The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-04

perpetual charter has been granted to Messrs.
G. F. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles Dilling.
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, Michael
Hahn and w. E. Reed. under the name of " The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company" to
construct q canal, with the privilege Of tele-
graph and shell road, from point on the left
bank of the Mississippi river, In the parish OF JET
ferson, thence through the corporate limits OF
as direct route practicable north of Broad street
to the Rgolets near the outlet of Lake Catherine,
thencesto 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 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 to point at or near the river In the
City of Jefferson. and are REQUIRED to cause the
banks of said canal to be made secure and ade-
quate to avoid any danger from overflow or
breakage.
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 eco feet in width, on each side from
the center of their canal.
The construction of said canal shall commence
1868, and shall be completed Eve years thereafter.
No more than fifteen draw-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.
physical obstacles, and of being in collision with
vested rights, and is not worthy of notice, were
it not for the supplementary act which passed one
branch of the Legislature, and the object of
which is to build q portion Of the Ship Island
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 effectually levee-
ing, draining and reclsming the swamp lands in
the rear of the city of New Orleans" which pro-
pose to prove to be an attempt to swindle the
people of New Orleans, Jefferson and of the State
at large, out of nearly two and quarter millions
of dollars, and inict irreparable losses upon them.
Let rs see what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning the
drainage of certain portions of the parishes Of JEFF
ferson and Orleans.
The second section consolidates into one the
draining districts described in the law Of 18th
March, 1858, and legalizes the tax imposed by the
draining 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 q
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 Dristrict, and levy tax on the
lands in eaid district equal to that assessed in the
First Dstrict-(3 $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 lst October, 1869, and
each other quarter shall be due and payable an
nuallv theraaftar. The aaepesmant ahaIl remain a
first mortgage on the property as now provided
by law.
For all lots Of land sold under Judgment said
commissioner shall receive ten cents on each and
every lot.
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 nom
payment of taxes shall be considered, and held in
trust, as 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
shall have excavated portion of their canal
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 patent for 100000 acres of
public land.
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
feet wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive
another fourth of the amount assessed, and q
patent for 100 900 acres of public land.
And when the whole canal shall have been CON-
pleted as provided in the charter the last fourth
of said assessment and patent for 100 900 acres
of public land shall be paid to them.
The eighth section says that, in further consid.
GRAFTON of the aid and grants conferred by the
State, the said company shall construct and main
tain suitable levee along the north side of their
canal for distance of five miles, and of such
length and dimensions as to prevent the city from
being overfowed by any crevasse occurring above
its intersection with the river, and also to prevent
the city from being overlooked by water from
Lake PontchartraIn.
No money or lands shall be vested in said COM
paDy until the State engineer or city surveyor
shall certify that said protection levee is complet
ed in accordance with the provisions Of this act.
The above summary extract of the original
charter, and of the additional act being sufficient
to explain the whole scheme, we will now ex-
anime the project in its details, far as the in
terests of our community are concerned.
In virtue of this additional act, the company is
made the recipient of the unpaid drainage tax, and
of new one, imposed for their sole benefit, upon
the propertyholders Of the Third District amount
ing, in the aggregate. to sum of 81 1922 900, and
assessed as follows:
First Draining District. ............... $3.50 900
Third - 80 .................. $4,000
Total 81 1922 900
Less q per cent to ibe paid to a collec-
tor TO be appointed in virtue of the act 4s,050
Net amount Of drainage tax. 81 ,S73 $50
Add, also, 400 900 acres of State lands,
to be selected by the company. 100000
Total amount given said company. -. 50 Alb $50
Threefourths of this amount, 81 ,s55 1852, are to
be handed to the company, during the progress,