New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-09-10

[coxr1sUED FROM FIRST rAeE.l

rumors concocted upon the streets. am
willing to be guided in this matter entirely
by those considerations which to my mind
are essential to the welfare of the constit-
uency represent. / do not desire to make
long speeches. upon the bill, but | shall offer
amendments where think they are needed.
That there are provisions which should be
stricken. out and others which should be
amended, am satisfied. ! will ask Sen
ators to read from line thirty four of the
first section: "apd the said corporation is
hereby authorized and empowered to lay
out, locate and construct, furnish, maintain,
and enjoy a continuous canal and telegraph,
with the appurtenances, from point on
the west bank of the Mississippi river (de-
scending), in the parish of Jefferson, thence
through the corporate limits of CaTrollton,
cities OF Jefferson and New Orleans, IN as
direct route as practicable to the Rigolets,
near the outlet of Lake Catherine, and
thence to Ship Island"
Now, sir / ask the gentleman who pre-
tends tnat this bill ought not to be amended
whether this company, upon the authority
of this section, could not run the canal
through st. Charles street or any other
street they choose? Does it not appear
that some restriction should be placed upon
it, that they should be told, ''You can cut
your canal in certain districts, within Ger
tain limits?n Would it not be unreasonable
to allow them to select their own limits, no
matter whose property they cut through?
Mr.. Wilcox: The bill further on provides
how this canal shall be constructed and in
what manner they shall pay for it. Suppose
they should think OF running through st.
Charles street, there is not money enough
in the United States opurchast t. 1t seems
to me that is an idle objection.
Mr.. Braughn: But some provisions
should be made limiting the course OF the
canal.
Mr.. Wilcox: Furthermore, it states the
canal shall go in direct line as possible
it seems to me that is explicit enough.
Mr. Braughn: In order to show the gem
tleman still further that there is room for
amendment to this bill. I will ask him how
he proposes to traverse the space between
the old and new canal; how does he expect
to run through their survey! These canals
belong to company's having invested
rights: and this Legislature has 10 right to
| interfere with any other corporation by
giving privileges which will interfere with
rights already vested. Hence, it is well to
pause and carefully consider each section,
and listen to all reasons and amendments
which may be offered.
| am more charitable than the Senator
| from East Feliciana; l would not charge
him or any other Senator with motives
other than such as they should have in Of
IGllllG amendments anu OtJtGLlOuas L CdIt
not, sir, where the energy or the capital
comes from which is to be employed upon
works of Improvement in the State of Lou
isiana, but at the same time / will guard
the interests of the people / represent.
think this section should be amended so as
to confine the source of the canal to certain
limits, and for that reason | offer this pro-
viso, to follow the words ''Ship Island, - in
line forty-nine, in first section: PROVIDED,
that the route shall be beyond Broad street
toward the lone lake through the parishes
of Orleans and Jefferson
Mr.. Lewis: In regard to the locks, my
only object was to compel them to make
those locks properly. If they run this canal
into the Mississippi want it to be under
the supervision OF an officer who would be
interested in the property of the city of
New Orleans, who shall say to them what
kind of locks shall be put there. If the
lock was insufficient he should have the
right to dictate dimensions and compel
them to build one that would be perfectly
secure. The winds frequently blow the
waters of the Gulf into Lake Pontchartrain.
until it is higher than this city. This would
come through the canal and jnundate the
city, so that instead of having drainage, it
would be means of flooding the CITY, As
Judge Braughn says, it is not proper to say
that they should run this canal in the most
practicable route, but the very direction
the canal shall take should be specified in
the bill. What right have we to grant a
corporation the power of running a canal
through the most populous part Of this city,
if they should choose to do so. Let the
route be we'll defined. 1t would be prepos-
ferrous to pass this bill in its present state
without amendment.
Mr.. Todd: Mr.. President this bill appears
to meet with a good deal of resistance from
all parties present, and do not think it in-
~ tho of ba
parishes of Orleans, jefferson and st. Der
pard. move it be referred to committee
of five from these parishes.
Mr.. Foute: | second the motion.
asked when the bill was under consideration
before that we should have some surveys
showing that there was sufficient depth of
water at any point it was contemplated
this canal should reach in Lake Borgne or
Lake Pontchartrain. We should have n.y.
biographical surveys. I must thank Sen.
ator Lewis for his suggestion, also, that the
route ought to be defined, its length, its
depth, its width, and its cougse, in justice to
the business interests Of this city.
Mr.. Witteenstein: Mr.. President, l be
lieve that Senator Braughn's amendment
amendment the course through which the
canal shall run. move to lay the amend.
ment of Senator Todd on the table.
The yeas and nays being ordered, the
Senate refused to lay the motion of Senator
Todd on the table.
Mr.. Todd called for his motion to refer to
special committee from the parishes OF
Orleans, Jefferson, and st. Bernard.
Mr.. 0Hara: shall oppose that motion.
The whole State of Louisiana is as much in
terested in this bill as the city of New Or
leans. If the gentleman will make mo-
ton to refer it to committee to be ap-
pointed by the Chair will support it.
Mr.. Pinchback; Mr.. President, / am in
favor of reference to special committee.
1t makes very little difference to me where
they come from, but it seems to be sub.
ject of special interest to the city Of New Or
leans, and il is also question of interest to
the State. find that the bill will come in
conflict with chartered interests-the old
Canal Company, which has q charter, and
the canal owned by the State. The practi-
cal working of this canal will be to make
the New Basin, as well as the old, of no ac-
count whatever. 1t strikes at vital interests
of the city and State, as well as individual
interests. For this reason think we should
not act upon 1t hastily, but give it proper
consideration, and refer 1t to q special coma
mittee.
Mr. Wittgenstein: / view this thing ex-
actly as Senators Todd and Pinchback do.
But this bill has already been referred to a
committee, which has reported fnyorably
upon it. 1t has been fixed as the special
CIDER Of the day several times, and believe
every Senator is as competent to vote upon
it now as ii it came from another committee.
It was referred To the Committee on Inter-
nal improvements, which reported favora-
bly,. II that committee is not competent to
report upon such measures, ! do not
think you will find a committee in the
Senate, or be able to appoint one that viii.
Mr.. Bacon: Although l favor the canal,
and believe that all the objections to it can
he overcome and that the canal If sniff.