. Then large
'nms were expected to be received into the trea-
nry from the sale of the ground, now it would ap-
Dear that no desire is felt to realize even the amount
which would flow from it in taxation, Were it im-
proved Then it was an injury to the port and
detrimental to commerce, now it would seem that
commerce cannot do without it, else why is it re-
aimed for commercial uses! There is difference
between now and then, which we cannot easily
account for We cannot suppose sage, grave men
ike our worthy aldermen, would play the dog in
he manger," and because they could not secure
he ownership ofthis property for the municipality,
come to the determination that no one else should
'n]oy it.-though all admit, and they themselves
ormerly admitted that in its present condition the
and was worse than worthless, and that its i'm.
'rovement would in every way be immensely adj
to the city. Yet without coming to
ome such uncharitable conclusion, how can we
account for the fact that so much Of the batture
above Delord street is Incorporated and unim.
proved. The fault is most assuredly not with the
ront proprietors, for they would only be too happy
o enter upon the estate which the Mississippi has
brought to their doors; it can only rest with the
Council. which will not give them the permission
o do so. We really hope that this policy will no
onger be pursued, and that in those parts of the
in which the Council retain the right
0 do so, they will extend the streets towards the
liver as far as the cOnveniences and wants of the
'ort will permit and thus enable a large track of
'aluable land to be reclaimed. and in some degree
epenish their own treasury from tribute which
hat land will pay. After having wasted many
thousands of dollars in the vain attempt to establish
he title of the municipality owner, it cannot be
considered the wisest policy to wilfully refuse all
'hance OF remuneration as tax gatherer
That portion of the batture between Canal and
Deord streets, which has recently been the subject
If litigation, is, however, in different situation
rom the portion above spoken of. and as the time
las come when its condition ought to be changed
md the whole matter disposed of and settled forever,
brief statement of what its history has been what
he rights of the different parties now are and how
without violation of any of those rights the pub
ic good may be promoted will be interesting to all
'ur readers, and form the subject of two or more
uture articles in paper.
LATE FROM TExAs.-By the Galveston Civilian
down to March 49, we get late dates from Texas, |
nut nothing of importance. We extract the fol-
owing paragraphs:
from Ansfia-We have accounts from Austin |
Q Tuesday morning, lIth. Maj. Eache was still
hive, but his death was expected every hour The |
lmbs ON his left side had been paralyzed for four
lays lie had not spoken from the time of being
irst attacked, and appeared entirely unconscious.
The House had passed "A new apportionment bill |
Increasing the number of representatives. TO seventy