The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-11


Total amount given said company :. 50 Alb 95
Three fourths of this amount, 81, s55 1852, are Il
De handed 10 the company, during the progress
feet wide and IL feet deep, the cost Of which viii
not exceed 1888 $40, the remaining fourth, $6l8.
| 4s7 80, only upon the completion of the whole
canal to the Rigolets, as provided in the charter
In presence o. the above figures you can per
act to aid 10 the construction of the New Orleans
| and Ship Island Canal" and what powerful aid
the property-holders of New Orleans, Jefferson
and Carrollton cities are compelled to give the
genmemen orlginssors OF the scheme towards the
The whole cost Of the canal will not exceed
IS 900 600; SO, beside the injury inflicted upon
their property, and without Q particle of interest
In the contemplated work, the proprietors within
tne limits OF the above named cities are made to
cont,ibute to one.hsf of the entire cost of its
Having acknowledged the first part Of the title
OF the above-named act to be in strict accordance
with its meaning, We are obliged to say that the
latter part ID just the reverse, and that instead Of
" more efiectnslly leveeing, draining and reclaim
ing the swamp lands In the rear of the city of New
Orleans'' nothing said about the swamp in the
rear OF Carrollton and Jefferson City, the project
ed act viii entirely ruin our system of drainage
bring the river and lake waters within our doors,
cut OF communication between the front and rear
parts Of our cities compel rs to double the present
number OF draining machines, and as the whole
river front from Carrollton to the lower part of
New Orleans will have no other outlets for the dis
charge of rain or domestic waters than the con.
templsted canal, we will, as it is contemplated by
the charter Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, be obliged to drain the whole front lands
into the said canal, on such terms and conditions
as will be agreed upon between the parties, and
by these means place the $50, 600 inhabitants of
the above named cities, for drainage purposes, at
the mercy OF the seven propretors Of the charter,
who will thus be enabled to accomplish their work
entirely at the expense OF the public.
To give pretext for this new legislation, and
apparently legitimate the appropriation of
$4,000 900 Of the public money to the New Orleans
and Ship Island Canal Company, clause has been
inserted in the act compelling the company TO
build levee on the NORTH side of their canal TO
protect the cities from any overfows from the
lake or river water. This obligation Is simply alb
surd, as the building of this levee will afford no
protection whatever in case Of q hurricane the
only difference for us will be that instead of recey
ing the waters direct from the lake, we will have
TEEN through the unprotected south bank of the
canal, and certainly that will not improve our con-
dition. -
:. This clause must have been inserted solely for
the purpose Of deceiving an ungusrded public,
who bad suffered so much from the late over.
flow. which could have been prevented at a cost
of $780, and make them believe that the pro-
posed relief is equal to the remuneration granted
TO the company.
In fact, there was no reason for Introducing
this clause, for similar but more adequate pro-
lection against the lake water Is already pro.
vided for in the original charter, the company
being obliged TO make the banks of their canal
secure and adequate, to avoid any danger from
overflow or breakage, and, must say, that it is
not an onerous obligation imposed upon them, for
IT is the result of the work itself, the earth COM
ing from the excavation will furnish material
enough to make levee on each bank, at least 10
feet high. 20 feet wide ct top and 100 feet at the
base. amDlv auftiriouf IN NAL he Ga
Such will not be the case, however, should
crevasse occur at or below the lock intended by
the company to be built at Carroilton. The cities
belted by the inner or south levee Of the com.
pany's canal, their whole area would be covered
with sheet OF water from five to ten feet deep, |
and should this canal ever be built, this impend.
ng calamity will, like Damocles's sword, be con-
SANITY hanging over our heads. I1s
This fact Is so well known that, during all the !
lime our State was under the control Of its own |
citizens, the building of locks or sluices was |
Always prohibited in the bends of the river,
.here the banks are always subject to caving or
Ibrasion.
Another of the many Objectionable features of
he whole project is the location of the canal on |
he north side Of Broad street, in the vicinity of
3ayou Savage and Gently Road, to say nothing
II the damage which this location will occasion
0 the five railroads chartered by the State and
be city OF New Orleans, or of its interference
With the navigation Of the New Canal and of the
ANAL Carondelet, you win find that the fifteen
rawbridges 30 generously granted to the public,
OF distance Of thirty miles, are far from being
efficient to afford a speedy communication be.
ween the two severed parts Of our cities.
AS whole, the project is an absurdity, aud,
/ have already said, not worthy of discussion,
nd ought not to be noticed, were it not for the
etermined intention to squeeze money from an
verburdened community, exhibited In the sup
act, which, If ever passed by the
e gisature, will permit the gentlemen projectors
{ the scheme to realize q profit of nearly mil
on aud o half of dollars out Of the digging of
We miles OF canal costing only $40 900.
LII, previous to its passage, the original charter
ranfed to the New Orleans and Ship Island Canal
ompany had been referred by the Legislature to
he consideration Of the present able State en-
ineer, venture to say that this scheme would
ave never been entertained, and then the add.
onal act would have had no reason to be dis
lssed.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
l.. SURGI, City Surveyor.