The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-24

of Mr.. l.. Surgi, city surveyor, on the same sub
ject, was also unanimously adopted:
ReSolUed, By the Board Of Engineers for the
drainage of the city Of New Orleans, that the re-
port Of L. Surgi. Esq, in the matter Of the pro-
posed Ship Island canal, read before this board
be and the same is hereby fully Endorsed.
Accompanying this is copy of the report above
referred to. have the honor TO be, very re-
specially, THEODORE J. DIMITRY,
Secretary.
Mr.. sURGI's REPORT CONCERNING THE SHIP ISLAND
CANAL SCHEME.
SURvEYOR's OFFICE, CITY HALL,
New Orleans, 3lst December, lS6S. {
Hon. John r. Conway, Mayor:
iSir-In answer TO your letter requesting me TO
inform Won 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, | have to say,
that 70 understand the objections which may be
raised against this project l will first give
synopsis of the charter, showing the privileges
granted and the charges imposed upon the COM
pany.
A perpetual charter has been granted to Messrs.
G F. BrOtt, Lionel A. Sheldon, Charles DLing-
ham, Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, Michael
Hahn and W. Z. Reed. under the name Of The
New Orleans and Ship Island Canal Company" to
construct a 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
direct route practicable north of Broad street
10 the Rgoets, near the outlet Of Lake Catherine,
thence to Ship Island.
The canal is 70 be at least $50 feet wide at the
surface, with a 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 sde-
quaie 10 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 600 feet in width, on each side from
the center Of their canal.
TIE construction OF said canal shall commence
within twelve months from the 4th Of October,
1865, aud shall be completed five years thereafter.
No more than fifteen draw-bridges shall be
placed across said canal, for a distance Of thirty
rifles. through the corporate limits Of New Or.
leans, Jefferson and CarrOliton.
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.
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 rOt for the supplementary act which passed one
branch of the Legislature. and the object OF
which is TO build a 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 ard reclsimiDg the swamp lands in
the rear of the city of New Oreans,n 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 lnfict irreparable losses upon
them.
Let us zee what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning the
drainage of certain portions of the parishes of JEFF
feTson and Orleans.
The second section consodstes into one the
draining districts described in the las of 18th
March, 1858, and legalizes the tax imposed by the
draining communications in their respeclye districts.
The third section relates TO q commissioner, 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 y
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
the whole amount assessed in the Third District,
shall be divided into four equal psrts-one-quarter
shall be payable on the LIST October, 1869, and
each other quarter shall be due and payable an
nually thereafter. The assessment shsl remain
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 in
trust, as a separate fund and property, to be paid
over and the titles to said acquired real estate TO
be made over to 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 q distance of
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 100000 acres public land.
When the canal shall have been excavated $50
feet wide and II feet deep, they shall receive
another fourth of the amount assessed, and
patent for 100. 900 acres of public land.
And when tbewhole canal shall have been CON-
pleted as provided in the charter the last fourth
Of said assessment and patent for 100000 acres
of public land shall be paid to them.
The eighth section says that in further consd.
GRAFTON Of the aid and grants conferred by the
State, the said company shall construct and main
tain suitable levee along the north side Of their
canal for a distance of five miles, and of such
length and dimensions as to prevent the city from
being overlooked by any crevasse occurring above
its intersection with the river and also TO prevent
the city from being overlooked BY water from
Lake Pontchsrtram.
No money or lands shall be vested in said COM
pany until the State engineer or city surveyor
shall certify that said protection levee is COM
pleted in accordance with the provisions of this
act.
The above summary extract OF the original
charter and Of the additional act, being sufficient
to explain the whole scheme, we will now ex-
anime the project in its Details as far as the in
terests of our community are concerned.
In virtue of this additional act, the company is
made the recipient Of the unpaid drainage tax, and
of a new one imposed for thar sole banedt unon