The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-11


be and the same is hereby fully Endorsed.
Accompanying this 10 copy Of the report abov,
referred to. ! have the honor to be, very re
specially, THEoDoKs J. DIMrRY,
Secretary.
NIB. suRGI's REPORT CONCERNING THE SHIP ISLAM
CANAL SCHEME.
SURVEYORS OFFICE, CRY HALL, I
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1868. (
Hon. John B. Conway, Mayor:
Sir-In answer to your letter requesting me Il
inform you how the contemplated New Orleans
and Ship Island Cana" will, IL carried out agree
with our present drainage system, and also
whether 1t will not interfere with the freedom oil
circulation throughout our city, have to say
that to understand the objections which may be
raised against this project will first give q
granted and the charges imposed upon the com.
pany. ofs -. 80 :
4 A pepetual charter has been granted to Msssrs.
q. IF. Brott, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles billing.
ham. Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, Michsel
Hahn and W. Z. Reed, under the name of " The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company to
construct canal, with the privilege Of O 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
ss direct route practicable north of Broad street
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. - =. 4. 49, r....,.-
the main canal with the river for the passage of
steamboats,, vessels, barges, etc.
The company will have the right to purchase or
appropriate 500 feet In width, on each side from
The construction Of said canal shall commence
within twelve months from the 4th of October,
1865, and shall be completed Eve years thereafter
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.
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, 1865.
The 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 Is 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 Shin Island
Canal, for the purpose of more effsctusly levee-
ing, draining and reclaiming 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
of dollars, and infict irreparable losses upon
them. TT
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. 1855, and legsizes the tax imposed by the
draining commissions in their respective districts
The third section relates to commissioner who |
will be appointed by the governor, to take charge
Of all the assets belonging to the draining dis |
Iicts, and who viii receive as compensation q |
per 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 Dristrict, and levy tax on the |
lands in said district equal to that assessed in the
First District-(3 $40 mills per square foot) The
taxes due in the First and Second Districts, and |
he whole amount assessed In the Third District,
hall be divided into four equal psrts-one.quarter
hall be payable on the LIST October 1869, and
ZACH other quarter shall be due and payable an
lualy thereafter. The assessment shall remain
irst mortgage on the property as now provided
~ law.
For all lots Of land sold under judgment said
commissioner shall receive ten cents on each and
The nth section says that all moneys collected
y said commissioner shall be paid into the State
reasury, and all real estate acquired By the nom
'ayment Of taxes shall be considered, and held In
rust, as separate fund and property, to be paid
ver and the titles to said acquired real estate to
m n IN he Ma " and Ialo |
ANAL Company, as hereinafter provided.
The sixth section says, that when the company
hall have excavated q portion of their canal 8
eet deep and IS feet wide, for distance of s
onnecting with the Bayou GENTLY, they shall
eceive one-fourth of the amount assessed BY the
and patent for 100000 acres of
When the canal shall have been excsvated $50
set wide and feet deep, they shall receive an.
Their fourth of the amount assessed, and patent
Dr. 100 600 acres of public land.
When the canal shall have been excavated $50
set wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive
mother fourth of the amount assessed. and A
atent for lOO, 900 acres of public land. .-1 .
And when the whole canal shall have been COM
leted as provided In the charter. the last fourth
sad assessment and patent for 100000 acres
public land shall be paid to them.
ration Of the aid and grants conferred BY the
tste, tne said company shall construct and main.
lin suitable levee along the north side Of their
anal ior distance Of five miles, and Of such
myth and dimensions a. to prevent the city from
eng overhowed By any crevasse occurring above ,
8 intersection with the river, and also 10 prevent
re city from being overfowed by water from
axe Pontchartfain. o-t elTfI .n o. Il
No money or lands shall be vested in said COM
any until the State engineer or city surveyor
ball certify that said protection levee is com.
leted IN accordance with the provisions Of this
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