The New Orleans crescent., 1869-02-25
Mr.. srRGfs REPORT coNcERNIYe THE SHIP ISLAND
CANAL SCHEME.

Mr.. srRGFs REPORT CONCERNING THE SHIP ISLAND
CANAL SCHEME.
SvkvEYoR's OFFICE. CITY HALL,
New Orleans 3lst December, 1865. J
Hon Jchn r. Conway, Mayor:
S;r-In answer 10 your letter requesting me TO
inform you how the contemplated New oIleaus
and Shin Island Canal" will, if carried out agree
with our present drainage system, and also
whether it will not interfere with the freedom OF
circulation throughout our city, nave 10 say
that TO understand the oblecnons "nlcn INC. may Oe
raised against this project Will frst give
synopsis of the charter, showing the prlVheges
granted and the charges imposed upon the COM
pany. % Mossrs
q u Rrott. Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles DIlhng-
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest DeDlanc, micnaeI nae
Hahn and w, E. Reed. under the name OF " Inc
New Orleans and Ship Island Ca1si Company. 70
construct a canal, with the privilege OF tele.
cyaph and a shell road, from point on the leit
bank of the Mississippi river, IN the parlsn OF Je.
ferson, thence through the corporate nmlts o.
Carrolton and Jefferson cities ana New Orleans IA
as direct route as practicable north OF Broad street
10 the RiQolets near the outlet of Lake Catherine,
thence to Ship Island.
The canal is to be at least $50 feet wide at the
surface, with a uniform depth OF twelve leet
throughout its length. The coTpany has the prl'
yileQe to widen the same to three hundred ieet,
with a corresponding depth OF twenty-five ieet !;
also TO make branch or lateral canal rom tne
main canal to point at or near the river IN .ns
CITY of Jefferson, and are required 10 cause tne
hanks of said canal to be made secure and sde
0uate to avoid any danger from oyernow OF
The Company shall construct locks to connect
the main canal with the river for the passage oi
steamboats, vessels. barges, etc.
The company will have the right to pure nasse s OF
exnropriate GOO feet in width, on eacn SLUG nun
the center of their canal. ,,,oroe
The construction OF said canal snsn nntoha-
within twelve months from the 4th VI OoaVSo.' e,o
isea and shall be completed five years tnereai'e''
No more than fifteen draW-bridges snal Ve
nlaoed across said canal, for distance OF WI ~
miles. through the corporate hmiIs VI NO" VI
leans. Jefferson and Carrollton' .ho ,o;a
Anv nersou or corporation may use the eai1
canal for drainage purposes, on such terms suu -, 4
conditions as may be agreed upon De'"0'A '-
parties. ,. r.o.,ros NJ the charter
of 4th October, 1868. =,
The whole project is impracticabie oy reason =,
,brsical obstacles and of being In coliislon VIII
vested rights and is not worthy oi houoe, d one
It not for the supplementary scs wOn .So poSsct Of
bronch of the Legislature, and the oDJeEs y,
which ia TO build o portion oI tne Snlp onni
Canal with money extracted from tne peopi'
without equivalent benett. A.
The monrosity is entitled An act TO aio ~ .nS
construction of the New Orleans ssctnay ssS % eTee
;nr dra;nne and reclsimiug the swamp Lanus nn ~
.h ,eay of The city of New Orleans, wmcn Pr ~,
nose TO prove to be an attemPt 70 .ha State
nannle of New Orleans, JeHel onN .-,;ll;ons
r. large ont of nearly two and a.quarter nnn.iOor m
OF dollars. and inhct irreparable losses op'D
them. .,.. oxoooaes
The first section repess all laws concerniny faf
drainage Of certain portions OF the parishes oi 'e
Tbe second section consolidates INTO one ,stS t
draining districts described IN the law ~ hv tbe
Msrch 1855 and legazes the tax lmpose1; ~ ~
draininr Commissions in their respecu'e uiS".O,s.
The third section relates to ,aSa c6srgs
v,iI he appointed by the governor, 70 tshS 0r ds
Of ali The assets belonging TO the .!on oran N 81
s,;cts and who will receive as coppeusS;5 pS;.e5 hy
ar Cent on all moneys collected ana IecesSv
r, The said commissioner, besides i receisrs E;rs
.hn drana0e taxes already assessed IN lne ns
mS second Districts, will complete tne s,sei e a.,
snt of the Third Drstrct and levy Tax Gn ths t
mem IN said district equal to that assessed In % ~,
rs, DstrctN(S $40 mills per square foot az nt
sarss Sne in the First and Second DistriCis, az
az hole amount assessed in the Inlra DlsM.H.
e he divided into four equal parts-one anG
shsn he payable on the Isl Octopel, IopJ, o., an
sh other quarter shall be dne and psysD,s ys;n an
1 escn tbereafter. The assessment shall REMAIN
9rst sug mortgage on the property as no" pio''u''
by law. ,ona sold under Judgment ssi'