New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-11
REBUILDING THE LEVEEs.

We are gratitied to find that the move
mcnt started by the NEW ORLEANS REPUB-
LICAN to rebuild the levces of this State by
national aid, through an appropriation by
Congress or an Endorsement of State bonds,
is approved by nearly all our Republican
exchanges in the northwest The Demo
cratic party and papers signally failed in
similar efforts, because their motives and
their honesty were distrusted but the Re
publican press having taken hold of the
subject, there is now but little doubt that
early next winter we shall have a large ap,
preparation for repairing our levees, pro-
vided we send from this State strong Re.
publican delegation to Congress.
The Chicago Journal, in the following
words, states the question clearly, and
gives II the weight Of its strong indorse-
ment;
The New Orleans REPUBLICAN estimates
the value of the crops DESTROYED in that dis.
trict at thirty millions of dollars This on
one tract of leyee land one hundred miles
long by Fifty wide. During the vets 1865
and 1866 more than one-halfthe cultiyatable
lands IN the State were submerged at the
time OF the annual rise in the Mississippi.
me value OF the crops and other property
along the banks depending upon the proper
maintenance of these levees cannot be less
than one hundred and fifty millions yearly.
Some estimate it still higher. As a matter
of internal revenue to the United States gov.
eminent the tax on this amount of crops in
the market would be very good inves tment
for the government of the money which the
State asks to rebuild her leyees, SO that.
granting the inability of the State in its
present impoverished condition to rebuild
the leyees, it becomes matter of high ma
nonal interest to assume the expense and
do this for the State.
In former article we based an argument
Tor this course on the part of the govern
ment on the fact that By legal decision in
what is familiarity known as the Hudson
river case, nayigable rivers were declared
to be the property of the nation. Now the
land on their banks being the property of
the Individual, the nation or government
is hound to provide against destructive
oyerflows by combining the national waters
to national channels. This conclusion is
irresistible upon the common-law principle
in regard to trespass.
The petition to the government to rebuild
and maintain the levees is virtually the
same as the petitions which from time to
time 60 up to Congress for appropriations
for harbor,. rapid and snag, improve
ments. 1t Is based upon the same great
fact of national interest TO be pro-
vided for by the nation in case
where private enterprise cannot under
take the expense. The circumstances
of each particular case are to decide wheth-
er the appropriation asked for ought to be
granted or denied. In the case of the levees
on the lower Mississippi the argument is
very strong in favor of the government
assuming the expense of building the
levees--or at least Of loaning to the State
of louisiana the funds necessary for their
reconstruction, The consequences of the
rebellion have been most disastrous TO the
financial interests of tho State, as well as to
individuals, and neither or both are able to
build and keep in proper repair these great
public works, and their only reliance IS the
general government. We trust the fortieth
Congress will at Its next session appreciate
the Importance of rebuilding the levees Of
Louisiana and make the necessary provis.
ions therefor.