The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-16

MR.. suRGI's REPORT CONCERNING TIE SHIP ISLAND
CANAL SCHEME.
SURVEYORS OFFICE, Cry HALL,
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1868. I
Hon. John r. Conway, Mayor:
sr-In answer to your letter requesting me to
inform you how the contemplated New Orleans
and Ship 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, hsve'to say,
that to understand the objections which may be
raised against this project I viii first give
synopsis of the charter, showing the privileges
pany.
A perpetual charter has been granted to Messrs.
G F. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles Dilling-
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, Michael
Hahn and w. E. Reed. under the name of The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company" to
construct canal, with the privilege Of tele-
bank of the Mississippi river, in the parish of JEFF
ferson, thence through the corporate limits of
Carrollton and Jefferson cities and New Orleans in
Is direct route practicable north of Broad street
to the Rgoets, near the outlet of Lake Catherine,
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
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 OF
appropriate 500 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,
1868, and shall be completed five years thereafter.
No more than fifteen drav-bridges shall be
placed across said canal, for distance of thirty
miles. through the corporate limits of New Or.
leans, Jefferson and Carrollton.
Any person or corporation may use the said
canal for drainage purposes, on such terms and
conditions as may be agreed upon between the
The above are the main features of the charter
Of 4th October, 1868. {
The whole project is impractcsble by reason Of
physical obstacles, and Of being In collision with
II not for the supplementary act which passed one
branch Of the Legislature, and the object Of
which IL to build o portion of the Ship Island
Canal with money extracted from the people
without equivalent benefit.
The moptrosity Is entitled An act 10 aid in the
construction Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, for the purpose Of more effectualy levee.
ing, draining and reclsiming 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
ct large, out OF nearly two and quarter millions
Of dollars, and infict irreparable losses upon
them.
Let 10 see what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning the
drainage Of certain portions of the parishes Of JEFF
ferson and Orleans.
The second section consolidates into one the
draining districts described In the law Of 18th
March, 1858, and legalzes the tax imposed BY the
draining commissions In their respective districts
The third section relates to Q commissioner, who
viii be appointed by the governor, to take charge
Of ell the assets belonging TO the draining dis ]