The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-30
WITH SOME ACCOUNT OF An EXCURSION THlIHER.


they have stood for 1000 years, embankments Of
great magnitude. protection earthworks; tho
swollen vistula lashes ts sides. but finds its fury
idle and Its wrath broken by esrthen barriers; the
thrifty Hollander. thanks to his dykes, can TIL
his fields in security, and We Of Louisiana bearing
in mind that "what man has done man can do,'
must guard our broad savannas against destruo-
tive floods and reclaim for commerce land rrepres-
sble taxaton millions of acres Of once prosperous
plantations. To effect this win require much Of
treasure and Of toll. Already has the good work
been begun. Several important levees, closing
disastrous crevasses. have already been con-
structed. II was to inspect one Of them, that an
excursion party left last Thursday on the steamer
Great Republic. The party consisted of Gov.
Warmoth, COL Jno. r. Deane, Gen. N. JEFF Thomp-
son, chief engineer Of the State, Mr. Alfred Kear-
ny, president Of the Board Of Assistant Alder
men, Mr.. W. 8. Mount, city treasurer, Capt. r. d.
Mitchell, secretary Of Board of Public Works,
Capt. 8. w. Sawyer, member Of the board for
First District Mr.. F. G. Remick, private secretary
to the governor, Mr.. P. J. Kennedy, the contrac-
tor and builder of the levee, Mr.. II. @. Dibbls,
Mr.. Geo. W. Meek, of the Times, the CRESCENT
representative, Mrs. Desne and Miss Annie War
moth.
Our objective point was Grand Levee, and the
purpose of the trip, as we have already intimated.
the inspection of that work. Our departure was
delayed until ten oclock next morning, our steamer
taking on some l200 boxes OF sugar and 700 sacks
of salt.
nation Saturday at 10 o'clock. We were hospita-
bly, received by Col. Towne. Mr.. Kennedy's
financial agent, Maj. Barbour, assistant engineer
OF the work. Capt. Morrison and Capt. Snead-
We proceeded Immediately on our tour ofinspection
and present the following as the result obtained.
For the facts, cats aud figures herein given, we
are indebted largely 10 Gen. Thompson, chief en-
gneer, TO Capt. r. ID. Mitchell, the obfging and
handsome clerk Of the Board OF Public Works, and
to Col. Towne, payinaster and general superinten-
dent of the laborers.
Grand Levee is situated in the parish OF Point
Coupee on the right bank of the Mississippi, l75
miles above New fbrieans, and one mile below
Morganza. Its dimension are, length 5000 feet.
(about II miles,) width at base averaging 100
L feet at Top Is feet, thus showing incline on
the land size Of Al 70 l. and the side to
1. Its average height Ia IL feet. The face next
the river protected from the action of the water
by three thlcknesses OF inch plank securely held in
place by timber braces. The cubic contents Of
| this gigantic embankment sum mp 100000 cubic
yards about 200 coo bbs. of earth. About $780,
900 feet of lumber has been used In Its construc-
| ton. The work was commenced on the 18th OF
| December, 1865, and will be completely finished
| by the bth OF next month. From eight 10 thirteen
| hundred hands have been employed, often work.
| ing night and day without intermisson.
a .
| the work has been executed in water waist deep.
| There is elk feet water now against the levee.
| The levee is three feet higher than the highest
water ever known, and protects from overflow
nine parishes, to the extent OF some two and half
| millions of acres. Firm confidence Is expressed
| in its durability, andlwe were informed by Colonel
| F. L. Claiborne that the police jury Of Point
| Coupee had passed resolution OF thanks to the
| Board of Public Werks. Colonel Claiborne and
| his talented and enetgetic son, Captain Claiborne,
| Captain Morrison. aud Captain Snead, influential
and prominent men of this parish all unite In pro-
| nouDcng Grand Levee success.
During our brief stay. in company of Colonel
Towne, your reporter visited the
CENTRAL CAMP.
