New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-11-24

Brief Communications Pudlishcd-Lo'1g
Ones Invariably Re,ecsed-The Editcr not
Responsible for the Sentiments Expressed
IN the Communal a.ions.
Levees-lseneral Innndatisn.
BAYOU GoULA, November -. 1871.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
Serious and numerous breaks-"caves' -
in the leyees have occurred and are Still oc-
curing on the west bank of the river, in tha
parishes of Pointe Coupee, West Baton
Rouge and Ibervilie. In the latter named
parish there has been nothing like it s!ace
1915.
The remorse.ess river is. even uow. al
ready rising. The dan ger is imminent.
The State. after suuaniering millions in
levee contracts, leaves us unprotected still
and, we are told by the highest authority.
has not dollar to give us. Tie New
Levee Company" can not or will not help
u.s."
The Governor has been here, and tod IS
that we must help ourselves. l. is to D.
presumed that he knows what he says. if it
be poor comfort. Well, we are doing So -
the best of our ability aud means. We have
been active-have subscribed literally; bat
to build these lnvees OURSELVES ruins Us.
We are ruined if they are not constructed.
To the undersigned the present state oi
affairs is not unexpected. Years ago. over
quarter of a century. when State Ell g.ieec;
lie gave warning. officially: again. when
Governor OF the State: many tllEe since.
individually. But al 10 no purpose.
The best digested plans for protection and
consequent redemption have been either TN
noticed, or thrown asde-and now our title
has come and we are unpreparef. helpless.
Police juries say that they have no ai.-
thOrity OF law to issue bonds. In New
York. the other day. Judge Barnard. IL
the New York city municipal frau; ease.
said from tie bench, when there is no
law to prevent or punish fraud. one must
be invented. The public must be p-o-
tected from rascality.
Now, sir, Louisiana must be projected
against that 'rasca.ly" river. the Mis,,s
sipE,iI. c. ...,
with police iucies, have invented some
thing-and trusted to future rat ircat.on al
the hands Of tue public,
We are drowned out. sure. unless some
thing is done. and that. too. immediately.
Past sad experience has taught Us how 10
appreciate the disasters OF '.crevasse>" in
Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge.
Mind you, am writing now about cur Sec
ton OF country These are fresh III unwl.l
ing memory.
Since 1898 there has been no serious ere
vase on the west ba..h ot the river, be-
tween the mouths o. lAc bdNotis Iiit We
mine and Latou:c!.e.
Now. let me tel. ny fellow planters enc
thing.
A serious "crevassc. or a series Of the
same the latter event the most likely to
happen). will overflow the whole al!;,via!
basin lying IL lie irregular territorial
quadran gle bounded by the river Mts,;s-
sippi and the Bayous Plaluen:ue. La
fourche and Tecle. This is as true q, t,.i-
water will seek its own level.
Now is it fair or jus, that the riparian.
proprietors between the PlaGuell.:l.e and
LatOurche should at their own cost. n-otect
this vast section Of the country Clearly
not.
These levees must be built. and by private
subscrip: ion: the sooner the better: a. a,e
vitality interested.
For the sake OF convenience AID promp.
t;tude, would sugges. that planters. ana
all others interested, send in their s',oscT;il-
tons. by check o. otherwise. ar once. to
some responsible agency in New Orleans, |
would suggest without conference WI.
HIM Mr.. John q. Gaines. president @. tie
Citizens Bank. That patriotic citizen will.
l have no manner o: doubt, accept the
charge cheerfully.
The disbursements viii be made Judi
ciously, under the supervision Of resroil-
sible and trustworthy citizens. already ap
pointed for that purpose. in the parishes Of
Iberviile, West Baton Rouge and PcIn:e
Coupee. All vouchers will be kept and
published if necessary. So as 70 insure no
misapplication of funds.
For myself. offer III services a engineer
gratuitousiy.
Now, fellow citizens. fellow sufferers.
''stand not upon the order Of your sabserib-
ing, bat subscribe at once
Respectfully. P.O HEBEET.