The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-07

leans.
Resolred further. That the drainage Of the city
into said canal, provided the right could be OBJ.
tanned from the corporations to do 80, would con-
vert the same into o cess-pool, injurious to
health and destructive Of the value of property.
The following resolution indorsing the report
ject, was also unanimously adopted:
Resolred, 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 as read before this board
be and the same is hereby fully indorsed.
Accompanying this is acopy of the report above
referred to. / have the honor to be, very re-
specially. THEODORE ]. DMIrRY,
Secretary.
Mr.. sURGI's REPORT CONCERNING TIE SHIP ISLAND
CANAL SCHEME.
SURVEYORS OFFICE. CRY HALL,
New Orleans, 3lst December, 1868.
Hon. John B. Conway, Mayor:
Sir-In answer to your letter requesting me to
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 Of
circulation throughout our city, / have to say,
that to understand the objections which may be
raised against this project | will first give q
synopsis of the charter, showing the privileges
granted and the charges imposed upon the com.
pany.
n
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 q tele-
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
Csrrollton and Jefferson cities and New Orleans in
as direct route as practicable north Of Broad street
TO the Rigoets, near the outlet of Lake Catherine,
thencenfO Shin Island
The canal is to be at least $50 feet wide at the
surface, with q 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 q branch or lateral canal from the
main canal to q 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
breskage.
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
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 draw.bridges shall be
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 impracticable by reason of
physical obstacles, and of being In collision with
vested rights, and is not worthy of notice, were
1t not for the supplementary act which passed one
branch Of the Legislature, and the object of
which Is to build 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 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 infiict irreparable losses upon
them.
Let MS 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 consolidstes into one the
draining districts described in the law Of 18th
March, 1858, and legalizes 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
lrlcn, and who will receive as compensation "a
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
First District-(3 $40 mills per square foot) The
q xes due in the First and Second Districts, and
the whole amount assessed in the Third District,
shall be divided into four equal parts-one.quarter
shall be payable on the LIST October, 1869, and
each other quarter shall be due and payable an
nually thereafter. The assessment shall remain a
hrst 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 nom
payment Of taxes shall be considered, and held in
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
'hall have excsvated portion Of their canal 9
eet deep and rs feet wide, for distance of
niles from point near the Mississippi river and
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 excsyated $50
eet wide and 9 feet deep, they shall receive an.
,fher fourth of the amount assessed, and patent
or 100000 acres of public land.
When the canal shall have been excavated $50 |
eet wide and IL feet deep, they shall receive |
mother fourth OF the amount assessed, and
'atent for 100 900 acres of public land.
And when the whole canal shall have been COM |
leted as provided In the charter the last fourth
4 SAID assessment and patent for 100000 acres /
u pubic land shall be paid TO them.
The eighth section says that, In further consid. |
ration Of the aid and grants conferred BY the |
tate, the said company shall construct and main. /
ain suitable levee along the north side Of their |
anal for o distance Of five miles, and Of such /
ength and dimensions 20 to prevent the city from /
ENG overnoWed by any crevasse occurring above |
3 Intersection with the river, and also to prevent
be city from being overfowed By water from
No money or lands shall be vested IN said com.
any until the State engineer or city surveyor
ball certify that said protection levee il COM
leted 10 accordance with the provisions of this
ct. atr
The above summary extract of the original
harter, and OF the additional act, being suficient
explain the whole scheme, We win now ex-
mine the project In it, details ss far q the in.
srests Of our community are concerned.
In virtue OF this additional act, the COMPANY Ia |
l0do the rocfDie0t Of the 6vatus !