The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-11

specially, THKoDoRs ]. DIMrrRY, :
Secretary.
MIR. suRGI's REPORT CONCERNING THE SHIP ISLAM
CANAL SCHEME.
SURVEYORS OFFICE, CRY HALL.
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1868.
Hon. John r. Conway Mayor:
Sr-ln answer TO your letter requesting me D
inform you how the contemplated . New OrIean
a1a snip Island Canal will. II carried out agree
with our present drainage system, and Ala,
whether 1t will not interfere with the freedom O
circulation throughout our city, have to saw
that to understand the objections which NAV s,
raised against this project / will first give
synopsis Of the charter, showing the privilege,
pany. s0fr = -f- '-' 'o'''
perpetual charter has been granted to Messrs.
S.r. s 6 Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles billing.
Hahn and w. E. Reed. under the name of The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company, . to
construct canal, with the privilege Of a tele-
graph and shell road, from point on the left
pank OF ,ne Misssslppi river in the parish Of JET.
ferson, thence through the corporate limits of
Carrollton and Jefferson cities and New Orleans in
as direct route as practicable north of Broad street
10 the Rgolets, near the outlet of Lake Catherine
thence to Ship Island.
The canal is to be at least $50 feet wide AZ the
surface. with uniform depth OF twelve feet
throughout its length. The company has the pri.
viege to widen the same to three hundred feet.
viii viii corresponding depth of twenty-five feet
also, 10 make branch or lateral canal from the
main canal to point at or near the river In the
Clty 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
uh.- .ss-P.-y .h.u. .e..s--s& i..L. =, .,,n,,.
the main canal with the river for the passage of
s'eMsmooats, vessels, barges, etc. =
Inc company will have the right to purchase or
eXDrODr1ate in MI IL
the center Of their canal 80
The construction Of said canal shall commence
within twelve months from the 4th of October.
lsss, and shall be completed Eve years thereafter.
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 Ior drainage purposes, on such terms and
parties. 'Ae
The above are the main features of the charter
OF 4th October, 1865.
physical obstacles, and of being in collision with /
vested rights, and is not worthy of notice, were
II Eot Tor the supplementary act which passed one /
piancn OF the Legislature, and the object of |
Wnlcn to build portion of the Ship Island
without equivalent benefit.
The montrosity is entitled |" An act to aid in the
construction of the New Orleans and Shin Island
lanai, for the purpose of more effactually leyee.
hg, oralning and retaining the swamp lands in
pose to prove to be an attempt To swindle tba
people Of New Orleans Jefferson, and of the State
y large, out OF nearly two and quarter millions
,, ,. dollars. and inhict irreparable losses upon
Let us see what this act proposes.
Inc hrst section repeats all laws concerning the |
lrsinage OF certain portions of the parishes Of JEFF.
:. The second section consolidates into one the
raining districts described In the law of 18th |
laicn, 1905, and legaizes the tax imposed by the
raining commissions In their respective districts.
Inc third section relates TO commissioner. who
iii De appointed By the governor, to take charge
all the assets belonging to the draining ais
lets, and who win receive as Compensation "a
er cent on all moneys collected and received bv
I'M. The said commissioner, besides receiving
le DRAINAGE taxes already assessed in the First
I'd Second Districts, will complete the assess
ent Of the Third Dristrict, and levy a tax on he
nos IN said district equal TO that assessed In the
lrst Disfrict-(3 $40 mills per square footl The
xes due In the First and Second Districts, and 9
= whoie amount assessed In the Third District, q
All De divided into four equal psrts-one quarter
All be payable on the LIST October, 1869, and "
Oh other quarter shall be due and payable an | Il
ally thereafter. The assessment shall remain A | ii
q mortgage on the property as now provided
For all lots Of land sold under Judgment said
cry lot.
The NTH section says that all moneys collected
said commissioner shall be paid into the State
asury, and all real estate acquired by the non.
yment OF taxes shall be considered and held In -
81, as separate fund and property TO be paid
Dr. and the titles to said acquired real estate to
made over to the New Orleans and Ship Island
nal Company, as hereinafter provided.
me sixth section says, that when the company | by
VI nave excavated a portion of their canal 3 de
deep and IS feet wide, for q distance of ,
es nom point near the Mississippi river. and de
necung with the Bayou GENTLY, they shall lia
eve one-fourth of the amount assessed BY the in
and patent for 100000 acres of tn,
Vhen the canal shall have been excavated l5o pr
wide and 8 feet Deep they shall receive An.
or fourth of the amount assessed and a patent
loo, coo acres fpublic land.
hen the canal shall have been excavated I5o
wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive
ther fourth OF the amount assessed. and a
ant for 100, 900 acres Of public land -
no when the whole canal shall have been conn.,
ea as provided In the charter, the last fourth
s ~ assessment and patent for 100000 acres
Z pupnc land shall be paid to them. J
~ eientn section says that, In further cons;d nv
ION OF the aid and grants conferred bv the ~
., tne SAD company shall construct and main ion
sul'aoie levee along the north side Of their wal
y ior distance Of five miles, and OF such fro,
'tn ana dimensions a. to prevent the CITY from snc
3 overnoWeo by any crevasse occurring above vas
Intersection with the river, and Also 10 prevent
CITY from pelng overlooked BY water from
money or lands shall be vested in said com.
unM the stste engineer or city surveyor A
. esruiy mat sslo protection levee Is com. rs
60 N accordance with the provisions of this A