Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1869-11-20
THELEVEEJOINTsTOCK COMPANY

= Inv PADpoOtNASGa VI AZ law 0SAAS A'
: Commercisl Convention to form a ioin
stock ~companyfor the purpose of keeping
up the levees Of the Mississippi valley
Most Of our exchanges heartily endorse
the plan as the only effective aud reliable
one to secure the lowlands Of the State
from inundation. /; is true that in on,
present condition there is little reliance
to be placed in those stupendous swind!es
called Boards of Public Works ; nor can
We rely entirely upon our own means
and exertions to build and repair levees.
bat before committing ourselves to any
plan Of joint stock companies for build
ing %leVees, etc, we should carefully ex.
anime into the duties and powers to be
exercised by this company before we com
NIT ourselves too far. In our opinion the
people Of the several States should vote
epcn the question-at least, all that are
lis to be taxed. At the same time,
the per centage of taxation should be
fully stated, with all other particulars so
that no difficulties could arise hereafter
on the subject. Every intelligent person
this State is fully satisfied that 10
plan adopted by the General Government
would effectively secure. our lowlands
from inundation, the reason for which is
obvious ; at the same time the ineficien-
cy Of the Boards of Public Works has
been amply demonstrated since the close
Of the war. Knowing our own inability,
we gladly seek any relief that promises
safety. But in so doing, great
care must be taken to prevent a monopo-
from o~vercharges or extortionate de-
nands, and this safeguard should be Sc
cured by the most ample guarantees.-
we know but little of the plans of this
ONT stock company beyond those con
aimed in the recommendation of the
louisville Convention, and, so far, thew
re plausible enough. The company has
cen organized, and in the names of the
irectors for Louisiana we recognize old
of acknowledged integrity and
The following is the proposition ,
I the Convention referred to
We would recommend the construction
the ievees by the aid of joint stock t
Ompanies organized on the basis of priv
lie subscription and built on the views =,
nd objects which govern the construct. 4
N of railroads, /
This can be done by one or more com. Q
anles, the only requisite being that their j
Fstem should be intelligent, uniform and :,
'mprehensiye. L
Let the amount Of stock be subscribed u
tor a railroad. Let the company's +
laFter run tor . term of years. Let each D
OF cotton or hogshead of sugar. or "
y. other staple that may be specified. !,
under the protection If the d
wee, and each acre of arabic land he te
xed, and the company be given all le- b,
u authority to collect this tax as the o,
iiroad does its freight and PASSENGER :.
ties. When built, have it poiiceG and ~
otected, maintained and kept up like u
e road bed of one Of our first.class re
bic works-with its line of teleeranb as
section masters, policemen. pile dri- r.
), tugboats, fascines, supernumerarv "
'orers, IN a word, all the conditions OBJ "
wed, essential to a thorough protection ge
tue ievee IN seasons Of high water. is
A system of this sort will secure the 70
prosperity Of this region. 1t will u
nstruct a substantial levee. and we
hardly say will yield most remuper. an
dividends to the stockholders of the mi
'poration. al
While we would earnestly recommend g..
favorable attention of Congress- to
n a company in The event of such an
animation, and while we would res -,
urge that il be aided by the ="
In manner it may deem safe ma
Judicious, we declare our belief that III
ievees can never be properly or safe fro
constructed by the exclusive agency no,
either the Federal or State Goyern. ~,
its. WI