The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-26


branch Of the Legislature, and the object OF
which ia TO build portion of the Ship Island
Canal with money extracted from the people
without equivalent benefit.
The montrosity is entitled T" An act 10 aid IN the
construction Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, for the purpose Of more efectually levee-
ing, draining and reclaiming the swamp lands In
the resr Of the city Of New Orleans" which pro-
pose to prove TO be en- attempt to swindle the
people of New Orleans, Jefferson, and of the State
at large, out Of nearly two and quarter millions
Of dollars, and inhics irreparable losses upon
them.
Let us Gee what this act proposes.
The first section repesls all laws concerning the
drainage Of certain portions Of the parishes OF JEFF
ferson and Orleans.
The second section consolldates into one the
draining districts described in the Law Of 18th
March, 1858, and egallzes the tax imposed by the
draining commissions In their respective districts
The third section relates TO a commissioner, who
viii be appointed By the governor, TO take charge
OF all the assets belonging to the draining dis.
tricts, and who will receive as compensation y
per cent. OF ell moneys collected and received by
him. The said commissioner, besides receiving
the drainage taxes already assessed IN the First
and Second Dstrcts, will complete the assess
ment OF the Third District, and levy tax on the
lands in ssid district equal 70 that assessed in the
First District-(3 $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 psrts-olequsrter
shall be payable on the Let October, 1869, and
each other quarter shall be due and payable an
nuslly thereafter. The assessment shall remain q
first 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 fifth section says that all moneys collected
by said commissioner shall be paid into the State
treasury, and all real estate acquired by the non
payment of taxes shall be considered and held Ia
truut a aauarafe funi and Dr0Dartv tn he maid
over and the titles 20 said acquired real estate 70
be made over 70 the New Orleans and Ship island
Canal Company, as hereinafter provided.
The sixth section says, that when the company
shall have excavated portion of their canal
feet deep and IS feet wide, for a distance of 5
miles from point near the Mississippi river, and
connecting with the Bayou GENTLY, they shall
receive one-fourth of the amount assessed by the
commissioner, and patent for 100000 acres Of
public land.
When the canal shall have been excavated $50
feet wide and feet deep, they shall receive an.
other fourth of the amount assessed, and patent
for 100 COO acres of public land.
When the canal shall have been excavated $50
feet wide and IL feet deep, they shsll receive
another fourth OF the amount assessed, and
patent for 100000 acres Of public land.
And when the whole canal shall have been com
pleted provided in the charter, the last fourth
Of said assessment and patent for 100000 acres
of public land shsD be paid 70 them
Grafton Of the aid and grants conferred by the
State, the said company shall construct and main
tain q suitable levee along the north side OF their
canal for a distance Of i've miles, end OF such
length and dimensions as TO prevent the city from
being oyerh0wed by any creTssse occurring above
its intersection with the river and also TO prevent
the city from being overlooked by water from
Lake Pontchsrtrain.
No money or lands shall be vested in said com
pany until the State engineer or city surveyor
nFCfpptfO1 lnVnn M
pleted in accordance with the provisions OF this
sCt.
The above summary extract OF the original
charter, and of the additional set being sufficient
70 explain the whole scheme, We will now sx-
anime the project in its details, far the in.
Ieresis Of our community are concerned.
In virtue Of this additional act the company is
made the recipient Of the unpaid drainage tax and
OF new one, imposed for their sole benefit, upon
the propertyholders Of the Third District, amount
ing, in the aggregate. to q sum of 81 922 900, Rnd
assessed as follows:
First Draining District. s530,0oO
Second .................. 10000
Third .................. $50, 600
Total .............................-8l 81, S21, 900
Less p per cent to he paid to colleo-
tor to be appointed in virtue Of the act $3.50,
Net amount Of drainage tax........ 81 .s7s $50
Add, also, 100000 acres Of State lands,
to be selected By the company. ..-.. 100000
Total amount given said company. :. g, 473, $50
Tbreefourths OF this amount, 81, $50, 462i are 10
be handed to the company, during the progress,
and after she completion Of i've miles ofesnRl $50
feet wide and ~ feet deep, the cost Of which viii
not exceed s959, $40, the remaining fourth, $685.,
467 so, only upon the completion of the whole
canal 70 the Rgolets, as provided In ths charter.
In presence of the above lgures, you can per.
ceve how tree is the title Of this act, entitled IAN
act TO aid in the construction of the New Orleans
ard Ship Island Canal" and what powerful sid
the property holders Of New Orleans, Jefferson
and Carfollton cities are compelled to give the
gentlemen originst0rs Of the scheme towards the
Accomplishment of their design.
The whole cost Of the canal will not exceed
IS 600 GOO; so, beside the injury inflicted upon
their property, and without particle of interest
In the contemplated work, the proprietors within
the limits Of the above named cities are made 20
contribute TO one half Of the entire cost Of its
construction.
Having acknowledged the erst part Of the title
OF the abovenaLned act 70 be in strict accordance
with its meaning, We are obliged 10 say that the
latter part is just the reverse and that instead Of
more efiectually leveeing, draining and reclaim
ing the swamp lands in the rear Of the city Of New
Orleans Inothine said about the swamp in the
rear of CarrOlton and Jefferson City, the project
ed act viii entirely ruin our system of drainage,
bring the river and lake waters within oGr doors,
cut OF communication between the front and rear
parts OF our cities, compel double The present
number of draining machines, and az NE whole
river front from CarTolton to the lower part of
New Orleans will have 40 other outlets for the dis
charge of rain OF domestic waters than the con-
templated canal we will, as il is contemplated by
the charter Of the New Orleans snd Ship Island
Canal, be obliged TO drain the whole front lands
into the said canal, on such terms and conditions
SIS will be agreed upon between the parties, and
by these means place the $4,000 inhabitants of
the above named cities, for drainage purposes, at
the mercy of the seven propretOrs Of the charter,
who will thus be enabled To accomplish their work
entirely at the expense Of the public.
To give pTetext for this new legislation, and
apparently legitimate the appropriation Of
81, 500,0O0 Of the public money TO the New Orlesns
end Ship Island Canal Company, q clause has been
inserted 10 the act compelling the company TO
build levee on the NORTH side of their canal to
protect the cities from any overaows from the
lake or river water. This obligation is eimply ab
surd, as TIE building OF this leVee will afford no
protection whatever In case of q hurricane =; the
only difference for US will be thatinstead OF rsceiv
ing 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.
This clause must have been inserted solely for
the purpose Of deceiVing an unguarded public,
who had suffered SO much from the late over
Ns-A. II -k-I,