The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-24

tTlct they wisely stopped affer the nrststeps
Let Us see what has been accomplished mp to
the present day. -
FIRST DRAINING DISTRICT.
This district contains an area Of nearly 54o0
acres, divided into two separate sections by the
Metsirie ridge. One section is bounded by the
river, Julia street, the New Canal, the MetslIie
Ridge, Bayou St John, Csnsl Csrondelet and 81.
Peter street. and IL one Of the best improved por-
tons of this city.
The other secIion covers the land between the
Metairie Ridge, Lake Pontchsrtrsin, the New
Canal and Bayou st. John, having an area Of
about 500 acres. nearly all of which IL swamp.
The first OF these sections (l700 acres IN extent)
has been dIsinf and cleared since 1880 by the
New Orleans Draining Company, at cost to the
property owners of 1877 600; IL was provided
with numerous canals and reservoirs, and has
draining machine on Hagan avenue, between
Benville snd Cont streets. The drainage OF this
section, which formerly gave full satisfaction to
its Inhabitants, has been very much neglected
since its transfer TO the city. For this reason, and
on account Of the numerous improvements, made
since eighteen years. In the shape OF buildings,
psvemeDts and bsnquettes, the engines and
canals are no longer adequate to perform tue
task required. No work has been done on this
section except to collect taxes for the intended
drainage. $3.50
The commissioners have devoted their attention
TO the second section, nearly all swamp, but yet
very little has been accomplished. Two canals
on Taylor and Harrison avenues, have been dug;
another of about IL acres long, on the center of
Orleans street, is in progress. The amount ex.
he First nistr;ct cannnt exceed 40 mo- =
Ghe commissioners, from want Of proper ad-
vice, or of practical knowledge, wherever they
assumed the direction and control of the work,
seemed not to have understood the task before
them.
The drainage of a large city like ours, is Of two
different kinds, and the cost Of each is vastly diff
ferent
The uniDhabited or rural portion does not require
"a mnch york al the urbsn horizon because the
land beino omen and norons sbsorbs the ram
~ Issoe eOd ,hs cn%h;9ad sotnn
Of the ann and wind soon evanorates and dries nm
MAT remains nm the snrface r
The inbshited or nrhsn norton ia inst the re.
vs,se. the soil there Is corered With hnildings.
the wards are bricked or tagged, the streets
naved and lined with banouettes whose gutters
ppl carry the rsin or the domestic water into the
draining canals as fast as thew reach them
Frop The nreoeding descrintion Won will ner.
ceiye at once that distinction must be made be-
tween the different sections COMPOSING a draining
district: in the rural sections surrounding leyee
and few bitches are ali that ia reouired for good
drainage: in the urban sections. besides leyees
which are ALWAYS necessary 10 keen off the sur.
rounding waters numerous canals and reservoirs
large enough TO receive the oreatest flood without
OVERLOOKING their banks, are REQUIRED. and also
the aid of powerful draining machines 10 remove
.ne Ts'ei Us iAs' % 7" So'u uia'e' AZ '"e ~
IL a. axa;n;D, oor,,D;ss;oraxs haa .oLar ,b;s
IL oS ,he smsiaot ,nh;oh e. ,ba on,n ra,,onaI
We III, ,sst wSnSd bo ~ haan nnncb :ssiar ana
inv ~ 70 n 49,. $3.50. = y 49, . 49,. -, -
.ne Coss VI Mss;s, DE- te 1 h"a ZIG
decd 20 less Than tonT,h of The nressnt nrice
ou9su y. VIC Iii
iesr mar me commissioners INCREASING win
prove 70 DC iahuie' anu NY reasons ior 'n'S ieai
are as i1rtows A. HI. ,;..-... a.
"a IN; 20 Wig s h ~ sIe ha.o
LILLE sa e. IN. sn. en-.
S;s,,;c, 20 ss5s $40 ;nssssd y, Ss5o 0oo wh;cS
On"h, 20 he he "a ,;n'nn cost a. con,smnIa.sd
SSs,hs Law fIs5s '' -
9nS The tax of 2 10 mills nsr sunericial foot
brings the cost of drainage for every SQUARE of
oronnd of 400 feet whether swami or HIGHLY i'm
nnroved 10 saq7. The owners of the swami lots
which are hardly worth one.dfth of the amount
claimed will not he able TO nav IL and should the
commissioners be able 10 accomplish their work,
this property would not sell at forced sale for
bali OF the amount claimed.
sra. Inc properly owners IN tnst part OF .he
olsulct comprised Wi'nin the Me'aifle hloge, Ne"
Canal. Bayou II 1onn' Osioorne street o ana Car
oboeleI Oansl, having palo once so1''OVy W lie
n. u pIalnlng 20, Iol ,ner uansee, VII Ies SIS
tne payment OF an Suuduohsi sun Vi e-tt.oIi
leVied upon mem Dy Inc nrst olsulet COMMISSION
ers LOT similar pul pOse. - A.
| an. any U.s. onu OSs 'otuooS POIs'oH " -
hIst draining District lies between the river Julls'
| of about GOO acres The cost Of drainage being
the same throughout the whole district, the con-
tribution for this part will amount to $50, 24S,
| and, excepting the amount which may be paid by
few ignorant persons in the other sections, will
form the only available means Of the first draining
| commissioners for defreying the expense OF a
s5s7 80 '''''N' P'"''N -fO-
l ted tha inn IN f0r 10
o,aaria.ssiorars nf tbe frst drsinino distyict ~
| oornIsta ,bair undertaking let us see whether II
comPieIe o, 'I ba ns.ihs nv cdmbnsS .ction With
| Il. i'm.
Viz 40 imnortsnt 10 the weifaTe Of on,
| ctizans and I think the following plan will
| snsTar he nnrnose
| - A..
VIII mainlsin tne o,vis so y, .ne "n0le uiSui'
| ~ an - 81 ia ,.;,L;- al
Inc nIs. secuop WI coSel .ne Ishu T nn ans
| -. - a. D., q, 49,
The work required to keep permanent rurs
oransge, anu hs PioOsOie coS'' WIZ De aS loi
A levee along the New Canal,
| Lake Pontc hsrtrain and the