Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1868-04-18
THE NEW LEVEE d
HEADouARrERs SRI MILITARY DIsrR1rr,

HEADQUARTERS 5rH MILITARY D1srR1rr,
New Orleans, La, April, 10. 1868.
General Orders No. 76.
8. In view Of the annual rise in the
Mississippi river, threatening the ~levees,
and calling for great vigilance on the
part of the planters and parochial author.
tiles to guard against the disasters OF
overflow and upon the recommendation
Of the Board of Levec Commissioners, j,
is hereby ordered that the Police Juries
of the parishes subject to overflow, shall
require the Ward or District Inspector to
make an immediate and thorough ins2ec-
ton Of the levees in their several dis
riots, and once q week thereafter during
the period Of high water. The result Of
said inspection will be made known to
the Presidents Of the Police Juries in a
detailed report, setting forth the situation
liz which the Inspector shall find each
|evee subject to his inspection, and speci-
flying the repairs to be made Immediately
to the said ~levees, in order to prevent
their breaking. In the case Of all levees
requiring repairs, the Police Juries will
make use Of all the means provided by
existing laws to cause the said repairs to
be promptly made and in case Of q Gre
vase, or threatened ~crevasse, will make
u requisition or the owners or cultivators
Of lands on the same side of the river or
bayou within seven miles of the poilt
threatened, to furnish fifty per cent. Of
the able bodied laborers employed on
said plantation Or plantations. wiM the
assent of said persons, to assist in avert
ing the threatened danger, and each Ia
borer shall be entitled to receive for each
days labor while 81 employed the sum
of one dollar and fifty cents per day. to
be paid from the proceeds Of the levee
bonds in the hands of the Board of Levee
Commissioners, on the production Of pay
rolls certified by the President of the
Police Jury ; and all expenses incurred
by parochial authorities, planters, or
owners of lands. in the building and re-
pairs Of Icvee, and the stopping of Gre
vases, shall be paid from the same fund,
on proper vouchers furnished.
1t being proven that numerous breaks
10 the levees have occurred from careless
ness Of persons letting in water through
the levee for the purpose of watering
crops, it is further ordered, that hereaf
ter no person, or persons, shall have the
right, either to cut a levee, or insert a
anme or box for the introduction of water
through the same, without first obtaining
the assent, in writing, Of the Police Jury
Of the parish in which the levee is situa.
ted, upon pain Of being compelled to pay
for the damages occasioned thereby.
In the ease Of cuts or fumes now ex.
listing, it is made. the duty Of the local
inspectors to ascertain and report whe tn
er the lcvee is endangered thereby, in
which case the Police Jury shall order
the proprietor Of tho land on which the
ievee is situated, to close and repair the
same. In default Of the proprietor COM
with said order. the Police Jury
shall close the same at his expense.
By command Of Brevet Major General
r. G. Buchanan.
GEO. l.. HARrsurr, Il
Assistant Adjutant General.
Official NATH'L BURBANK,
81 Lieut.. 37th Iuf,y, Bvt. LIST Lieut.. US
A., Acting Assistant Adjutant General.