The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-28

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 90 may be agreed upon between the
parties.
The above are the main features OF the charter
OF 4th October, 1868.
The whole project ia imprsctioable by reason of
physical obstacles, and OF being in collision with
vested rights, and is not worthy OF notice, were
II not Tor the supplementary act which passed one
branch OF the Legislature, and the object OF
which 10 TO build q portion of the Ship Island
canal with money extracted from the people
without equivalent benefit.
The montrosity is entitled " An act to aid ia the
construction Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, for the purpose OF more effectually levee-
ing, draining and reclaiming 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 ofthe State
at large, ont OF nearly two and quarter millions
OF dollars, and intict irrepafable Losses upon
them.
Let us 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 oOnsolidstes 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 q commissioner, who
Will be appointed by the governor, to take charge
VI oil luo becctb DtkOuRllR W the DRAINING Q9-
hicts, and who will receive as compensation "a
per cent. on all moneys collected and received BY
him. The said commissioner, besides receiving
the drainage taxes alresdy assessed in the First
and Second Districts, will complete the assess.
lands in said district equal to that assessed in the
First District-(3 $40 mills per square foot.) The
taxes due in the First and Second Districts. and
the whole amount assessed 10 the Third District,
shall be divided into four equal parts-one-qusrter
shall be payable on the LIST October, 1862 aud
each other quarter shall be due and payable an
nualy thereafter. The assessment shall 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 all real estate acquired by the non
payment OF taxes shall be considered, and held 10
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 a portion of their canal
feet deep and 70 feet wide, for a distance of
miles from point near the Mississippi river, and
connecting with the Bayou GENTLY, they shall
receive one-fOuTth of the amount assessed by the
commissioner, and patent for 900 acres of
public land.
When the canal shall have been excavated $50
feet wide and feet deep, they shall receive an.
other fourth Of the amount assessed, and a patent
for lO0, COO 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, aud
patent for 100 600 acres Of public land.
And when the whole canal shall have besn com
pleted as provided in the charter the last fourth
of said assessment and patent for l00,0 900 acres
of public land shall he paid 10 them.
The eighth section says that, in further consid
q o. 10 Of cd 81
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 IS to prevent the city from
being overfowed by am crevasse occurring above
lis Intersection with the river and also 10 prevent
the city from being overlooked by water from
Lake PontchartraIn.
No money or lands shall be vested in said COM
pany until the State engineer or city surveyor
shall certify that said protection levee is CON-
pleted 10 accordance with the provisions Of this
act.
The anove summary extract of the original
charter, and OF the additional act, being sufficient
to explain the whole scheme, we will now ex-
smine the project In its details, as far as the in
terests of our community are concerned.
In virtue of this additional act. the company ia
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 900, and
assessed as follows:
First Draining District ..,............. $780, 600
Second ........... 4lO 600
IhiTd ............. $4,000
Less % per cent. to he paid to a colIec.
tor to be appointed in virtue Of the act 4S,05O |
Vet amount Of drainage tax....,..sI,S73,95 $50 |
Aod, also, 400 coo acres of State lands,
70 DC selected by the company. 600 900 |
Total amount given said company -. 81, 473 $50
Tbreefourths of this amount 81 1855. 4e2, are to
" banded to the company, during the progress,
I'D after the completion of five miles of canal $50
eet wide and 70 feet deep, the cost Of which will
iot exceed $3.50 $40, the remaining fourth, S6i8,.
81 3d. only upon the completion of the whole
anal TO the Rigolets, as provided in the charter.
In presence Of the above figures, you can per.
GIVE how tree is the title Of this act entitled IAN
ct TO eic 10 the construction of the New Orleans |
I'd Ship Island Canal" aud what powerful aid
he. property-holders of New Orleans, Jefferson
nd Carrollton cities are compelled to give the |
GENTLEMEN OriginatCTs of the scheme towards the |
of their design.
The whole cost Of the canal will not exceed
5 600 600; so, beside the injury inflicted upon
heir property, and without a particle of interest
J the contemplated work, the proprietors within
be limits of the above named cities are made to
ontribute TO onehaf of the entire cost Of its
obstruction.
having acknowledged the hrst part OF the title
the above named act to be 10 strict accordance
ith its meaning, We are obliged TO say that the
tier part is just the reverse and that, Instead of
more efiectuay leveeing, draining and reclaim
e the swamp lands in the rear Of the city of New
Teansn (nothiDg said about the swamp in the
,sr of CarTotor and Jefferson City, the project
act will entirely ruin our system of drainage,
rlnR the river and lake waters within our dOors |
ut OH communication between the front and rear
arts OF Our cities, compel to double the present
lmber of drsinibg machines, and as the whole
yer front from CarrolitOn to the lower part Of |
ew Orleans will have no other Outlets for the dis
large of rain OF domestic waters than the con.
mplated canal, we will as it is contemplated BIZ
e charter Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
anal, be obliged 20 drain the whole front lands
10 the sad canal, on such terms and conditions
will be agreed upon between the parties, and
7 these means place the $50, 900 inhabitants Of
c above pamed cities, for drainage purposes, at
e mercy Of the seven projectors Of the charter,
ho will thus be enabled TO accomplish their work
tirely at the expense Of the public.
To give pretext for this new legislation, and
psrently legitimate the appropriation Of
100000 of the public money to the New Orleans
d Ship Island Canal Company, clause has been
serted 10 the act compelling the company to
lid levee on the NORTH side of their canal to
ofapf the cities from |