The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-06-16

S@s~ Ne DV"u~u, tuenC0 uOWu tDo IIveI W
the line between the plantations Of John
Ballew and John Bruce, thence leaving the
!iver and running across the point On the
highest ridge to the Tensas River to the
plantation Of Mrs. L Gilbert. thence down
the river to the lower point Of Tilmon Gil
berts plantation thence by the highest and
best route to Tiger Bayou plantation of Mrs.
L. Gilbert thence up said Bayou to the start
ing point
Be it further enacted that persons residing
in this 4th, District who have made Levees
shall have credit for said work in the appor-
tionment Of Levee work among the residents
Of this Levee district.
And BE it further ordained, that at 80 days
alter the passage oftais ordinance, the quail
lied voters Of each of the levec wards shall
proceed to elect three commissioners for
each ward from different parts Of tho re-
spectlve wards to serve for years from the
date Of election. (The judges of election
can be appointed by the Police Jury.)
That the said commissioners shall be
s.orn in, by any legally authorized Parish
Msgistrate:-that the commissioners of the
respective wards shall then appoint an in
spector of levees for their wards, whose term
OF office shall be years. No compensation
shall be allowed Commissioners or inspectors;
and for resignation, death or otherwise, the
President of the Police Jury shall order a
reelection to Gil said vacancy.
Tho duty Of the commissioners shall be to
divide their wards into subdivisions Of or
more sections, as may be deemed necessary
for an equitable division of labor amongst
the residents of their respective wards. They
shall have full powers to order out the slaves
OF their own wards and sections to work up
on the levses and bayous, whenever and
wherever they may deem it necessary.
They shall also lay off the levees upon
the highest ridges of land next to the Rivers
OF Bayous; and shall see that they are proper
ly constructed and built to the height and
width required by the inspectors Of their
respective levee wards.
They are also at liberty to receive, or re-
ject private levees on low grounds, when
within their own wards and said levees are
properly built.-They shall remove or cause
to be removed all distractions from the
levees, and permit no worm fences to be built
upon them-the strai light plank, or picket
post fence only, being allowed to be put up
on them and lcngthwise through the middle.
They shall further require a track for horse
men to be left on the inside and next to the
levees, with gates at the division of planta
tons. for the use of the commissioners in
spectors and travelling public, during high
stages of water only, when the public ROADS
arc obstructed by water. They shall jointly
appoint assistants to superintend leyes work
upon sections or subdivisions.
They shall assess the number of hands Of
their respective wards and sections liable to
work upon the levees in the same manner
as the road syndics are required to do, and
in case Of neglect or refusal to work, after
due notice has been given, they shall impose
fine Of 50 so per day, npon the owners Of
every slave, SO subject to levee duty, that
shall not have served in conformity with
these ordinances, recoverable before any
competent magistrate of the Parish.
They shall jointly and seyerally have
authority to prosecute at law for damages in
cases of manifest or gross violation Of orders,
or levee duty; or OF violent obstruction to
any levee or public work under their super
vision, by private land owners, or residents,
or other persons, and shall prosecute crini-
nally any person, or persons cutting or de-
stroying levee or public work, without law
full authority for so doing.
They shall run the division lines between
the wards directly back from, and at right
angles with the river at the points OF division,
and all the residents and slaves embraced in
said lines for miles back, shall be subject
to levee duty at the call and order Of the
commissioner of the ward or section. And
bs it further ordained, that any person OF
persons who shall offer violence to the COM
missioners in the execution of their duties,
shall be liable to fine OF $780, for the first
offence, 5000, for the second and be further
prosecuted for assault as the case may be.
In cider that the nonresident land owners
of the different wards, should contribute their
share, towards The construction of leyees
which enhance the value of their lands;
wherefore.
Be it ordained, that an a,al-valorem tax
Of one per cent, shall be levied Tnon the
state assessment tax roll Of all the lands en-
braced in the different wards, and that til
residents and non-residents shall be allowed
the privilege of paying for the same in labor
upon the levees under the direction of the
commissioners of the wards, who shall give
their receipts for the work when done, o,
for the payment in money in default Of
labor.
This tax shall remain in force until all the
levees shall be completed; and shall be col.
lected by the commissioners, the proceeds to
be applied by them for the construction Of
the levees of their respective wards.
The value Of labor on said levees shall! be
established at one dollar and fifty cents pei
day for men, and one dollar per day fol
women and boys under the age of l6, and
when work is done on any Of said Levee:
under the superintendence Of the levee com
missioner, said commissioner shall issue script