New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-01
;irY covNciL--oFFlciAL


Cal agent and ADMINISTRATOR OF tue fiOatIuS
Debt.
Mayor Flanders called the Council to
order at IL A. NJ.
Boil called.
Present: Administrators West Improve
| ments), Delassize public Buildings), En-
ley (Commerce), Pierce Police, Walton
(Finance), and Bonzano (Assessments).
Absent: Administrator Shaw (ACcounts).
Reading of the minutes of last meeting
dispensed with.
Chattanooga Railroad.
The Mayor stated that through neg lect Of
the messenger the notice conveniDg the
meeting had not been served upon Mr..
Shaw. A messenger had now been sent tor
him, and, until his arrival, he would take up
business other than that for which the
meeting was specially called.
Reports from Departments were in order.
Administrator West presented the follow
ing report, which was read By tins Secretary:
DEPARTMENT OF IMPROVEMENTS,
New Orleans, Apri! 80. le70.
To the Honorable Council OF the City of New
Orleans.
The undersigned has had under considera.
ton the petition of the New Orleans, Mobile
and Chattanooga Railroad Company, which,
after setting forth certain unavailiug efforts
made by them to obtain the opportunity to
ay'their railroad tracks upon the banquette
On Elysian Fields street. respectfully asks
the assistance of the city, and he reports as
follows:
The locality in question is now occupied
by the Pontchartrain Railroad Company by
authority OF an ordinance passed by the
city of New Orleans, approved March Is,
1880, copy OF which Is appended to this
report. BY that ordinance the right to use
the banGuettes Of Elyslan Fields street is
granted to the Pontchartrain Railroad
Company during the whole period of the
existence of their charter" and the Mayor
is authorized to allow the said company the
use Of said street, road and avenue SO far
that no inconvenience shall result therefrom
to the public"
The issue is now made whether the great
err convenience results to the Pontchartrain
Railroad Company or to the public by the
formers continued occupancy OF the space
now occupied by them, and which the New
Orleans, Mobile and Chattanooga Railroad
Company seek to devote to their uses.
A personal examination of the premises
shows that the space in controversy is used
by the Pontchartrain company IA side or
track runs upon space elaine by them of
a width of fifty feet, French, in the centre of
EIysian Fields street, west of the said side
track. 1t is not apparent that any prejudice
can arise to that company by the removal of
this side or accommodation track to their
own ground. 1t has been represented to
the undersigned that to make this removal
would impair the curve upon which the
Pontchartrain read turns on to the levee,
in y mir
tanned by the facts.
The Legislature has seen fit to grant the
New Orleans, Mobile and Chattanooga Rail
road Company the right Of way through
Elysan Fields street. 1t is not pertinent,
IN this connection, to aliude to the contro-
versy between the city and that company,
with respect to the ownership of certain |
batture property claimed by both parties,
further than to say that the question now
under consideration snOt involved in that |
controversy. The policy Of the city is IN
to afford encouragement. to the |
Introduction OF railroads, and it would |
seem that the Chattanooga Railroad Com |
paIy should be accommodated by the city, |
when such accommodation can be granted |
without too large sacrifice of the privi- |
leges OF other companies or of the rights of
the people.
Placing that company upon the alterna.
tive of the city's refusal to grant the aid
asked for. it is subjected to the necessity of
either laying its track in the street east OF
the Elysian Fields middle ground. or upon
the banquette on the west side OF that |
space This would be equivalent to prop. |
o sitiCn to use street for railroad track |
where d middle ground Is available, or to
use two banQuettes where one will suffice, |
and where one has been reserved for and |
planted for e promenade. A petition has !
been sent through the undersigned to the !
Council, signed by one hundred and sixty |
three property holders of that vicinity, |
strongly demonstrating against the former |
and the vandalism of the latter |
IS its condemnation.
And it is further apparent that the Chat
5anOo Company, by adopting either of these |
would be compelled to the |
Use of very disadvantageou5 curve from
Elysan Fields street to the levee.
accompanying the petition Of the Chatta-
lcoga Company is correspondence containing
propositions made by them to the Porchar-
rain Company: l. To remove the latter
ompany's track to their ground free of
2. To let the Ponchartrain Com
'any do the work with their own hands. the
Expense to be paid by the Chattanooga Com
'any. 8. To buy the track at it's full value.
these propositions, it is stated, have all
,een rejected.
The undersigned has sought the oppor-
unity to confer with the representatives of
he Ponchartran Railroad Company. but is
eferred to communication of their attor-
eys, herewith appended, wherein any in
exposition by the city is respectfully pro
cSted against, on the ground that suit has
zen brought by them to prevent the Chat
anooga Railroad Company from doing what
hey now solicit the city to aid them in
DING. It is proper to remark that this suit
7as brought prior to the grant of right OF
'ay by the Legislature.
But the question recurs, independent of
hat suit, in what. manner the public inter.
st is to be best served by the Council?
In view of all the facts, the undersigned is
onstrained to report that in his opinion the
rayer OF the petitioner should be granted.
nd he begs leave to report resolution to
hat effect for the consideration OF the Coun-
il. Very respectfully, ETC.,
j. L. WEST, Administrator.
Accompanying the report were the follow
lg named documents:
1. Petition by New Orleans, Mobile and
chattanooga Railroad Company. TO lay their
.ack on Elysian Fields street:
2. Letter of James A. Raynor, president,
, J. A, Campbell, counsellor, authorizing
i'm to make several proposals to the repre-
,ntatives of the Pontchartrain Railroad.
8. Answer 10 above BY j. A. Campbell,
it'll information that Pontchartrain Rail
Dad Company rejected all proposals.
4. Copy of ordinance relative to construct
on of tracks of the Pontchartrain Rail
Dad Company, upon the ba1quettes, ap-
rcved March 15 1880.
5: Memorandum of sale G. grounds by
ernard Marigny TO Pontchartrsin Railroad
ompany, dated February %, 1880.