The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-18
Ian. svstsm Of drainage for the city Of New Or

cisns ysssm Of drainage for the city of New Or
leans.
into ssjd canal, provided the right could be OBJ.
tained from the corporations to do so, would con-
vert the same into cess-pool, injurious 70
heath and destructive Of the value OF property.
The Following resolution indorsing the report
Of Mr. susg city surysy .don Sn the same
Resolued, By the Board Of Engineers Tor TIE
drainage Of the city Of New Orleans, tnst tne re-
MORT of L. Surgi, ESQ.,, in the matter OF the pro-
posed Ship Island canal as read before TINS poAfd'
Accompanying this 10 copy of the report above
referred to. have the honor to be, very re-
specially. THEODORE >. p San.s.a,v
MIR. suRer's REPORT coScKRssa TIE SHIP ISLAND
CANAL SCHEME. flsa ~ .ll.
-sr-s suRvEYoR's OFFICE. CRY. HAIL.
.-... New Orleans, 3lst December, 1865.
Hon John r. Conway Mayor:
Sir-In answer to your letter requesting me to
inform Won how the contemplated " New Orleans
and Ship Island Cana" will, II carried out agree
with our present drainage system, and also
whether IL viii not interfere with the freedom OF
circulation throughout our city, l nave 20 say,
raieed against this project wiz first give
synopsis of the charter, showing the privileges
granted and the charges imposed upon tne COM
pany. ,r-.
G F. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles Diiing,
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblsnc, Michael
Hahn and W. E. Reed. under the name OF " Inc
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company, 70
construct canal, with the privilege OF tele-
graph and shell road, from point on the left
bank of the Mississippi river, In the parish OF JET
ferson, thence through the corporate limits OF
Carrollton and Jefferson cities and New Orleans In
-xl-.L - n~. 4ufr Aar
to the Rgolets near the outlet of Lake Catherine,
thence to Ship Island.
The canal Is to be at least $50 feet wide at the
surface. with uniform depth OF twelve feet
throughout Its length. The company has the pri-
vilege 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
City 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
breakage.
The company shall construct locks to connect
the main canal with the river for the passage Of
steamboats,, vessels. barges, etc.
The company will have the right TO purchase or
appropriate GOO 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,
No more than fifteen draw-bridges shall be
placed across said canal, for distance OF thirty
miles. through the corporate limits of New Or
leans, Jefferson and Carrollton. r
Any person or corporation may use the said
canal for drainage purposes, on such terms and
conditions as may be agreed upon between the
parties.
The above are the main features of the charter
of 4th October, 1868.
Tha whole project is impracticable by reason Of
physical Obstacles and OF being In collision with
vested rights, and Is not worthy Of notice, were
it not for the supplementary act which passed one
branch Of the Legislature, and the object OF
which Ia 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 in the
construction of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, for the purpose of more effectually levee-
ing, draining and retaining 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 OF the state
at large, out of nearly two and quarter millions
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
The second section consolidates 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 commissioners, who
will be appointed by the governor, to take charge
of all the assets belonging to the draining dis
tricts, and who will receive as compensation "a
Der cent on all moneys collected and received by
him. The said commissioner. besides receiving
the drainage taxes already assessed In the First
and Second Districts, will complete the assess
ment Of the Third Drstrict, and levy q tax on the
lands In said district equal TO that assessed In the
First Districts $40 mills per square foot.) The
taxes due in the First and Second Districts, and
the whole amount assessed in the Third District,
shall be divided into four equal parts-one quarter
snail De payable on tne ISL OctoDer, 1903, ana
each other quarter shall be due and payable an
nually thereafter. The assessment shall remain a
nrst 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 nth section says that all moneys collected
by said commissioner shall De PAID into the state
treasury, and all real estate acquired oy the non
payment OF taxes shall be considered, and held 10
trust, as separate fund and property, 70 De paid
over and the titles TO said acquired real estate TO
DE made over to the New Orleans and snip Island
Canal Company. as hereinafter PROVIDED.
The sixth section says, tnat wnen tne company
snaii nave excavated poruon OF tnen canal
ieet deep and 70 ieet wide' ior olsiance Oh
miles rom point near tne misslssppi river, anu
connecting win tne bayou oenilliy' tney enau