The New Orleans crescent., 1869-02-25

COmD2nV
made the recipient OF the unpaid drainage tax and
Of new one, imposed for their sole benefit, upon
the property holders of the Third District amount
ing, in the aggregate. to sum of 81 1922 0OO and
assessed as follows:
First Draining District ct.............. $3.50, 900
Second ........ 44OOO0
Third ......... $4,000
Ito Iotsl 81 ..n, -: .,, $4,000
tor TO be appointed in virtue of the act 4s $50
Net amount of drainage tax. ,s7S, $50
Add. also, 100000 acres of State lands,
to be selected by the COMPANY. 100000
Total amount given said company. -. 81, ,473 $50
Three fourths of this amount, 81. 1885, 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 1899 $40, the remaining fourth, s6lS,.
4S7 so, only upon the completion of the whole
canal TO the Rigolets, 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 to aid in the construction of the New Orleans
ard Ship Island Canal.n and what powerful aid
the property holders Of New Orleans, Jefferson
and Carrollton cities are compelled to give the
gentlemen originstOrs of the scheme towards the
accomplishment of their design.
The whole cost of the canal will not exceed
S., 600, 600; so, beside the injury inflicted upon
their property, and without a particle of interest
in the contemplated work, the prOprietors within
the limits of the above named cities are made to
contribute to one.hslf 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 effectually leveeing, draining and reclaim
ing the swamp lands in the rear Of the city of New
Orleansr (nothing said about the swamp in tue
rear of CarTolton and Jefferson City, the project
ed act will 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 our cities compel US to double the present
number of draining machines, and as the whole
river front from Csrrollton 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 1t is contemplated oy
| the charter Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, be obliged TO drain the whole front lands
into the said csDal, on such terms and condiuons
| as will be agreed upon between the parties, and
by these means place the 350, GOO inhabitants OF
| the above named cities. for drainsge purposes, AZ
the mercy of the seven proprietors OF the cnarte
who will thus be enabled to accomplish their WORK
| entirely at the expense OF the public.
To give prstext for this new legislation, and
| apparently legitimate the Appropriation OF
! $500 COO Of the public money! to the New orleans
| and Ship Island Canal Company, clause has been
inserted in the act compelling the company 70
bnid a leyee on the NORTH side of their canal TO
| protect the cities from any overhows from tne
lake or river water This obligation is simply ab-
| surd as the building of this levee will afford no
protection whatever in case 9i a hurricane tae
only difference for rs will be that instead OF receiy-
ing the waters direct from the lake, we VIII nave
| TEEN through the unprotected south bank oil the
canal, and certainly that will not improve our con-
dition. r.
the purpose of deceiving an unguarded public,
who had suffered so much from the late over.
flow. (which could have been prevented at eos'
| of $5OO,) 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
| fbis clause, for similar bat 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 canal
| secnPe and ADEQUATE, to avoid any danger from
| overflow or breakage, and, must say, tnat II i
not an onerous obligation imposed upon them, tol
it is the result of the work itself, the esrtn com
| ing from the excavation will furnish malerla
enough to make levee on each bank, at least IL
feet high. 20 feet wide at top and lVO Zee. AZ 'n'
base, amply sufficient to repel the lake water.
Such will not be the case, however, should a
erevasse occur at or below the lock intended. . hS
,ba comnanv 10 be bBilt at Carroiltou' Ing 0I.'o'
T o1e NJ Orleans Jefferson and Carollton Deine
heIted bv the inner or south levee OF the com
pany's canal, their whole area would De coyerec we're,
with sheet of water from nve 10 ten Iees ueeg
and should this canal ever be built, this impend
stantly hanging over our heads.
This fact is so well known that, during all th'
time our State was under the control Oh us owl owl
| ci,zens the building of locks or slulces wa
| aIwsvs prohibited in the bends OF the rVer
where the banks are always subject TO caVins
| abrasion. ,.L,. ,oo,,ro. n
the vhole project is tho location OF the cansi o.
the north side of Broad street, IN the vicinity .
| Ravou Savage and Gently Road, 10 say nOtuinI
| of tbe damage which this location VIII occaslo
10 the five railroads chartered by the State an
the citv of New Orleans, or of its interference
with the navigation Of the New Canal ana ef I'm VA
Canal Csrondelet, you viii find that the httee
drawbridges so generously granted 70 ene psoi,e i
for a distance of thirty miles, are far from oeia
suf6cient to afford speedy communication "
tween the two severed parts OF our Clues
Asa whole, the project is an absurdlty, auC
as have already said, not worthy OF oiscusslyl y.
and oneht not to be noticed, were IL not Ior "a
determined intention 10 squeeze money run a,,1 a
overburdened community, exmDNeo III 'pe sui ut
Elementary act. which, If ever passed Dy u
feoislature, will permit the gentlemen pr3Jectoii
of The scheme to realize pront OF nes!y u, ,
| lion and a half of dollars out OF tne oisshs
Eve miles of a canal costing only s94O, ,OOV.
m previous to its passage, the original cIsIs' H
rron,sd IN the New Orleans and Ship Island Gan
Snnanonv had been referred by the Legislature
az considsration of the present able state e.
;oer ~ ventnre 70 say that this scheme wou
ssava never been entertained, and then the ado
t;onsl act would have had no reason to De oi
} cussed. ..os;ar. ssrxant
L. SURGI, City Surveyor