The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-16

Total amount given said company. .. 50, Alb $50
Threefourths Of this amount, 81 1856 49,, 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 1893 $40, the remaining fourth $6iS.
4s7 so, only upon the completion of the whole
canal TO the Rigoets, as provided In the charter
In presence of the above figures, you can per.
ceive how true Is the title Of this act entitled "An
act 10 aid In the construction of the New Orleans
and Ship Island Canal" and what powerful aid
the property holders 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
$4,000, 900; 30, beside the injury inflicted upon
their property, and without q particle of interest
IN the contemplated work, the proprietors within
the limits OF the above named cities are made to
contribute to one-half of the entire cost Of its
construction.
Having acknowledged the first part Of the title
OF the above-named act to be In strict accordance
with ITS meaning, we are obliged to say that the
latter part is just the reverse, and that Instead of
" more efectually leveeing, draining and reclaim |
ing the swamp lands in the rear Of the city of New
Orleans" nothing said about the swamp In the
rear OF Carrollton and Jefferson City, the project
ed act will entirely ruin our system of drainage,
bring the river and lake waters within our DOORS
cut OF communication between the front and rear
parts OF our cities, compel to double the present
number OF draining machines, and as the whole
river front from Carrollton to 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 it 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
as will be agreed upon between the parties, and
ny these means place the $50, 200 inhabitants of
the above named cities, for drainage purposes, at
the mercy OF the seven proprietors 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
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 overfows from the |
lake or river water. This obligation is simply alb
protection whatever in case of hurricane; the I
only difference for us will be that instead of receiy
ing the waters direct from the lake, we will have
teem through the unprotected south bank of the |
canal, and certainly that will not improve our con-
dition. nr
:, This clause must have been inserted solely for
tne purpose OF eeceiying an unguarded public,
flow, (which could have been prevented at a cost
OF $500, 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
lection against the lake water is already pro-
vided for in the original charter, the company
being obliged TO make the banks of their canal |
secure and adequate, to avoid any danger from
overflow or breakage, and, / must say, that II is
not an onerous obligation imposed upon them, for
I Is the result Of the work itself, the earth com.
ng from the excavation will furnish material
enough TO make leyee on each bank, at least 10
eet high, ~ feet wide at top and 100 feet at the
base, amply sufficient to repel the lake water. i
Such will not be the case, however, should q |
,revasse occur at or below the lock intended by
he company to be built at Carroilton. The cities
" New Orleans, Jefferson and Carollton being
)elted by the inner or south levee of the com. |
,any's canal, their whole area would be covered
With sheet OF water from five to ten feet deep,
md should this canal ever be built, this impend.
ng calamity VIII, like Damocles's sword, be con-
family hanging over our heads.
This fact is so well known that, during all the
ime our State was under the control of its own
uzens, the building Of locks or sluices was |
lways prohibited in the bends of the river,
,here the banks are always subject to caving or
Another of the many Objectionable features Of
he whole project is the location of the canal on |
he north side Of Broad street, in the vicinity of
'ayou savage and Gently Road, to say nothing |
! me Damage which this location will occasion
Q the hve railroads chartered by the State and |
ne city OF New Orleans. or Of its interference
Eith the navigation Of the New Canal and of the |
anal Carondelet, you win find that the fifteen
raw bridges 30 generously granted to the public,
OF distance Of thirty miles, are far from being
umcient 70 AFFORD speedy communication be.
ween me TWO severed parts of our Cities /
As whole. the project Is an absurditv and
have already said, not worthy of discussion.
nd ought not to be noticed, were 1t not for the
efermined intention to squeeze money from an :,
verburdened community. exhibited in the sun.
lementsry act, which, II ever passed by the
E legislature, viii permit the gentlemen projectors
me scheme to realize o profit Of nearly q NH.
on and han Of dollars out Of the digging Of |
We miles OF canal costing only $40 600. =
~, previous TO its passage, the original charter
ompsny had been referred by the Legislature to
le coneiderauon Of the present able State en-. |
neer, venture TO say that this scheme would |
ave never been entertained, and then the add.
onsi act woulo nave had no reason to be dis