The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-13

Total amount given said company 81, $50
Three fourths of this amount, 81 1855, 462, are to
be handed to the company, during the progress,
aud after the completion Of five miles OF canal loo
feet wide and IL feet deep, the cost OF which viii
not exceed 5000 $40, the remaining fourth, s6lS,.
4s7 80, only upon the completion of the whole
canal to the Rigolets, as provided In the charter
In presence of the above figures, you can per.
ceiye how true is the title OF this act entitled An
act to aid in the construction of the New Orleans
and Ship Island Canal y and What powerful aa
the property-holders Of New Orleans, Jefferson
and Carrollton cities are compelled to give the
gentlemen orginators of the scheme towards the
accomplishment Of their design.
The whole cost of the canal will not exceed
IS 600, 900; so, beside the injury inflicted apon
their property, and without particeo OF interest
in the contemplated work, the proprietors within
the limits of the above named cities are made 10
contribute to one.half of the entire cost OF Its
Having acknowledged the first part Of the title
of the aboye-named act to be In strict accordance
with its meaning, we are Obliged to say that the
latter part just the reverse ana mat instead Oh
more efiectuslly leveeing, draining and reclaim
ing the swamp lands in the rear OF the city OF New
Orleansn (nothing said about the swamp in the
rear of Carrollton and Jefferson City, the project
ed act will entirely ruin our system OF drainage,
bring the river and lake waters within our doors,
cut of communication between the front and rear
parts of our cities compel to double The present
number of draining machines, and as the whole
river front from Carrollton to the lower part OF
New Orleans will have other outlets for the dis
charge of rain or domestic waters than the con-
templated canal, we will, as il Is contemplated py
the charter of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, be obliged to drain the whole mont lands
into the said canal on such terms and conditions
as will be agreed upon between the parties, and
by these means place the 900 inhabitants OF
the above named cities. for drainage purposes, AZ
the mercy of the seven proprietors OF the cnsrte,
who will thus be enabled TO accomplish then "orA
lu AT "a
To give pretext for this new legisaton, and
appsrently Legitimate the approprlalon Oh
s5 200 COO of the public money to the New orleans
and ship Island Canal Company, clause mas peen
inserted in the act compelling the company 10
: build levee on the NORTH side OF their canai 70
protect the cities from any overhows from tne
lake or river water. This obligation 10 simply ap'
surd as the building OF this levee VIII anor' az. 40
. nrotec,ion whatever in case of hurricane; the
anIv difference for us will be that instead OF recelv-
ing the waters direct from the lake, we VIII nave
TEEN through the unprotected south pank oi lhe
canal and certainly that VIII not improve QUE oon'
dition. 80, ,., ,o,
the purpose of deceiving an unguarded pnonc'
who had suffered so much from the late over.
flow (which could have been prevented az coz
of 1900 and make them believe that the pro.
posed relief is equal to the remuneration granted
In fact, there was no reason for introducing
this clause, for a similar but more adequate pro-
tection against the lake water is already pro
vided for in the original charter, the company
being obliged 10 make the banks OF their cana
lecture and adequate, to avoid any dangef. iron
overflow or breakage, and, must say, that II 1
not an cnerous obligation imposed upon them, To-
IL Is the result of the work ITSELF the earth com
inc from the excavation will furnish materia
enough 20 make a levee on each bank, a. least II
feet high, 20 feet wide at top and 100 feet at IN
bsse amply sufficient to repel the lake water.
Such will not be the case, however, should
creyssse occur at or below the lock intended D.
the company to be built ct Carroilton. The elite
of New Orleans, Jefferson and Carollton bein
heIted by the inner or south levee OF the CON
nsnvis canal. their whole area would be covere
NTH A sheet Of water from FIVE TO ten feet deer
and should this canal ever be built, this impend
inc calamity will, like Damocles's sword, be col
stsntly hanging over our heads: A.,
This fact Is so well known that, during all ID
time our State was under the control OF us o"
citizens, the building Of locks or sluices wa
always prohibited in the bends OF the rive
where the banks are always subject TO caving
Another of the many Objectionable features I
the whole project is the location OF the canal Q
the north side OF Broad street, in the vicinity
Ravou Savage and Gently Road, to say nothir
Of The damage which this location VIII occasie
10 The FIVE railroads chartered by the state al
the city of New Orleans, or OF its iDterferen
with the navigation of the New Canal ana OF u
Canal Carondeles, you will ind that the nite'
drawbridQes so generously granted 70 the puoil
for a distance of thirty miles, are lar from pei
sufficient 10 afford q speedy communication ?
tween the two severed parts OF our ciues'