The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-30
90 81 20 toFFICIALI .r SD
COMMON COUNCIL.
BOARD OF ASSISTANT ALDERMES
nEsULAR SESSION.


Walker, Pemberton, Camp, Grandpre, Fisher,
wynne and Farrell.
On motion OF Mr.. Farrell, the reading Of the
minutes was dispensed with. -
The following communication from the mayor
was reads
To the Honorable the Common Council:
Ge1tIenen-Five arbitrators we're appointed by
Ire late CITY authorities. and five by the CONNER
cial Water Works Company, to determine the
smount which should be paid by the city for the
Water Works and appurtenances.
The arbitratOrs concluded their lab0rs on the
22d inst, and their award, which is herewith
transmitted fixes the value OF the Water Works
and appurtenances at $1,000 900. payable in
bonds OF the city. as provided in the AID section
of the charter Of the company. The president OF
the company, in a communication also trans
mitted, requests the city to receive the delivery
of the Water Works, and release the board OF
directors from the management Of the same. The
act Of sale will be passed as soon as the city com
niles with the Tequistion of the AID section above
mentioned, and recited in the communication Of
the president of the company.
The city being authorized to issue bonds for the
purchase OF the Water Works. no time should be
lost IN the legal transfer Of the property. Once
IN our possession, we can introduce such reforms
and improvements, as will make the Water Works
of great public benefit, and thus vie with other
cities in the introduction OF an abundant supply
of water for the extingushment of fires, cleansing
of Streets and for the use Of citizens generally.
In order that the interests Of the city may not
suffer IRON delay and 10 view OF the magnitude
OF the work and its importance to the public at
large, | would suggest that the Common COun-
Gil take immediate steps to assume entire control
of the Water Works, and lbeg also TO suggest that
power be given me TO appont board OF commits
sioners and general superintendent. .
These appointments would prevent delay and
confusion IN the change of management. The ap-
pointees would Immediately enter upon their
duties and remain in theldischarge OF the same
until superseded by the definite action OF the
Office
duties etc., of the board OF commissioners and
general superintendent. .... .-..-
Your attention is especially called to the in
closed elaborate report Of the commissioners ap-
pointed by the city. This report contains much
Valuable information relating To the present con
duon of the Water Works, and the benefits
which will result to the city and to the people
when they shall pass into our hands. Very re-
JOHN R. CONWAY. Mayor.
INr. sturcken here entered and took his
seat - .e
The reading OF the reports accompanying the
above communication of the mayor was called
for and read, as follows: r.. -r...
u NEW ORLEANS, July %, 1868.
Honor the Mayor AAd Common Council of the City Of
New Orleans:
Genaemen-The board Of arbitrators appointed
by yonr honorable body TO act in conjunction with
q similar board appointed on the part of the Com.
mercial Bank, TO take in consideration and fix a
value upon the Water Works, in accordance with
the 42d section of the charter of said Commercial
Bank, approved April l, 1888, would most respect.
fully report the conclusion at which we have
arrived, accompanied with few remarks on the
same. -
The final agreement, signed by the full board of
ten al bitTsOrs will be laid before your honorable
body. We would, therefore, state that upon re-
ceiying our appointment we proceeded at once
upon the duties assigned us, by entering into an
extensive correspondence with number OF large
manufacturing establishments in the North, as
well as getting all the information we could 10
this city, ID order to ascertain the present value
of iron pipes, machinery, and all the material
connected with the construction of the Water
Works. information was also derived from some
of the most eminent hydraulic engineers in the
country. in order to obtain proper data.
Your board of arbtrators would embrace the
opportunity TO express their sincere thanks, on
the part OF the city of New orleans, to those gen.
temen for the prompt and cheerful manner in
which they responded TO our requests for informa'
Your board found, upon examination at the
Office of the Water Works, that there were no
reliable plans or maps, showing the streets in
which the pipes were laid; neither the sizes of
the pipes, the number Of fire plugs, water gates,
etc. We, therefore found that we could not pro.
coed intelligently until should have a reliable
map made, on which should be traced the lines
and sizes Of the pipes, hre plugs, water yates
etc. We, therefore, deemed 1t sur right and duty
TO have such a map made, and in accordance
with such views we employed Mr.. J. F. Braun to
make said map; this work delayed US some
four weeks before We could arrive at that part
this map, which will be found most invaluable
for future reference and use Of the Water Works
giving them reliable data and information, from
which TO make additions, alterations etc. We
would therefore, recommend the payment OF MI
In connection with this matter we feel it to be
our duty to state we have received much valuable
information from Mr.. ID. Blair, the very efh;len'
rfntan of rka
In order TO ascertain the condition OF the dstri
buting pipes. we proceeded to have some Of the
streets opened. and pieces of the pipes cut out
These were found to be IN much better state Of
preservation than expected, one piece taken NJ
which bad been laid in the ground for over thirtJ
years, showed scarcely any traces OF oxidation
the soil being composed OF tenacious clay, and al
ways being wet, so much so that the atmosphere
is entirely excluded, thus preventing decay. We
therefore have no hesitation in expressing ouI
opinion that the present system Of pipes. some
(57) fifty seven miles In length, will be found Il
be in good state OF preservation at the end o.
one hundred years from the date at which they
were laid.
We found the engines, aud pumping apparatus
in very good condition, and in fine working order
as well as the reservoir and mound. While w
find these things in such condition, we feel 1t Il
be our duty TO say that the capacity OF the works
is entirely inadequate to the growing demands o.
the city, and some steps should be taken soon, IN
order to obtain ample supply OF pure watel
may be brought into more general use, and bt
made available for the extnguishment Of nres. II
order TO have these works properly conducted
with view of carrying out the above suggestions
your board would most respectfully urge the i'm
portance Of the adoption Of plan introduced
and discussed by your predecessors, which au
thoIzes the Common Council TO appoint Boar(
OF Water Works commissioners, who shall imme
diately take charge Of these works and run then
for the interests of the citizens Of New Orleans.
Your board have held large number of meet
ings, IN which the different phases OF the subjec
have been discussed, and have had great difficulty
IN arriving alta agreement, the Commercial Banl
claiming very large sum for said works a.
amount which we considered too large We have
therefore, after long and mature consideration
unanimously agreed 10 tx the value in accordance
with section AZ of their charter at (s2 900 0OO) tW
millions Of dollars in five per cent. bonds.
The receipts Of these works in 1867 amounte
TO lslsS .oOO) one hundred and eighty-fve thou
tane collars; the actual running expenses, in
cInolng coal, salaries, stationery, printing sn
once expenditures, were 1885 000) thirty. Nv
Thousand dollars, thus leaving q net income q
5OOOO) one hundred and fifty thousand dollars
five per cent. interest on ftq O6O OOoN - ,,;lli