New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-08-24
THE LEvEEs


We have frequently called attention to the
suhieet of the levees. The question Is one %
constant interest andits Importance demands
s,,sadv action. In an article which appeared
\ onr columns six or eight weeks ago we
sopobt to attract attention to a system of pri-
vate Ievees which might afford protection to
local interests if it should be found imprac-
ticable to complete the general levee system.
We instanced as an example of private enter
prise in this respect, the action of number
of planters at Laeonia, Ark. Col j. P, John
son. DIR. Blackburn, Col. Gus. Henry and a
number of other planters in that vicinity,
that the levee system in Arkansas
would not he completed in time to prevent
the overflow of last spring determinedto com
bine with view of preventing the destruction
of their own lands. With this view they
entered into special copartnership, ap-
pointed one of their number the agent for the
rest, entered into a contract for the construe-
ton of a private levee which completely in
closed some twenty or thirty fine plantations,
and thus rendered themselves entirely indie
pendent of the general leTee system. This
was done too without any present outlay, but
by STIMULATING the payment out Of the years
crop of a certain number of bales Of cotton to
be allotted equitably to the severalIplanters
whose lands were protected by the newly con-
strueted levee.
There are doubtless many other places not
less favorably situated than the plantations IN
the Laeonia bend, where equal enterprise dis
PLAYED by the planters interested might insure
them, at a comparatively small outlay, against
the dangers Of inundation Peculiar facilities
for such an enterprise are offered By the gen
eral law of Louisiana, which permits and en-
courages the formation Of corporate bodies,
With the view Of carrying out, in legal form, a
common purpose of number OF Individuals.
We find that the views we expressed on this
| subject have also been entertained BY others;
and the principles Of organization which we
suggested as applicable to limited districts,
have been extended to embrace the whole leyee
system of the State. Ip connection with a
subject of such Importance to the welfare o.
our State, and of the country generally, we
invite attention to the following extracts from
q circular we have recently received from Mr..
NJ. NJ. Nolan, Of Madison parish:
i planter myself in the parish Of Madison, hay
ing a large personal interest in protecting my
! lands from overflow, and looking to the general
welfare of the State, have given the whole sub
iect great deliberation and care MY ldea Is, that
the levees can be rebuilt and kept ~ repair, TO
degree of almost certain security against oYerhow,
i and at less expense, by means OF JOINT STOCK
| Company, with adequate capital, to enter INTO
1 contract with the State for term, say not less
t'tJ - In tppaFlt M
| State to pay stipulated sum per annum, the com
pany to be bound in the contract, to construct all
new levees according to general speclheauOns, TO
l be prescribed by the legislature, and OF not less
than following: slope Of ten feet 70 one heignt
4 and five feet above the highest water known,
crown fourteen feet, and the sides to be planted
1 with Bermuda grass. According to calculations
made By me, a company with capital o. three
millions of dollars, and with a contract extending
not less than twenty years, could afford to under.
i take and accomplish the work indicated, at an
annual stipend of $3.50 600 from the State. Let q
provision be inserted in the contract, that pay.
ment on the part of the State, shall be suspended
! whenever a erevasse shall occur and during the
time said creyasse or erevasses shall continue to
Il flow.
While Of course it would be to the interest of
the company to provide every possible means to
guard the evees against breaking, yet it might be
| further stipulated in the contract, that during
| high water, the company be required to employ a
sufficient police force to watch the levees, and to
/ give notice of threatened danger.
! So impressed am with the feasibility Of these
views, and the superiority of the project in point
| of efficiency, economy and security, over the
present plan of State control, that have made it
my business to make an express visit to the orth
ern and Eastern cities, for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning if the capital could be obtained to organize
a company to carry out the project The needed
capital of three millions can be had, and | am
authorized, and intend as soon as the Legislature
meets, to lay before that body proposition in
1..IE 49, nsI C AnVNa Inv iV.1In
ted and ia order that members may be enlight-
ened and prepared to consider the question pro-
perly. have taken the liberty of calling, your
attention to the subject by means Of this circular.
We consider the views expressed by Mr..
Nolan as worthy the most attentive consider
alton The failure of Congress to render the
assistance which would have been but an act
of justice ON their part, renders it necessary
that We should devise other meansto protect
The most vital interests of our people. Itmay
be that our Legislators will be enabled, after
fully considering all the bearings Of this in
teresting question, to adopt system in har
mony with the present imperfect plan under
which we are proceeding, that will permit
private enterprise to lend valuable aid to the
efforts now being made by the State to give
adequate protectlon against the HOODS OF next
year.
A Northern exchange gives the following
accounto Of the wonderful trotting mare lately
purchased by Bonner, of the New York
Ledger, for $4,000:
Young Pocahontas is bay, with a clouded star
in the forehead, and one white heel. She is a
little more than fifteen hands high ana with great
length and breadth for lefinehes. She is remark
ably high behind, with big hips, and very Egreat
length from hip to whirlbone,q The angle to the
stifie is also long, and that reversed to point Of
hook is very lengthy again. The young mare's
loins are strong, and arched like those of grey
hound, and she also resembles this feet animal in
her round ribs and deep'dropped hFisket "a
Young Pocahontas is out of the celebrated
mare Pocahontas, that paced mile. in New
York, to a wagon and driver weighing 265
pounds in 2;l7t, by the no less renowned
trotting. stallion, Ethan Allen. After three
weeks training on the Fashion Course, Long
Island Vo1lncs Eocahnntar woo +alshy, 70 C5n