New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-21
THE PROTECTION LEvEE,

The Council yesterday passed the reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Cockrem at pre-
vious meeting. This resolution authorizes
the building of the protection levee along
the margin of Lake Pontchartrain, in ac-
cordance with Surveyor Bells plans. SUBJ
mitted to the Council last week 1t is to
be hoped the company which has been
named to do this work by the Legislature
will now proceed theoretically to build
the levee and save our city from the
chances of another overflow 1t will take
from two to four years, it is thought, to
build this levee and the two that will con-
meet with it at either end of the city; and
the work has to be faithfully pursued to
completion to do this.
The necessity for an efficient system of
drainage and protection levees has long
been felt in this city, but never until now
has the matter been taken in hand with
view, and, it is to be hoped, determine
ton to do the work. 1t may take ten
years to accomplish the whole work, but
when it is done apublic improvement will
have been made that will rebound to the
credit and benefit of the city, and reflect
lasting honor on the man who conceived,
advocated and executed its consumma-
ton. 1t will, undoubtedly, cost a great
deal of money to do this work, but when
once done it is believed the benefits to be
derived from it will be far greater than
the cost. New Orleans has location for
business with the world that is equal to
any city on this continent, not excepting
New York. Located in the rich valley of
the Mississippi she has the advantage of |
a river navigation with an interior coun-
try that is not enjoyed by any other
city. Texas and Mexico to the south |
are contributing to her trade but
mite of what they will do when
system of railroads is perfected that
will link this city with the Pacific Ocean
and our California possessions, running
through the richest and most populous
parts of Mexico. The great West for
thousands of miles is already sending
much of its produce to the Crescent City,
and as the States of the West continue to
grow in population and wealth, so will
their trade increase with New Orleans.
And since the adjustment of slavery and
the settlement of the Gulf States under
a system of free labor will help to increase
the. population and business of those
States in very short time, through a
system of railroads, New Orleans will
also feel the benefits flowing therefrom
Under the influence of this growing trade
and population in the Southern and West
ern States of the. Union our trade with
Europe will continue to grow also in an
equal ratio. Louisiana's fertile soil will
llso attract many persons to its cultiva- 8
ion who could not think of coming here
when slavery predominated, and as onr :
State fills up, SO will its trade help to {
'wellthe immense commerce that is des- q
ined, at no distant day, to flow into the !
metropolis of the South. +
New Orleans is established She has o
european connection of long standing. i
,he is known all over the world as a COM !,
nercial port of much importance. 1t only 7
equires movement in the right direc- -
ion on the part of her business men, Y
property holders, and the men who con- 4
rol her political destinies, to assist her U
q reaching that eminence to which her G
atural position entities her, and to which ..
he is bound to reach, though the time =,
as been prolonged through an unpro- !;
ressive spirit manifested in the past by ~
re men who controlled her destinies for :,
Re time being. The people of New Or w
ans have long suffered in health and y,
usiness prosperity for the want of an :,
ficient system of drainage in the CITY, -
Id of protection leyees against the waters =,
lat surround it. :.
The swamp lands in the rear of the Al,
ty, it is conceded, are source of dis ~
sc, and must continue so until they are a;
claimed by drainage. Then by all ~,
cans let us have, as speedily as pos r.
ole, drainage and protection levees, and ~
our people feel that it is safe to i'm
owe any portion of the city; that it is
fe to return to their homes in the re- Nc
ntly inundated district. Remove the 'o'
liabilities of overfows and sickness; W
claim the swamp lands in the rear of w
e city, and extend its improvements to -. .a
= lake; then thousands of people will NJ
tile where only hundreds do it now; pa
IN houses will be in demand and prop ,n'
the case unless proper public spirit ~
manifested by our people.
A KU-KLUX WITNESS, nee