New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-10-09
CITY oouHcIL--oFFIcIAL.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Regular Session.

Regular Session.
CITY HALL, New ORLEANS, |
October6 1865.
The Board met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: President Markey, and Messrs.
Boguille, o'Brien, Pessou, Prados and
Shields.
The minutes were read and approved.
The following message from tLc Mayor
was received aud referred to the Finance
Committee:
Mayoralt of New Orleans.
City Hall, October Z. ls5s.
To the Honorable Common Council:
GENTLEMEN--I deem it barely necessary
10 do more than call the attention Of YOUR
honorable body to the disastrous food with
which our city has been visited and the
distress and loss to our fellow citizens aud
their families living in the rear OF the city,
to believe that immediate action will be
taken to guard against a recurrence of a
similar mifortune.
Having visited and given the immediate
district my personal inspection, in COMPANY
with the City Surveyor and from the nest
information | could gam, imperfect as it
must be- rs the water has not as vet re.
ceded. I learn that the protection levees.
together with those in the vicinity of the
draining machines, have been removed and
used for private use, which, in connection
with the present system of running the lat,
ter by contract instead of under the super.
intendence of the Surveyor, may be ssigned
as the main cause of the disastrous spread
of water.
Intending, upon the recession of the food,
in company with the Surveyor, to give
further personal attention to the important
subject, ! would respectfully recommend
that authority be given me to appoint two
civil engineers, who shall, Jointly with the
City Surveyor, locate and cause to be built
protection leyees in the rear Of the city, SO
as to be fully prepared for any equinoctial
storm, however violent; and which, from
our peculiar location and proximity to the
lake, may visit us annually, and as the past
week has shown, bring ruin and incalcula.
bic distress to our people.
Holland has her fkes, behind which her
people repo.e and defy the ocean. feeling as
secure as upon the highlands Of scotland,
Whllei the people Of ChiCSgo By lnComlt--
BILE energy aud perseverance overcome the
disadvantages OF low and fiat section IN
some respects like our Own, by moving and
raising blocks or squares OF stone buildings
with as much facility as though constructed
OF wood.
Proitinr by the example Of Holland and
Chicago, we should not permit the season
now opeaing and favorable for such works,
to close without adopting system of not
only protecting our city, but reclaiming A
larae section ofland back to the lake.
Next TO cur finances, know Of no sub
iect demanding more delberation and CO.
operation on the part Of the Executive aud
Legislative branches Of our City Govern
ment than the one now earnestly though
briefly presented for your consideration.
The enterprise, intelligence and skill are
here among our people, and equal to any
undertak az however stupendous, and with
all these brought fully into action, our lands
can be reclaimed and that section between
the city and the lake be made as desirable
as Others now more favorably located, while
the increased revenue by taxation on land
thus enhanced in value, would to great
extent reimburse the outlay.
I shall be pleased to cooperate with
committee from your honorable body look.
Ing to future protection from inundation,