New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-15

consider IL would be justified in so doing. In such
case, believe the general assembly would be COM
PEELED by the pressure of public opinion to as
sumo the payment, whereas if the question of fur
ther appropriations Of money for levee purposes,
had to be acted on by that body as measure
ofeXpedeney, l consider it extremely doubtful if
it wonld pass.
AS regards the prospects of efecting loan for
such purposes, you are better able to decide than
| am Ii the money cannot be obtained from
capitalists, it might be found that contractors
would be willing to build tie evees on the faith
of certificates of indebtedness to be issued by
the board or the auditor, subject, of course, to
appropriations by the legislature to pay them
To facilitate the building Of the Lake Providence
leyee, caused $40 coo o. these certificates, signed
by the auditor, to be Issued before the contracts
were let out, which certificates were negotiated
in this market at fair discount, and by which
means that large crevasse was efiectually secured
against the late rise. If the board reject this
plan as not feasible, owing to the extent of the
levees TO be constructed and the enhanced rates
that would have to be paid in consequence of the
risk, see no alternative but for the planters in
terested, either by parochial assistance or by
their individual eXertions, to go to work and do
the best they can to build, repair and strengthen
the levees against the next rise. For the same
reasons already assigned, believe the legislature
will reimburse all such expenses, provided the
levees are built according to the general rules
adopted by the board, and with due regard to
economy. Your board might assist the planters
in obtaining remuneration by having the levees
located under the direction of your chief engi-
neer, and also the final measurement made by
him to be embodied in the form of certificate
that would be evidence before the legislature in
asking payment.
Whatever course you may determine on, think
it incumbent on the board to candidly inform the
community, as regards the prospects for the en-
suing year 20 protect the country from overflow.
This information is due to all concerned. In my
communication to the board to which you refer, I
placed great stress on the Importance of closing
the breaks at Morganza, Grand and Chnn leyees.
which were the principal outlets Of the devastating
over6ows for several years past. beg to reiter-
ate my remarks in relation to these levees. They
should be closed at all hazards, and Ihope, gentle
men, you will be able to give positive assurance
to the people. that those Ievees will be built in
time to resist the next high water,
So far as lam concerned, you may rely on my
cordial assistance and corporation in your efforts
to save the State from overflow. If we can only
pass the crisis of the next rise feel confident the
United States government will come to our relief
and build our leYees i'll time to protect US from
future inundation. The prospects therefore, are
not discouragiug. BY perseverance, and vigilance
on the part of the planters, believe We can es.
cape the disaster from a general overflow the en-
suing year.
l am, gentlemen, your obedent servant,
u M. j. MADISON WELLS.
OU. .m .. Governor of Louisiana.