The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-14
g. IN the aggregate. to sum of 81, s22 900, sad

/ -
Net smount Of drainage tax. 81 ,s7s IS
Aeu' $3.50, 4OO0O0 acres Of State lands,
70 De selected By the company -. 600 90
Ioai amount given said company. :. 81, l73, 95
inree- fourths Of this amount 81 1855, 1852, are 4
De nsaoed to the company, during the progress
sno aIter the completion OF Eve miles Of canal Isl
lee. w,ee sno u feet deep, the cost Of which vii
not exceed 1888 $40, the remaining fourth. ssIs.
tsI o., only upon the completion Of the Who'll,
Canal 70 the Rigolets, az provided In the charter.
IN presence OF the above figures, you can Der
eeve now true is the title Of this act entitled "Ar
act 70 aid 10 the construction Of the New Orleap,
and Ship Island Canal" and what powerful sid
the property-holders of New Orleans, JefFersor
ana Carroilton cities are compelled to give the
gentlemen originators Of the scheme towards the
accomplishment Of their design.
The whole cost of the canal win not exceed
so,0OO,0O0; SO, beside the injury inflicted upou
their property, and without particle of interes,
IN me contemplated work, the proprietors within
the limits OF the above named cities are made TO
contribute to one-hsf Of the entire cost of its
Having acknowledged the first part of the title
OF the abovenamed act to be In strict accordance
after ne p.r T. ing We are obliged e s..
more effectuslly leveeing, draining and reclaim.
ing the swamp lands In the rear of the city of New
orleans" nothing said about the swamp In the
rear OF Carrollton and Jefferson City, the project
60 acs VIII entirely ruin our system Of drainage,
bring the river and lake waters within our doors
cut on communication between the front and rear
parts OF our cities compel to double the present
number OF draining machines, and as the whole
rver 'front.' from Carrollton to the lower part of
new orleans will have no other outlets for the dis
charge OF rain or domestic waters than the con-
tempiated canal, we will as it is contemplated by
the charter OF the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, be obliged TO drain the whole front lands
,n'o ine ssid canal, on such terms and conditions
by these means place the $50, 900 inhabitants Of
the above named cities, for drainage purposes, at
tne mercy OF the seven propretors of the charter,
who VIII thus be enabled to accomplish their work
entirely at the expense OF the public.
10 give pretext for this new legislation and
apparently legitimate the appropriation of
sz,oOO 600 OF the public money TO the New Orleans
and snip Island Canal Company, clause has been
inserted In the act compelling the company 10
Dulld lsvee on the nortk side Of their canal to
protect the cities from any overhows from the
lake or river water. This obligation is simply Alb
surd, IS the building Of this levee will afford no
protection whatever In case of q hurricane the
only dierence for rs will be that instead of receiy.
ms the waters direct from the lake, we will have
TEEN through the unprotected south bank OF the
canal, and certainly that will not improve our con.
dition. ~N
This clause must have been inserted solely for
the purpose of deceiving an unguarded public.
VINO nad sunered so much from the late over.
a
Of s5OO,) and make them believe that the pro.
posed relief is equal to the Remuneration granted
10 the company.
In fact. there was no reason for introducinc
ms clause, for a similar but more adequate pro.
'ecuon against the lake water ia already pro-
'ided for in the original charter, the company
being obliged 10 make the banks of their CANA
secure and adequate, to avoid any danger from
overflow or breakage, and must say, that IL is
iot 90 onerous obligation imposed upon them, for
L ia the ra6nlt Of the ttuaI IL
ng from the excavation will furnish material
enough 10 make a levee on each bank at least 10
eet nigh, 20 feet wide at top and 100 feet at the
'sse, amply sufficient to repel the lake water.
oncn VIII not be the case, however, should
revasse occur at or below the lock intended by |
he company to be built at Carrollton. The cities
Il New Orleans, Jefferson and Carollton being |
'elted BY the inner or south levee of the com. |
'sny's canal, their whole area would be covered |
7ith sheet of water from five TO ten feet deem
nd should this canal ever be built. this inpend |
% calamity will, like Damocles's sword, be con. |
family hanging over our heads.
This fact il so well known that, during all the |
I'M me our state was under the control Of its own
itizens, the building OF locks or sluices was
ways prohibited in the bends of the river
mere the banks are always subject to caving or
brasion.
Another of the many Objectionable features of
he whole project is the location of the canal on
ne north side OF Broad street, In the vicinity of
syou Savage and Gently Road, to say nothing
the damage which this location will occasion
, the i've railroads chartered by the State and
1e city OF New Orleans. or Of its interference
18th the navigation Of the New Canal and of the
anal Carondelet, you win and that the fifteen
rswbridges so generously granted TO the public.
u distance Of thirty miles, are far from being
lmcienf to afford speedy communication be.
Reen the two severed parts of our cities.
Az whole. the project Is an absurdity, aud,
l have already said, not worthy of discussion,
I'd ought not to be noticed, were il not for the
stermined intention TO squeeze money from an
7erburdened community, exhibited In the SUP.
ementsry act which. II ever passed by the
sgislature, will permit the gentlemen projectors
The scheme TO realize profit of nearly a mil
N and half Of dollars out Of the digging of
re miles Of canal costing only s940, 900.
III, previous to its passage, the original charter
anted to the New Orleans and Ship Island Canal
'mpsny had been referred by the Legislature to
e consideration Of the present able State en-.
neer, l venture TO say that this scheme would
we never been entertained, and then the add.
nal act would have had no reason to be dis
ssed.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. SURGI, City Surveyor.