The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-02-06
!Etra.Si..l

LIT 4
frst paymsRts g contractors fell dae Nth uof oat
dollar in tie hands Of tte Beard i raw fheh Hag
ing absorbed all theif a The purchase af aph
aud supplies, and relying 9poa pane tuai parHest bS
the Board 10 theiF men, the default OF tbs State
meet its engagements under the contracts orerate 81
ia serious impeachment To- She progress Of the work
Contractors compelled TO go in the market " til
/ their certificates and borrow money ut any rate Of
discount abandon their contracts, aai 10 accom-
pIish which, they detained ID tue city fer weeks
/ when their presence was needed the works II
this cause more than all others combined aD atrb-
ute the failure TO complete ae large Ieyaea in time Il
resist the last high The suffering to ndividu
ais the loss OF property and the damage to the repu
tation of State which, ensned from the breaking
of these levees, is deprecated by more THAI
myself. The Board of Levee Commissioners having
failed to sell the bonds after repeated advertisements
for proposals. and sending agents to New or speci
ally, TO try their negotiation in that market, ana be
ing Ill absolute want of funds to pay contractors
were reduced to the alternative OF suspehdlng pay
ments altogether, to raise money from quar-
ter. In this extremity, and in consultation with the
Auditor and Treasurer of the State and with their az
sent, it determined that rather than let the worn
stop, which would not only expose the State 10 az:
other disastrous overflow, but involve the loss o
large expended by the destruction OF the unln
isled levees that the State Treasury should tC
their relief by giving them in exchange for hun
dred bonds, all equivalent amount OF State notes OF
certificates of Indebtedness. This amount paid
on my order, to the Chairman of the Board, and as
security therefor the bonds held deposit by the
Treasurer subject to the disposition of the Leeisla
ture am aware there warrant IN the law for
this TRANSACTION but considered justified to meet
an extreme emergency, and it being simply an ex-
change of one species of obligation Of Indebtedness
for another of equal if not greater value under the
terms Of the law which restricts their sale at par
value confidently rely on your approval of the
tion of all parties concerned Before dismssng this
subject, deem it my duty to refer to the financial
embarrassments the Board Of Levee Commissioners
have had to contend with from the beginning not only
for the want of funds, but in having receive and
pay ont deprecated currency, and the consequent
hardshps to the contractors i'll being paid large
extent in this paper which has ruled at discount of
from i've to twelve per cent in the market. In equity,
consider them entitled relief the hands of the
Legislature for these losses well for the discount
submitted to, arising from the default Of the State,
under the contracts. What system is the best for the
State to adopt to keep up the evees, whether by the
creation of internal Improvement districts, to be adj
ministered by local commissioners, elected by the pco
pie appointed by the Governor and maintained by
special tax all lands subject to overflow, by a
central board rs existing at present. the expense of
the general fund.- is for Won to determine Efforts
were made at the last session of Congress and re-
newed at the present session, procure appropri-
alton from the National Government in aid of the
levees. If it should be successful the State would
be relieved from heavy burthen Of expense.
lMMlGRAIlON-lnc importance OF this subject
claimed the attention Of your honorable body at the
last session, and for the purpose Of promoting the OBJ
ject sought bureau created, to be administered
by commissioner, to be appointed by the Governor
and an appropriation Of $40, 900 placed at his d>po
SAL Dr. Thomas Cottman, well known Citizen
thoroughly identified with the interests of the State,
and imbued with indefatgable industry was selected
to fill this responsible office. His report will show
what steps have been taken to carry the objects Of
the bureau, and with what result Although the san
guine may be disappointed that the success has not
been greater vet considered as begin ming al d in
view of the difficulties attending the experiment Of
turning the tide OF emf grafton which has been flowing
for so many years toward the Western States,
cause for Encouragement. Valuable information in
respect to SOIL products and climate has been dis
seminated through the agency Of the bureau, which
must eventually have the effect of attracting the
tention OF the aborlng population Of Europe, we'll
Of the Northern and Western States to the supe-
rior advantages Of State for settlement. To this
end the work commenced should not be relaxed, but
whether further appropriations the part Of the
State is expedent in furthcrancc of the object,
whether it will he left to private enterprise, is for you
to decide
To expatiate on the Importance to free govern
ment Of the general education of the masses. would
be regarded by me as a work Of supererogation in
addressing men of your intelligence. The foundation
of the government rests upon this theory louisiana
keeping pace with the progress of the age, adopted
which intended to make available to every family
instruction III the primary branches of education
She has tried this system for twenty years. but it is an
admitted and recognised fact, that outside Of the city
OF New Orleans and few large towns, the bcnefcent
effect expected to flow from the system has fallen far
short of what WAS intended The report of the learned
and experienced gentleman who presieS over the de-
parment of public education made to the Legislature
at the last session, contains his views and presents
many valuable suggestions for the extension of the
benefits from free schools to the country parishes |
consider his opinion entitled to your considerations At
the time I trust it will not be deemed out of
place that remind You of the claims of the freedman
and his family to an equal participation in the benefits
10 be derived from this benclicent system. He con
tributes TO its fund by taxation on his property and
every motive of interest and humanity demands Of
hat we shonld elevate his condition by extending to
lin the blessings of education Impressed with this
ruth, regard it as the most important recommenha /
ioh | can make. to you, that an appropriation be .
made from the school fund for the establishment OF
olored schools in all the parishes under the general
aw.
While advocating the free school system as Of rr-
nary importance, am not unmndful of the claims
u our higher collegiate institutions to State support
They have had to rc0rganise and commence anew
ince the war; aud have made rapid progress in re-
covering their former prosperity. An application for
pecla relief will be presented to you in behalf OF the
Centenary College," an institution excelled BY few
the country for its usefulness, and an homer the
state have no doubt that the az peal of the trus-
ees VII be met by You in spirit of lberay that
viii testify OF your appreciation Of the benefit con-
erred i'll the way of education through the means Of
his well organised college.
The reports Of the Directors Of the Opelousas and
ackson railways show satisfactory result in their
arninss, and demonstrate the utility and Importance
+ these great routes The completion of the former
Dad, according to its charter, is matter of prime
ecessity, and if the State can render assistance be-
ond what she has already done in furtherance of the
'ok think it should be done. By the terms of the
rlglna subscription for stock the part Of the :
tate the company is entitled to an issue of bonds at
ne rate Of six thousand dollars for every mile of
ompeted road, not exceeding the total amount sab
,ribed The report shows that the mnauy have ut
1e present time about eighty miles OF continuous
radng completed, and which only requires the iron !
be laid to start the locomotives and cars. Under
he circumstances, would the State be justified in "
aiyng the strict requirements of the law ami author
e the issue Of bonds to the extent of the distance
raded AS IN the case of completed road. IN 1851
nd g. company was organised under an act Of the
HeSature Tor tie purpose Of constructing Il railway
ON New iberia, connecting with the Opelonsas road
that point, to Orange in Texas on the Sabine river
hlch is the terminus of the railway from Houston !
he Importance Of the road in bringing New Orleans
communication with large portion of Texas
'oud stimulate our people to put forth til most !
tn II;