The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-19

raised against this project I win first give
synopsis of the charter, showing the privileges
granted and the charges imposed upon the COM
psny.
G F. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles Dilling.
ham. Gardner Banks Ernest peolanc' mi &c Tss
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company" to
construct q canal, with the privilege OF teie-
graph and o shell road, from point on the ieft
bank of the Mississippi river, in the parish OF Je,
ferson. thence through the corporate limits OF
Csrrollton and Jefferson cities and New Orleans ID
ss direct route practicable north of Broad street
to the Rgolets, the outlet of Lake Catherine.
thence TO Snip Island.
surface with a uniform depth OF twelve feet
throughout its length. The company has the pri-
vilege TO widen the same TO three hundred feet,
with corresponding depth of twenty-five feet;
also, 10 make branch or lateral canal from tue
main canal TO point at or near the river 10 the
CITY of jefferson, and are required 20 cause the
banks of said canal 10 he made secure and ade-
quate to avoid any danger from overflow or
breakage.
The company shall construct locks to connect
the main canal with the river for the passage OF
steamboats,, vessels, barges, etc.
The compsDy will have the right to purchase or
expropriate 600 feet in width, on each side from
the center Of their canal
The construction OF said canal shall commence
within twelve months from the 4th of october,
1868, and shall be completed Eve years thereafter
No more than fifteen draw-bri1ges shall be
placed across said canal for q distance OF thirty
miles. through the corporate limits OF New Or
leans, Jefferson and Carrollton.
Any person or corporation may use the said
camel for drainage purposes. on such terms ana
conditions as may be agreed upon between the
parties.
The sbOve are the main features Of the charter
of 4th October, 1865.
The whole project is impracticable by reason Of
OhRtaClea
vested rights, and is not worthy of notice, were
it not for the supplementary act which passed one
branch of the Legislature, and the object OF
which is to build portion OF the ship Island
Canal with money extracted from the people
without equivalent benefit.
The monfrosity is entitled An act to aid in the
construction of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, for the purpose of more efectuslly levee-
ing, draining and recsiming the swamp lands in
the rear of the city Of New Orleans" which pro-
pose to prove to be an attempt to swindle the
people of New Orleans, Jefferson. and OF the State
at large, out of nearly two and quarter millions
of dollars, and infict irreparable losses upon
them.
Let rs see what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning the
drainage of certain portions of the parishes of JEFF
ferson and Orleans.
The second section consolidates into one the
draining districts described in the law Of 18th
March, 1885, and legalizes the tax imposed by the
draining commissions in their respective districts
will be appointed by the governor, to take charge
of all the assets belonging to the draining dis
tricts and who will receive as compensation q
per cent. on all moneys collected and received by
him. The said commissioner, besides receiving
the drainage taxes already assessed in the First
and Second Districts, will complete the ASSESS
ment of the Third Dristrict, and levy tax on the
lands in said district equal to that assessed in the
First Districts $40 mills per square foot) The
taxes due in the First and Second Districts, and
the whole amount assessed in the Third District,
shall be divided into four equal parts-one.quarter
shall be payable on the lst October, 1869, and
each other quarter shall be due and payable an
nually thereafter. The assessment shall remain
first mortgage on the property Cd now provided
For all lots Of land sold under judgment said
commissioner shsll receive ten cents on each and
every lot.
The fifth section says that all moneys collected
by said commissioner shall be paid into the State
treasury, and all real estate acquired by the nom
payment of taxes shall be considered, and held in
trust, as separate fund and property, to be paid
over and the titles to said acquired real estate 70
be made over 10 the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal Company. as hereinafter provided
The sixth section says, that when the company
shall have excasated portion of their canal
feet deep and IS feet wide, for distance OF
miles from point near the Mississippi river, and
connecting with the Bayou GENTLY, they shall
receive one-fourth of the amount assessed by the
commissioner, and q patent for 100000 acres OF
public land.
When the canal shall have been excavated $50
feet wide and feet deep, they shall receive an
other fourth of the amount assessed, and patent
for 100, 600 acres of public land.
When the canal shall have been excsvated $50
feet wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive
another fourth of the amount assessed, and q
patent for 100 600 acres of public land.
And when the whole canal shall have been COM
peied as provided in the charter. the last fourth
of said assessment and patent for 100000 acres
of public land shah be paid 20 them.
The eighth section says that, in further consid-
GRAFTON of the aid and grants conferred by the
State the said company shall construct and main
tain suitable leyee along the north side OF their
canal for a distance Of five miles, and of such
length and dimensions as to prevent the city from
being overiowed by any crevssse occurring above
its intersection with the river and also to prevent
the city from being overlooked By water from
Lake Pontchartrain.
No money or lands shall be vested IN said CON-
pany until the State engineer or city surveyor
shall certify that said protection levee Is COM
pleted in accordance with the provisions of this
act.
The above summary extract of the original
charter, and of the additional act, being sufficient
to explain the whole scheme, we will now ex-
anime the project in its details, as far as the IN
terests of our community are concerned.
In virtue of this additional act, the company is
made the recipient of the unpaid drainage tax and
of new one imposed for their sole bsneht, upon
the propertyholders of the Third District. amount
ing, in the aggregate TO sum OF 81, 922 900, and
assessed as follows:
First Draining District. $3.50 900
Second .-....-........... 44O 900
Third - ----..--.--...-.-- $4,000
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81, 922, 900
Less p per cent to ibe paid TO a colec-
tor to be appointed in virtue OF the act 4S,050
Net amount Of drainage tsx.......S 81 1873, $50
Add also. 400, 600 acres of State lands,
TO be selected by the company. 100000