The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-09
Surveyors OFFICE, CRY HALL,
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1868.

NIB. sURGIS REPORT CONCERNING THE SHIP ISLAND
-------- CANAL SCHEME.
SURVEYOR g OFFICE. CrrY HAIL.
new orleans, 3lst December, 1868.
Hon. John B. Conway, Mayors: s. i,lt
Su-ln answer to your letter requesting me 10
inform you how the Contemplated " New Orleans
and Ship lsand Canal u will, If carried ont agree
with our present drainage system, and also
whether 1t Will not interfere with the freedom Of
that to understand the objections which NAV Be
raised against this project ! viii first give a
synopsis OF the charter, showing the privileges
pany.
A perpetual charter has been granted TO Msssrs.
u. F. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles DillinQ-
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, MICHAEL
Hahn and w. E. Reed. under the name Of I" The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company" to
construct canal, with the privilege Of q tele.
graph and shell road, from point on the left
pank OF the Mississippi river In the parish of JEFF.
ferson, thence through the corporate limits of
Carrollton and Jefferson cities and New Orleans in
esorect route as practicable north of Broad street
to the Rgolets near the outlet of Lake Catherine.
thencelto Ship Island.
The canal Is to be at least $50 feet wide AT the
surface. with q uniform depth Of twelve feet
throughout Its length. The company has the pri.
v!ege 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
banks of said canal to be made secure and AIDE. |
quate to avoid any danger from overflow or |
breakage.
=, The company shall construct locks to connect
steamboats,, vessels. barges, etc. -
Inc company will have the right to purchase or
appropriate 600 feet in width, on each side from
the center of their canal.
The construction Of said canal shall commence
within twelve months from the 4th of October.
1858, and shall be completed Eve years thereafter.
NO more than fifteen draw.bridges shall be
placed across said canal, for a distance Of thirty
miles. through the corporate limits of New or. |
cans, Jefferson and Carrollton.
any person or corporation may use the said
lanai Tor drainage purposes, on such terms and
,onoiuons as may be agreed upon between the
The shove are the main features Of the charter
u 4th October, 1868.
The whole project is impracticable by reason OF
nysicai obstacles, and Of being in collision with
not for the supplementary act which passed one
Iancn OF the Legislature, and the object of |
'hich is to build q portion of the Ship Island
anal with money extracted from the people
Tlthout equivalent benefit.
The montrosity is entitled An act to aid in the
obstruction OF the New Orleans and Ship Island
anal for the purpose Of more effectuslly leyee-
g, Draining and reclaiming the swamp lands in
e rear OF the city of New Orleans" which pro-
ose to prove to be an attempt to swindle the ]
sople Of New Orleans Jefferson, and of the State
large, out OF nearly two and quarter millions 9
dollars, and infict irreparable losses upon l
EN-. NPSA | 6
Let Us see what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning tbe
rson and Orleans. 4
The second section consolidates into one the &
aiming districts described In the law Of 18th d
lrch, 1858, and legaizes the tax imposed by the Il
ainlng commissions 10 their respective Districts
Inc third section relates to q commissioner, who
Il De appointed by the governor, to take charge
all the assets belonging to the draining dis.
! 70, sno VINO wal receive as compensation q
cent. on all moneys collected and received bvv r
o. The said commissioner, besides receiylne "a
|, Drainage taxes already assessed In the First &
y second districts, will complete the assess
nv OF the Third Drstrict, and levy Q tax on The
ds IN said district equal to that assessed in the
81 Dlstrct-(3 $40 mills per square foot.) The 81
les due in the First and Second Districts and | te
whole amount assessed In the Third District,
II be divided into four equal psrts-one. quarter ss
II be payable on the LIST October, 1869. and Is
- other quarter shall be due and payable an
NY thereafter. The assessment shall remain a
mortgage on the property as now provided
or ell lots Of land sold under Judgment saia
missioner shall receive ten cents on each and
~ lot. d.
he fifth section says that all moneys collected
said commissioner shall be paid into the State
'sury, and all real estate acquired by the non.
ment Of taxes shall be considered, and held in
t, as separate fund and property, to be paid
:, and the titles to said acquired real estate to
made over to the New Orleans and Ship Island col
al Company, as hereinafter provided DIG
be sixth section says, that when the company car
have excavated q portion of their canal 3 tha
9 deep s and q feet vide. for q distance of to
Meeting with the Bayou GENTLY. thew shall ~
i've one.fourth of the amount assessed BY the Pre-
missioner, and patent for 100000 acres of
lie land.
hen the canal shall have been excavated $50 A
wide and feet deep, they shall receive an.
fourth OF the amount assessed, and patent
10000 acres of public land.
ben the canal shall have been excavated I5o =
wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive
ner fourth OF the amount assessed, and
u for 100 600 acres of public land.
d when the whole canal shall have been com. -
q Is provided IN the charter the lasf fonrfh | q y