Here we found at bis post the clever and skill
| ful young surgeon and physician, DR.. Richard
Clarke, TO whom we are indebted for the follow
! ing details: There are now at work about 800 men.
| The general health If the camp ia good, except
ing few cases of typhoid pneumonia which, how
ever have rapidly Yielded to treatment. But one
| death has occurred. that Of Michael Dunn, who
| was drowned while jcrossing slough. Deceased
| hailed from st. Lofts and was about forty years
| Of age Besides this camp there are two others,
| the upper and lower, similar 10 extent and ap-
pearance to the one we visited. While visiting these
rude but comfortable cabins we were forcibly re-
minded OF ''wintet quarters on the Rappahsn-
| mock"
We we're informed that the majority Of the
laborers had been a either one army the other,
and that strong fpirit Of friendly rivalry was
| engendered by their war recollectons" " Ysnk" and
| "CoDfedr strivipg 20 outdo eaca other in work.
| The men are well lpaid and well fed-rations Of
whisky five gills pdr day. The pay roll per month
| of the force averdges $40 600. The men them
selves are a cheerful, Jolly, hard working, stal.
wart set Of fellows Their discipline and orgsni-
zation partake somewhat of q military character.
Under the general superintendent, Maj j. r. Bar
bour, with Dan Grshsm and David Leshey as as
sistans the lower division operates. Controlling
the middle division are Messrs. John Kearney,
VIM. Curry, Ed. MAhoney and Charles Slattery,
while Messrs. Dan Ennis, Owen Fox, John Cum
mings and Peter Ernis manage the upper division
THE COST
OF 60 stupendous q work must of course be con-
siderable. The terms Of the original contract
between the Board Of Public Works and Mr.. Ken
nedy with the estimate, was 5000 cubic yards
Of earth at sac. ard 100000 feet OF lumber ct
$40 per 1000. 0w.pe TO the rise OF the river and
other unforeseen circumstances this estimate was
found 10 be too snail, and the Legislature author
lied the board TO smend the contract on the cor
rected estimate 80 rs 10 allow an increase not 10
exceed zoe. per O. sJic yard Of earth. The follow
ing figures represt&t the outside estimated cost
Say 400 coo cubic $srds Of earth at 723c 1920 900
100000 feet lumter at $40 per lO00..... o. 600.
$4,000
Mr.. Kennedy, hasever, says II viii not exceed
1885,, eco. So mu'S. for the price to be paid for
Grand Levee. Tb: contractors expenses may be
summed up as follSw labor pay roll $40 600 per
month, four montf. $4,000; supplies, sl2O, 900.
To which add cost Of lumber. utensils. ETC., and
II will be found b4l very little profit will accrue.
The expense OF le1se building has been provided
| for by selling leese bonds In this way some
$4l2 SEQ have eere placed as levee fund.- OF this
amount 1t viii fe remembered s67 900 was paid to
the lessees OF he State penitentiary for labor on
levees, perioimet BY the convicts. In marked
contrast to the ras 723c per cubic yard, at which
Grand Levee has been erected, we call to mind the
rate paid the lessets of the peniientsry TO- wit:
one dollar TO dollar and q quarter per cubic
yard. Our tour Of. inspection ended. we returned
TO headquarters, the old Stewart plantation resi-
| dence, where comfortable dinner awaited as.
| Dinner done justice 70, as the champagne freely
circulated, many toasts, appropriate TO the occs-
sion, we're drunk. Colonel Claiborne, Governor
Wsrmoth, Treasurer Mount and General Thomp-
| son entertained the company by neat little
speeches. At eight o'clock In the evening we Ieft
highly delighted with our trip. Embarking on the
hne little steamer Salado, we found ourselves in
good hands. To Captain Taylor, Mr.. J. L. Robbins,
the attentive genilemanly first clerk to Mr. Car
penfer, and last but not least to Mr.. Harry Smith,
the prince Of caterers and soul Of geniality, our
thanks are specially due. We must not forget to