New Orleans Republican., 1871-06-08

STATEMENT OF Mr.. D. F. KENNER.-
At the request of the writer we publish
the following card:
On my return to the city l was some
what surprised to read in the newspapers
published copy of communication to
my address, emanating from the Depart
ment of Improvements of this city, dated
August 20, 1870. The purport of this COM
munlcatlon was to call attention to the fact
that certain levees required to be raised
and strengthened.
Had my answer to this communication
been also published, and the facts incident
thereto explained, public opinion would
probably have been more enlightened than
it is on this subject.
Immediately ON receipt of the communi-
cation of August 20, the necessary meas
ures were adopted to strengthen the levees
In my answer, dated August 25 1870,
written only five days after the receipt of
that of the twentieth, | informed the Ad-
ministrator of Improvements what 1 had
done, and took occasion to say in reply
that these levees had always been under
the control of the city authorities, and that
| would facilitate the city authorities in any
measures they might consider it necessary
to adopt to strengthen these levees.
To correct another erroneous impression
in connection with this matter l desire to
state that not one spadeful of earth has
been removed from the levee on the New
canal, between the Metairie Ridge and the
city, by the authority or consent of the
lessee OF the New canal, or any one in his
employment. On the contrary, the most
positive and repeated orders have been
given to the person in charge of the work
for deepening the canal to report to the po-
lice any one seen removing earth from the
levee. Three or four times last summer re-
ports were made to the police that individ-
uals were pilfering earth from the levee,
and they were compelled to desist from so
doing. In deepening the canal, the mud from
the bottom was thrown by the dredgeboat
over the levee irto the street. The mud
thus thrown into the street was allowed to
be removed-particularly when complained
of by the adjoining proprietors as a nui-
sance; but in every such case the earth to
be removed was carefully staked off and a
person in my employment was directed to
attend and see that no earth was removed
from the levee under the plea that it was
being removed from the street.
The cause of the weakness in the levee at
Hagan avenue arose, in my opinion, from
the fact that a tailrace was dug without
consultation with. or the consent of the
lessee) from the Hagan avenue canal through
the levee to the New Canal, by Mr.. Surgi,
then City Surveyor, for the purpose OF
placing in the tailrace sluice gate.
Mr.. Surgi's theory was that current OF
water sufficiently strong could be passed
through the sluice to wash out Hagan
avenue canal to the draining machine at
the other end of it. Where this Itailrace
was dug has always been the weakest point
in the levee. l am told by an eye witness,
who was standing ON the levee when the
break occurred, that it broke at or near this
tail race, through hole at the bottom OF
the levee.
The levees on the New and Old canals
were originally built by the city, and have
always been under its control.
would request the enlightened press OF
this city. while discussing this question OF
the overflow, to direct their attention to
the following inquiries:
Was not the railroad running between
the cemeteries and the Bayou st. John under
water in several places on Friday morning.
nearly twenty-four hours before the break
at Hagan avenue occurred Was not the
water as far up as Broad street on Friday
And whence did the water which over
flowed this railroad come! Did it come up
the BAYOU Metairiel or up the canals
through the City Park to the Orleans street
tailraoe or through breaks and gaps in
the levees on the Bayou st. John and on
the Old canal or did it come generally
from all of them
Was not the water still flowing rapidly
into the rear OF the city through the Or
leans street tailrace as late as Monday,
when the water IN the overtlowed district
was az its highest point, and the break at
Hagan avenue closed
| think that correct answer to these In
ouiries will show that the water in the lake,
from its excessive height, entered the city
in many places deemed heretofore perfectly
safe. For many successive days strong
southeast wind had prevented the escape OF
the water thrown into the lake by the Bon
net Carre crevasse; and a similar combina,
ton of unfortunate causes Will again entail
disaster on the city, until a complete sys-
TEN of protection fevees has been perfected
under the control of the city authorities.
d. +. KENNER, Agent.