New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-19

WHARyES AND LEvEES'
Remarks.
$77I,U7s 80
0 IL

7H,G73 50
Nett amount Of Receipts. ..$la0,66o IL
The amount saved to the City has, it will be seen,
been equal to one hundred thousand dollars per an
mum. 1t is clear that act of your predecessors has
been more beneficial to the interests Of the City in its
results.
regret, in thfs connection, to be obliged to report
you that several of the sections not in the con-
dtion required by the terms OF the contracts with the
City. 49,
The City Surveyor, some time since, made to the
Common Council, full and detailed report, in rela.
tion to all the Wharves he then had occasion to re-
since which PERIOD most of the essees have proceeded
very energetically with their work. and most of the
wharves are in such condition as to prohibit COM
plant. He, however, now, makes known to me that
condition He says, at is high time the Common !
Council should take the matter into serious consdera
ton" Complaints are daily made to him by Cap |
tains Of vessels in relation to them and although
resolution has been adopted by the Common Council
him to have the repairs made at the ex
pense OF the lessees-and Notwithstanding his con-
slant exertions he has been unable to remedy the evil
The only persons in the city who are equipped and
since finished the repairs of the wharves in their sec
tions The Surveyor states that no exertion on his
part has succeeded to induce these lessees to work
upon the sections of their neighbors they have po
sitvey refused to do So not desiring to involve them
selves in any controversy between the other lessees
and the authorities.
apprehend, from the statement of the Surveyor,
that no remedy now be applied, the city having
no machinery nor materials, and is entirely unpre-
pared to perform the required work. In the mean
time the commerce and shipping, which contributes
largely to the support of the city government VIII
suffer from the bad faith and negligence of the les.
sees.
respectfully recommend your honorable body in
view Of this state of facts to proceed with reference
to them in such manner as will remedy the evil,
and either compel compliance with the conditions
the lp2se annul the contract with the eSSeeS.
DRAINAGE.
The total amount expended by the City, since Con-
solidation for drainage, which includes all the ex-
penses for running the draining machines keeping
them in repair cleaning and draining the canals etc.
etc. is $l70,327 rs.
The amount expended during the twelve months
ending LIST July last, is $26,409 AZ.
The imperfections in the system OF drainage now
in use, have frequently been brought to the notice OF
the Common Council, and are well known to every
member of your Honorably Body. Much litigation
has been the consequence of the defects OF the sys
TEN, and it is more than probable the City will du-
ring the year. be required to pay considerable sum
as the result of the many suits now pending against
it for damages claimed by parties for alleged injury
to their property, caused by the inefficient working
of the machines now in use
The City Surveyor, Mr. Pile, has prepared an eabc
rate and able report upon this subject which he will
shortly submit to you.
The eminent Dr. Marshall Hail. of London, (now
deceased) while on visit to this city in 1854, said
with reference to the drainage of New Orleans ="
venture to affirm city in the old world the new
requires perfect system of drainage more impera-
lively 1t is only necessary to peramouate its streets
and observe its cutters each side to be convinced
| of this fact.h
l cannot too strongly urge upon you the Importance
of action on this subject, and beg to claim for it
your early and earnest consideration. The comfort
and convenience Of our people demand some amelio-
ration, and trust you will pursue the means neces-
sary to establish permanent and practical system,
so essential to the health and prosperity Of New Or
| leans.
Neo Orleans Draining Company liquida-
ton of this Company under Hon. G. Roselus, Re-
cever appointed by the Court to iqudate its affairs
progresses quite Satisfactorily.
| In communication had the honor to address to
the Common Council on the 18th February last, in
formed them that to that date a dividend ot
81 per cent. had been declared which entitled the
city Of New Orleans, on 800 shares OF $Oo each n
to .Sllu,zou w
In March last there was received fur
Their dividend, amounting to. ........ 1880 90
sl54,OoO 90
From these dividends was deducted by
the Receiver the amount Of the judg-
ment in favor of the Draining Com
pany against the City. ............. l10,404 Ga
Showing balance in cash actually reed. $i3,595 3G
| I am informed by Mr. Roselius that he has now on
hand $22 555 II in cash and in notes. which he has
no doubt will be paid at maturity, s5946.
He states that Notwithstanding the general pres
sure of financial matters, which will to some extent
interfere with his collections, he will be able to de
clare further dividend about the 9th November, o.
five per cent, which will produce to the city the sun
of SIT 500. Another dividend of a like amount will
be declared at a later period, which will probably
close the liquidation far the citys interest may
be concerned.
These two dividends to be declared will swell the
total amount of dividends the stock owned by thu
city to slS9O00 and the total amount derived, ant
to be derived in cash, from the liquidation, to $7S
sos SO.
Under all the circumstances, cannot refrain from
congratulating you upon the very favorable result
this liquidation.
The city of New Orleans owns 5000 shares of thu
stock Of Commercial Water Works Company, and il
represented in the Board of Directors by two mem
bers elected annually by the Common Council.
The dividends derived from the stock for the yea
ending July, 1851 amount to s36 400.
This corporation is under able management ant
accompshes all that is desired for the interest of tn
report to you that the interests of the public are il
great measure, sacrificed by that other conaictn!
interest.
The supply of water is inadequate to the wants O
the community, and the complaints made upon thi
subject are general and of long standing. The sub
ject has claimed the attention of each succeeding
Council since consolidation, and so far. as am in
formed, no amelioration Ito any eXten has been &C
compshed.
Communications from the Board of Commissioner
and from the Chief Engineer of the Fire Department
of the sturgent character this subject have bee
transmitted to the Common Council and are nov
under consideration by the Committee on Fire. Tn
Committee, accompanied by the Chief Engineer
shortly after the adjournment of the Council for tn
summer recess-visited the engine house and resel
voir of the Water Works, with the view of PERSONAL
investigating the of the evil so generally CON
planned of and trust they will at an early day pre-
sent to your Honorable Body the result of thern
tigation in the form of report and recommendation
on the subject. statement of the situation of a
the water pipes throughout the city, has been pre-
cured, and have caused it to be appended hereunt
for present and future reference. Your special after
ton is directed to the size of the pipes leadin
through Levee, Commerce and Tchoupitoulas streets
and the streets from Girod street down, whic
possibly may account for the almost total want {
water during CONGREGATIONS in these valuable loca
tiles. There is no pipe running through Fulton street
and but very limited supply of water can be oil
tanned from the hydrants on Front street.
Some protection from CONGREGATIONS is demande
by the large interest the front part of the city
Water cannot be obtained in cases of fire for th
protection Of the shipping and steamboats,. The cor
, struction OF our engines and the height of th
wharves and landings, preventing them from avalin
of the direct use OF the river -. 4
1t has been suggested that as an additional protet
ton to the front of the city, from confagraton, th
dggingof q sufficient number of wells along th
same, supplied from the river, even at low waite
mark say opposite to each cross street, or requrin