The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-27
ROOM BOARD OF ENGINEERS on DRAINAGE,
City Hall, New Orleans, Jan. 80, 1863.

the 2lst January. the following resolutions were
unanimousy adopted:
ResoGred. That In our opinion, the proposed
Shin IslaYd canal would if constructed, render
impracties be the adoption OF any general or ett-
cient system of drainage for the city Of New Dr.
leans.
Resolred further That the drainage Of the city
into said canal, provided the right could be oD'
tanned from the corporations to do so, would con-
vert the same into cess-pool, injurious 10
health and destructive Of the value OF property.
The following resolution indorsipg the report
OF Mr.. l.. Surgi, city surveyor, on the same sub
iect, was also unanimously adopted
ResolUed By the Board OF Engineers for the
drainage of the city of New Orleans, that the re-
port Of i. Surgi, Esq, in the matter OF the pro-
posed Ship Island canal, as read before this board,
be and the same is hereby fully Endorsed.
Accompanying this is copy of the report above
referred to. have the honor to be, very re-
specially, THEODORE j. pIMITkY,
Secretary.
NIB. sURGI's REPORT CONCERNING THE SHIP ISLAND
CANAL SCHEME.
SURVEYORS OFFICE. CRY HALL,
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1868. !
Hon. jobs R. Conway, Mayor:
Sir-ln answer to your letter requesting me to
inform sou how the contemplated New Orleans
and ship Island Canal" will. if carried out agree
with ohr present drainage system, and also
whether it will not interfere with the freedom OF
circulation throughout our city, have to say,
that 10 understand the objections which may be
raised against this project / will first give
synopsis Of the charter, showing the privileges
granted aud the charges imposed upon the COM
psny.
II. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles Diling-
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, Michael
Hahn and w. E. Reed. under the name Of The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company" to
H. wsvwf1A nf NAlA
graph aud shell road, from point on the left
bank of the Mississippi river, In the parish Of JEFF
ferson, thence through the corporate limits of
CarrOlt0n and Jefferson cities and New Orleans in
as direct route as practicable north of Broad street
TO the Rigolets near the outlet of Lake Catherine
thence to Ship Island.
The canal is to be at least $50 feet wide at the
surface, with a uniform depth OF twelve feet
Throughout its length. The company has the pri-
vilege 10 widen the same TO three hundred feet,
with a corresponding depth of twenty-five feet;
also, TO make branch or lateral canal from the
main canal TO point at or near the river In the
City o. Jefferson, and are required to cause the
banks OF said canal to be made secure and sde-
quate to avoid any danger from overflow or
breakaEe.
The company shall construct locks 70 connect
the main canal with the river for the passage Of
steamboats,, vessels. barges, etc.
The company will have the right 10 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 Eve 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
- A II krkA
The whole project is Improbable BY reason OF
physical obstacles, and of being in collision with
vested rights, and is not worthy OF notice, were
II not for the supplementary act which passed one
branch Of the Legislature, and the object OF
which is TO build o portion Of the Ship Island
Canal with money extracted from the people
without equivalent benefit.
The montrosity is entitled " An act TO aid IN the
construction Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, for the purpose of more efectually levee-
ing, draining and recaiming the swamp lands in
the rear OF the city of New Orleans" which pro-
pose to prove TO be an attempt to sgndle the
people Of New Orleans, Jefferson, and Of the Stste
at large, out of nearly two and quarter millions
of dollars, and infict irrepaTable losses upon
them.
Let us see what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning the
drsnsee of certain portions of the parishes OF JEFF
fefeOn and Orleans.
The second section consolidates into one~the
draining districts described in the law OF 18th
L.
drsiniEg commissions in their respective districts
The third section relates to a commissioner, who
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 y
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 Drstriot and levy tax on the
lands in said district equal to that assessed in the
Fret 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 LIST October, 1869, and
each other quarter shRll be due and payable an
nually thereafter. The assessment shall remain
first mortgage on the property as now provided
For all lots Of land sold under Judgment said
commissioner shall receive ten cents on each and
The fifth section says that all moneys collected
by said commissioner shall be paid into the State
treasury and ell real estate acquired by the non
payment Of taxes shall be considered, and held in
trust, a separate fund and property, to be paid
over and the titles to said acquired real estate to
be made over to the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal Company, as hereinafter provided.
The sixth section says, that when the company
shah have excavated a portion Of their canal 8
feet deep and 70 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 a patent for 100000 acres Of
public land.
When the canal shall have been excsvsted $50
feet wide and feet deep, they shall receive an.
OTHER fourth of the amount assessed, and patent
for 100000 acres of public land.
when the canal shall have been excavated $50
fe9t wide and II feet deep, they shall receive
anither fourth Of the amount assessed, and a
patent for 100, 600 acres Of public land.
Ind when the whole canal shall have been CON-
plSted as provided in the charter, the last fourth
Of said assessment and patent for 100000 acres
ofipublic land shah be paid to them.
Che eighth section says that in further consid.
Grafton Of the aid and grants conferred by the
State, the said company shall construct and main.
tsn a suitable levee along the north side of their
cahal for q distance Of i've miles, and of such
length and dimensions az to prevent the city from
being overlooked by any crevasse occurring above
itantersection with the river and also to prevent
The city from being overfoved By water from
Lake Pontchsrtrsin.
No money or lands shall be vested in said COM
psny until the State engineer or city surveyor
shal certify that said protection leyee Is COM