The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-14

neeItn and oestrucuve OF the value of property.
Inc following resolution indorsing the repor
OF Mr.. L. Surgi, city surveyor, on the same sob
Ject, was also unanimously adopted:
hesotued, By the Board Of Engineers for tn
drain age OF the city Of New Orleans, that the re
port OF l: Surgi; Esq.,, in the matter Of the pro
posed ship Island canal, as read before this board
be and the same is hereby fully indorsed.
Accompanying this is copy of the report sboy,
referred to. i have the honor to be. yerv re-
spectully, THsoDoRK J. DrMIrRY,
Secretary.
hR- srRGI's REPORT CONCERNING TIE SHIP ISLAM
| CANAL sCHEMB.
SURVEYORS OFFICE, CRY HALL.
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1868. I
Hon. John 4. Conway Mayor:
Sr-ln answer to your letter requesting me "a
INFORM you how the contemplated " New Orleans
and Ship Island Canal will. il carried out agree
with our present drainage system, and also
whether 1t will not interfere with the freedom OF
circulation throughout our city, have to say,
that to understand the objections which NAV be
raised against this project will fret give a
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 DiIling.
nam. Gardner Banks, Ernest Deblanc, Michael
Hahn and w. Z. Reed. under the name of Tina
New orleans and Ship Island Canal Company to
construct canal, with the privilege Of a tels.
graph and shell road, from point on the left
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
as direct route as practicable north Of Broad street
70 me hgoiets, near the outlet of Lake Catherine
The canal is to 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.
n Iarkh II
also, TO make branch or lateral canal from the
main canal 10 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.
quste 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 or
exproprlste 600 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 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
parties.
The above are the main features Of the charter
Of 4th October, 1868.
The whole project is impractcable by reason Of
physical obstacles, and of being in collision with
vested rights, and is not worthy of notice, were
It lot 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 10 the
construction Of the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal, for the purpose Of more effectuslly levee.
ing, draining and retaining 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
1t large, out OF nearly two and quarter millions
Of dollars, and infict irrepsrable losses upon
hem.
Let rs see what this act proposes.
The first section repeats all laws concerning the
iransge Of certain portions Of the parishes Of JEFF
'erson and Orleans.
The second section consolidates into one the |
training districts described in the Law of 18th |
March. 1858, and legalizes the tax imposed By the
Training commissions in their respective districts
The third section relates to o commissioner, who |
vii be appointed by the governor, to take charge
u all the assets belonging to the draining dis.
riots, and who will receive as compensation q
Ter cent. on all moneys collected and received by
i'm. The said commissioner, besides receiving
be drainage taxes already assessed in the First
nd Second Districts, viii complete the assess
nent of the Third Dristrict, and levy tax on the
ands in said district equal to that assessed in the
'irst Dstrict-(3 $40 mills per square foot.) The
axes due in the First and Second Districts, and
he whole amount assessed in the Third District
hall be divided into four equal psrts-one.qu
hall be payable on the LIST October, 1869, and
ach other quarter shall be due and payable an
ually thereafter. The assessment shall remain a
rst mortgage on the property as now provided
y law.
For all lots Of land sold under Judgment said
Commissioner shall receive ten cents on each and
very lot.
The fifth section says that all moneys collected
y said commissioner shall be paid into the State
'easury, and all real estate acquired by the non
ayment Of taxes shall be considered, and held In
-ust, as separate fund and property, TO be paid
ver and the titles to said acquired real estate to
e made over 10 the New Orleans and Ship Island
anal Company, as hereinafter provided.
The sixth section says, that when the company
hall have excavated portion of their canal
'et deep and rs feet wide, for distance OF 5
lies from point near the Mississippi river, and
with the Bayou Gentilly, they shall
,ceive one.fourth of the amount assessed by the
commissioner, and patent for 100000 acres of
ublic land.
When the canal shall have been excsvated $50
et wide and 8 feet deep, they shall receive an.
her fourth Of the amount assessed and q patent |
II 100, 900 acres of public land.
When the canal shall have been excsvsted $50
ct wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive
lother fourth OF the amount assessed, and a
stent for 100 900 acres of public land.
And when the whole canal shall have been COM
eted as provided in the charter, the last fourth
said assessment and patent for 100000 acres
public land shall be paid to them.
The eighth section says that, in further consid.
alton Of the aid and grants conferred by the
ate. the said company shall construct and main. {
in Q suitable levee along the north side Of their
nal for Q distance Of five miles, and of such
myth and dimensions a. to prevent the city from
ing overlooked BY any crevasse occurring above
intersection with the river, and also to prevent
Q city from being overlooked by water from
IKE PontchsrtraIn. l.
No money or lands shall be vested In said COM
my until the State engineer or city surveyor
all certify that said protection levee Is CON-
eted In accordance with the provisions Of this