New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-08

stantisi and commOdious landings the city
has had for mauy years past. The slips or
inclines OF tho said wharf have been con-
structed in such a manBer that freight can
De placed aboard and discharged from the
steamers with less Inconvenience than
heretofore.
The lower steamboat whsrf below Canal
street is in fair order The large wharves
in front OF the Beef market and Red stores
known as the PieAyune Tier, which had act
tied some three or eject, and parted from
the bulkheads, were stripped of the timber,
etc, and rebuilt with 7 whRrves, and the
Ievee rehlIed with river sand, and graded
where the same had caVed in.
At posg No. 49, third district the piles of
this wharf had sunk from the lower outside
corner, thereby causing the level of the
wharf to siuk two and o half feet, and have
tendency to part from the bulkhead and
slide into the river. The said wharf has
been brought TO the proper level by raising
the lower outside corner, and properly Sc
cured with fender piles.
Post No. 70, third district; new piles
were driven, aud the lower outside corner
properly secured.
Posts Nos. 80 to IS, third district, inclu-
sive. The wharves had an irregular settle
meDt, and a tendencyto slide into the river
IN fact, the whole Of this wharf WAS in
worthless condition. The same was stripped,
rebuilt, and placed in good order.
Posts Nos. II to % inclusive were extend
ed and brought to d proper depth Of water
for the accommodation of vessels.
IN the fourth district the wharf
at the head of sorapuru street hav.
ing parted from its bulkhead and
commenced settling in the river,
wss entirely stripped and the lumber put on
shore. This wharf, I would state has cost
the city the. sum of about $500 and was
entirely useless. The locality not being a
proper one for wharf, for many years it
was with the greatest difficulty that mar
row roadway and bulkhead could be main.
tanned.
The fourth district wharves have all been
repaired aud made available for the accom-
mediation of vessels with the exception of
one or two wharves, which are in decayed
aud dilapidated condition, requiring to be
BOLT anew (pGrtlY or entirely.)
la tine third district at posts No. sc and 80
the wharves were stripped and rebuilt, but
of late the constant abrasion of the river at
post No. IS, third district, caused the levee
TO cave IN to such an extent that only about
eight feet is left To protect the square block
Ing OF the street from falling into the river,
and parted the wharf from the bulkhead.
new bulkhead has been constructed and
the bank is now properly Pr detected,
I would also call your attention to the
fact that some time ago 1000 feet of wharves
and landings of this city, from Elysian
Fields street to a point above the United
states mint, was set epart for use of the
United States government. More recently
the Quartermaster's department selected
and took for its use portion OF the wharves
at Bulls Head, postNo. 40, fourth district,
as a suitable place for the landing and dis.
charging of their csrgoes.
/ called on the proper authorities with
win ys,F.
Of the same, for the use of the city, which
request has been granted by the United
States government.
BLfTUEEs.
A very large quantity of batture sand has
been wheeled out, wherever the material
could be obtained for the purpose of ex-
tending the earthwork of the levees in front
Of the first, sec )ld, third, and fourth dis
tricts, and for general use of this depart
ment; also permits for 10000 cubic yards
have been issued for private purposes, and
city railroad purposes, and such as filling
up lots around the city, House of Refuge,
etc.
The unsightly and unhealthy ponds which
have been so long filled up with staguant
water have been III drained off by means
of box culVerts placed in the levees, there.
by leaving the ponds perfectly dry, and at
the next fall If the river sufficient baLture
earth will form, and the same Can be wheeled
out and these ponds FLED up
/ would suggestthat the oatture sand be
reserved next season by the city for the pur-
pose Of filling all the ponds along the front
of the first district the city filling her pOr
tions, aud by due notice compel the private
owners to fill their portions Of the levee
properly with portion of the bstture san
reserved By the city.
The levee Just above the sugar refinery,
third district, Csged in for 200 feet Ia
length aud about forty feet ia width, ap
proaChing the roadway to within about
thirty feet. The bank has been secured by
proper aud substantial bulkhead-
The eyee from the Convent three squares
up was in dangerous condition. beiug
badly caved in several places near Poland
street. Agreeaby with aur hoi'izstion from
the Honorable Common Council, l have re
p4ired great pOruOn of the old buKheads |
aud built some new oues; there have also |
been constructed seven jet,ies OF piling driv
eDcl0se together amt projecting out Into the |
river at AN angle Of forty 6v degrees fro II
the line OF bukheads. The effect is to throw
the current out from the present levee auI
cause deposit where formerly there was
abrasion.
LEvEEs AND LANDINGS,
A large portion of the carts and labor |
employed in this department has been ap |
Piled 70 siiiag lathe hattnres. grading con.
sturcting, and extending the Levers aud |
landings in froutof the city. Batture earth |
has been wheeled out and the landings |
much improved by grading and Smelling. |
thereby extending the earthwOrk COusId |
erably in the first aud second districts, so |
that many places where the same was |
muddy and impossible have been placed in |
good order and condition, and proper |
A.
ing Indictment weather the WharVt are easy |
OF access.
The evees, also, from Washington street
TO the first district have been graded, and n |
regular slope given from the front of the |
whArvrs to the street cutters for the pur |
pose OF securinga thorough drainage, there |
by Keeping the leyee dry and firm
The levee known as the Sugar Landing.n |
situated between CustomhOuse aud ST. |
Louis streets, has been gra ed TO a uniform |
Slope and shelled, aid is ut present in ii |
better condition than it has ever been |
known to be In, and is an improvements 10
the wharves, aud general satisfaction is |
manifested by alL Also, good plank walk
have been constructed across the levee 10
the wharves between the sec0Rd distrl I
ferry aud Canal street ferry landings; and
from Canal street ferry landing 10 st. Joseph
street, improving the levee to great eX-
tent.
DRAINAGE.
The next impor ait subject would re.
specially call your Honors attention t. il
the drainage Of our city. The portion OF
the city now drained by the city authorities
has been divided into four districts rs fol
lows, VIZ:
The stsection comprises that portion of
the city lying between TOuuuse street aud
the Cs,rondelet Canal and Bayou St Jnhn
on one side, and Ehe new Calal and Julia
street on the other side. the river IA front,
and Lake Ponlehartrain In the rear, and is
DRAINED by the Benvilie street m4chinr.
The second section c0mrrires all that por-
tiOu Of the city ging between the river Ia