The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-21


Net amount Of drainage tax 81 ,S7S $50
Add, also, 100000 acres Of State lands,
to be selected By the company. 100000
Total amount given said company. =. 81, 473,s $50
Threefourths of this amount, 81, S55, 462, are to
be handed to the company, during the progress,
and after the completion of five miles Of canal $50
feet wide and IL feet Deep the cost Of which will
not exceed $3.50 $40, the remaining fourth, $685..
4S7 so, only upon the completion OF the whole
canal to the Rgolets, as provided in the charter.
In presence of the above figures, you can per.
ceive how troe is the title Of this act entitled AN
act to aid in the construction Of the New Orleans
and Ship Island Canal" and what powerful aid
the property-holde of New Orleans, Jefferson
and Carrollton cities are compelled to give the
gentlemen originators of the scheme towards the
Accomplishment of their design.
The whole cost Of the canal will not exceed
IS 600 600; so, beside the injury inflicted upon
their property, and without particle of interest
in the contemplated work, the proprietors within
the limits of the above named cities are made TO
contribute to one.haf Of the entire cost OF its
construction.
Having acknowledged the first part Of the title
Of the above-nsmed act to be in strict accordance
with its meaning, we are Obliged to say that the
latter part Ia Just the reverse, and that instead OF
"more effectuslly leveeing, draining and reclaim
ing the swamp lands in the rear of the city of New
~ srousns .s1 aoUas ossys 1888
eG act VIII entirely ruin our system OF drainage,
bring the river and lake waters within our doors,
cut off communication between the front and rear
parts of cities, compel Us to double the present
number of draining machines, and as the whole
river front from Carrollton 10 the lower part OF
New Orleans will have no other outlets for the dis
| charge of rain or domestic waters than the con-
templated canal, we will as il 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
-. Aner- ttav Nf1n and
| by these means place the $4,000 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
81 500 coo of the public moneyto 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 overhows from the
lake or river water. This obligation is simply alb
surd, as the building of this levee viii afford no
| protection whatever in case of hurricane the
only difference for will be that instead OF receiv-
ing the waters direct from the lake. we will have
1 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 unguarded public,
| Who had suffered 30 much from the late over.
/ of s5O0,) 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 a 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 cana
l.secure and adequate, TO avoid any danger from
overflow or breskage, and, must say, that 1t |;
not an onerous obligation imposed upon them, fol
II ia 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 II
feet high 20 feet wide at top and 100 feet at the
| base, amply sufficient 10 repel the lake water.
Such will not be the case, however, should q
crevasse occur az or below the lock intended BY
the company to be built st Carroilton. The citiei
of New Orleans, Jefferson and Carollton being
belted by the inner or south levee OF the com
psny'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
ing calamity will, like Damocles's sword, be con
stantly hanging over our heads.
| This fact is so well known that, during all tn
time our State was under the control of its owl
citizens, the building Of locks or sluices wa
always prohibited in the bends OF the river
where the banks are always subject to caying o
| abrasion.
Another of the many Objectionable features o
the whole project is the location of the canal o.
the north side of Broad street, in the vicinity o
Bayou Savage and GENTLY Road, to say nothin
| of the damage which this location will occaSo
| to the five railroads chartered by the State an
| the city of New Orleans, or of its interference
with the navigation Of the New Canal and of th
| Canal Carondelet, you will find that the fftee
drawbridges 30 generously granted to the public
for distance of thirty miles, are far from beln
| sufficient to afford speedy communication b'
| tween the two severed parts of our cities.
As whole. the project Is an absurdity. anC
as have already said, not worthy Of discussion
and ought not to be noticed, were it not for th
determined intention to squeeze money from a
overburdened community. exhibited in the SUI
Elementary act, which, If ever passed by th
Legislature, will permit the gentlemen protector
of the scheme 10 realize a profit Of nearly mi
| lion and Q half of dollars out OF the digging
| five miles of canal costing only $40, 900.
| II, previous to its passage, the original chartt
granted to the New Orleans and Ship Island Cam
Company had been referred by the Legislature
the consideration of the present able State 81
| gineer, / venture to say that this scheme wou
have never been entertained, and then the add
tional act would have had no reason to be di
cussed.
Respectfully, your obedent servant,
| T. ify 9ar