The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-23

MR.. sURGI's REPORT CONCERNING TIE sHIP IsLANr
CANAL SCHEME.
SURVEYORS OPpIcB, Cry HALL,
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1865.
| Hon. John B. Conway, Mayor:
ST-ln answer to your letter requesting me to
| inform you how the contemplated " New Orleans
and Ship Island Canal " will, il carried out agree
with our present drainage system, and also
whether Is viii not interfere with the freedom OF
circulation throughout our city, have to say.
that to understand the objections which NAV be
raised against this project will first give a
synopsis Of the charter, showing the privileges
granted and the charges imposed upon the com.
pany.
"A perpetual charter has been granted to Messrs
G F. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon Charles billing.
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, Michael
Hahn and W. E. Reed. under the name of The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal COMPANY. - 10
construct canal, with the privilege OF q tele.
graph and shell road, from point on the left
bank OF the Mississippi river, In the parish OF JEFF.
ferson. thence through the corporate limits of
Carrollton and Jefferson cities and New Orleans in
Is direct route as practicable north OF Broad street
to the Rgolets, the outlet OF Lake Catherine.
thence to Ship Island.
The canal ia to be at least $50 feet wide AZ the
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, to make branch or lateral canal from the
main canal 70 point at or near the river In the
City OF Jefferson and are required TO cause the
Dahks OF said canal TO be made secure and ade-
quate to avoid any danger from overflow or
breskage.
The company shall construct locks TO connect
the main canal with the river for the passage of
steamboats,, vessels, barges, etc.
The company will have the right to purchase or
appropriate 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 FIVE years thereafter.
No more than fifteen drsw.bridges shall be
placed across said canal, for distance OF thirty
miles, through the corporate limits of New Or.
leans, Jefferson and Carrollton.
any person or corporation may use the said
canal for drainage purposes, on such terms and
conditions as may be agreed upon between the
parties. ~
The above are the main features OF the charter
Of 4th October, 1868.
The whole project is impracticable by reason of
physical obstacles, and Of being in collision with
vested rights, and IL not worthy OF notice, were
: 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 |
lanai with money extracted from the people
The montrosity is entitled An act to aid IN the
obstruction of the New Orleans and Ship Island |
ANAL, Tor the purpose Of more effectuslly levee-
ng, draining and reclaiming the swamp lands In
be rear Of the city of New Orleans, % which bro
ose to prove to Be an attempt 70 swindle The
eople OF New Orleans, Jefferson, and of the State
large, out Of nearly two and quarter millions
hem. -fo-
Let Us see what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning the |
,rson and Orleans.
The he's second section consolidstes into one the
arch, 1858, and legalizes the tax imposed By the
raining commissions in their respective districts.
The third section relates to commissioner, who
Ill be appointed by the governor, to take charge
all the assets belonging to the draining dis.
lets, and who will receive as compensation "a |
Or cent. on all moneys collected and received BY
IN. The said commissioner, besides receiving
e drainage taxes already assessed in the First
I'd Second Districts, will complete the assess
ent Of the Third Dristrict and levy tax on the
nds in said district equal to that assessed in the
rst District-(3 $40 mills per square foot) The
xes due In the First and Second Districts, and |
Q whole amount assessed In the Third District, {
all be divided into four equal parts-one-quarter
all be payable on the LIST October 1863, and Z
oh other quarter shall be due and payable an q
laly thereafter. The assessment shall remain q 8
81 mortgage on the property as now provided
For all lots Of land sold under Judgment said
mmissoner shall receive ten cents on each and
cry lot.
The fifth section says that all moneys collected
said commissioner shall be paid into the State
'asury, and all real estate acquired by the nom
yment OF taxes shall be considered and held In
ist, as separate fund and property, to be paid
er, and the titles to said acquired real estate 70
made over to the New Orleans and Shin Island
nal Company, as hereinafter provided.
The sixth section says, that when the company .
BIZ have excavated q portion of their canal 8 n
. deep and rs feet wide, for q distance of u
les from point near the Mississippi river, and 81
meeting with the Bayou GENTLY, they shall | VI
'eive onefourth Of the amount assessed by the
nmissioner, and patent for 10000 acres Of
bic land.
When the canal shall have been excsvated $50
{ wide and 9 feet deep, they shall receive an.
er fourth OF the amount assessed, and q patent
100 600 acres of public land. h,
\ hen the canal shall have been excavated $50 n;
wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive 10
'ther fourth Of the amount assessed, and a ~
ent for 100 900 acres Of public land. A.
IND when the whole canal shall have been com. | A.
ted as provided In the charter the last fourth ~
said assessment and patent for 100 900 acres D,
public land shall be paid to them.
he eighth section says that, in further consid.
tion Of the aid and grants conferred BY the