New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-15

hundred and fifty
lineal feet shell road,
20 feet wide ana II sysr-ss .-a...--s-
inches thick, along
lower protection le-
wee, from river to
lake, $3.............. 122,25O
Twenty thousand lineal
feet shell road along
lake Shore 80 feet
wide and II inches
thick, 4l3c.... 10000. 1898. $50
| Total. ....................... So, ABS, 375
Upon these estimates Mr.. Cockrem offered
| the following resolution:
Resolred, That the Mexican Gulf and
Lake BOrgne Canal Company be and they
are hereby authorized to commence work
immediately on the lake shore protection
levee, under the direction of the Admins
traitor of improvements and City Surveyor
according to plans and specifications on file
in the office of the City Surveyor
MIR, Shaw moved the passage of the reso-
luton. .rt --t..-.
Mr. Cockrem seconded the motion. ..
The Mayor: Before the vote is taken,
would ask the postponement of the resolu-
ton. 1t involves an expenditure of TWEEN
ty-five hundred thousand dollars for work
not necessary, being for protection leyee
outside of the shore of Lake Pontchartrain
The reasons which are assigned by the en-
gineer think are fallacious and incorrect.
l would like to hear other en- gineers of the
city and the public generally discuss this
matter before it is acted upon. l believe it
would be suicidal policy to enter upon
in, he
dition of the city. 1t is not necessary
when for hundred thousand dollars
ample provision can be made against over
flow by putting locks in the canals At all |
events, suggest it would be proper and |
expedient not to spring this matter thus
on the public, but to hear their
views on the subject. If they think favor
ably OF it, L and everybody else will
acquiesce. A protection levee" is a very
enticing sound, and without knowing what
ilnd Of protection levee is contemplated,
many would be in favor of it, when they
would not if they knew where that levee
vas to be. A protection levee should of
curse be constructed at once, but this will
lot be protection levee. / ask that these
documents be printed and laid. over till
ext week. e
Mr.. Lewis: l have always been in favor
t a protection levee around the city, and /
hink during the last ten days the question
as been pretty well discussed through the
ress. When this matter of drainage was
efo-e the Council previously, l voted
gainst putting the Lake Borgne and Mex
IAN Gulf Canal Company to work other
han on a protection levee. l am of the
anne opinion to-day. But l am willing
hat they should go to work at once on a
rejection levee according to the plans and
stimates of the City Surveyor. think it
needed. do not believe there is paper
| this city that has not spoken in favor of
lis protection levee. Let it cost what it !
ay, believe it is the opinion of the peo- G
lie that there should be protection leyee ,
hey say they want it, and as they will 8
ave to pay for it, l am in favor of giving ,
lem it.
The Mayor said he had sent out letters to :
citizens and engineers, asking
eir opinion on the question. If they were
vorable, the Council could act understand :
gly, but he did not think the Council I'M !;
'rstood the magnitude of the job they q
ere going into. !.
Mr.. Shaw: This subject Of protection
wee has been before the public long +
ough. 1t is almost the universal opinion e
at this thing must be done, and two years g
ha
is very thing. Why it was not then done
n not well state. Still, when the Mayor tells n
ne wishes us to postpone matter of this L.
TT, In order to have the documents printed r,
d read, can not resist proposition of .,
1T kind, though l believe the Council is a
'dy to commit itself to a prosecution of
s work; and in yielding to postpone .,
mt only yield until the next meeting. =,
hlnk the conviction of the necessity of 70
s work is so strong that we are ready to
,e now.
The Mayor said he did not think any g,
m could arise by waiting till the next W.
citing. In the meantime the public
uld be informed what kind of protection CT
ee was proposed. A protection levee he 10
lself was strongly in favor of; the only
stion was, what kind
lr. Bonzano said he had asked the Sur. 10
or if he had consulted any of his
thren in the profession on this subject. WI
replied that he had, and had also con- tic
ed the best engineering works of foreign n ~;
hors. From the Administrator of Finance III,
(Mr. Bonzano) learned that similar be
ks had been constructed in New jersey. 81
r. Walton said the Administrator was
aiken. The levee he spoke of as having
! built in New Jersey was not made in
water, and that was the difficulty in his
about the present plan He did not ma
end to scientific knowledge, but his VI. VIC
mon sense led him to doubt whether a NO,
e built out on the lake shore would be
permanent as inland. While he was in At
r OF protection levee and of putting adj,
company to work as quickly as they 7
d, he seriously doubted whether putting
rec out in Lake Pontchartrain was 90.
% protect the city. He was in favor of
ponement.
p Ill