New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-19
lTHE CITY COUNCIL.

mayor A8WuCE0 PAOoAAs&s AA~@Ssses
Messrs. Bonzano, Walton. Lewis. Remick,
Shaw, Delassize and Cockrem.
A resolution appropriating 5000 to Peli
can FIe Company No. l, Of Algiers, for .
steam engine, ETC., was adopted.
A resolution relative. to brick sidewalks
on the northeast side of Felicity street, be-
tween Magnolia and Liberty, was adopted.
A petition from the Pacific and Atlantic
Telegraph Company for permission to erect
poles in this city was referred.
Several other claims and petitions were
appropriately referred.
Another proposition was received from
Messrs. Roselius, Irwin and others, forming
the Carondelet Draining Company proposing
to take city bonds in payment for the work
which they had already offered to per-
form twenty per cent cheaper than the
Mexican Gulf Canal Company.
The proposition was not acted upon, but
the ordinance of Mr.. Shaw relative to tue
drainage of the city by the Mexican Gulf
Canal Company was adopted, with q pro-
viso by Mr.. Walton that only specified work
shall be paid for as lcsees, and not embank-
ments made from excavations.
Mr.. Flanders said that the passage Of the
ordinance was most unfortunate thing for
the Council. The legislative draining act
was one of the most infamous infamies of
the Legislature.
Mr. Lewis voted against the ordinance
because the Council should not act hastily
when there was competition. and parties
offering to do the work for twenty and forty
per cent less than the Mexican Gulf Canal
Company.
Mr.. Walton voted NO.
Mr.. Delassize voted yes because it was
low.
Meesrs. Bonzano, Shaw, Cockrem and
Remick also voted yes.
The ordinance was therefore adop ted. 1t
reads as follows:
An ordinance to provide for the more eff
cient drainage Of the city of New Orleans
and envirOns and their protection from
inundation.
WHEREAS, By the provisions of act No.
30 of the session Of 1871 Of the Legislature
Of Louisiana. it is made mandatory upon
the Council Of the city of New Orleans to
provide, ON the part Of the city, for an ex-
tensive system Of drainage, to lay out the
lines, and fix the location and dimensions
of certain canals and 1evees, and in various
ways to recognize the claims and accounts
of, and to make settlements with the Mis-
sissippi and Mexican Gulf Canal Company
in performing the excavation Of such canals.
and the building of levees and,
Whereas, The Council of the city deems
certain portions of said bill to put in ques-
ton the right of the city to the proper con-
troll Of its drainage system and ats right vol
unfairly to contract for the work, and agree
upon q price for the. same, aud does not
recognize the validity or cOnstitutiOnality of
the eaid act in certain of its parts; yet recog-
nizing the importance Of an effective drain
age system, the desire Of the public for its
accomplishment without further delay, and
satisfied of the capacity and readiness Of the
said company to perform the work required
by the city, it is deemed proper by the
Council aforesaid to Ordain % follows:
SECTION l. Be it ordained by the Council
of the city of New Orleans, That all mat
ters appertaining to drainage and the pro-
tectlen Of the city from inundation be placed
under the immediate charge Of the Admin
istrator Of Improvements, aided by the
City Surveyor.
SEC g Be it further ordained, ETC., That
the Mayor and Administrator of Finance
shall be associated with the Administrator.
Of improvements as a standing COMMITTEES
ON Drainage, to act until the further pleas
ure of the. Council. 1t shah be the duty Of
said committee to prepare plan of work
tO be entered upon immediately, and to re-
port to the Council, at its first meeting after
the adoption of this ordinance, what canals
and levees, or extensions of present canals
and levees are most urgently required; and
upon the approval Of the same by the
Council, the Administrator Of Improve
ments shall authorize the Mississippi and
Mexican Gulf Canal Company to enter upon
the performance of the said work under his
direction.
Sec. 3. Be it further ordained, ETC., That
the city expressly declares and notifies the
Mississippi and Mexican Gulf Canal Com
pany that it does not waive its right freely to
contract for the work of excavating the
canals and erecting the levees required,
with the said company, or any other party,
as may hereafter appear to the best advan-
tage Of the city; and that the directing or al
lowing the said company to enter upon and
perform anv portion of the said work laid
down is not to be considered as implying
their exclusive right to its performance and
or to continuing the same further
or otherwise than during the pleasure of
the Council. The said company is further
notified that such work, and no other, as |
shall be performed with the consent and ap- |
proval Of the Council, will be settled for as
hereinafter provided.
l. The surveyor shall measure and certify |
the dimensions Of all the canals and levees |
now existing along the line Of the works |
entered upon. 60 tar as the same may form |
part Of the canals and levees to be con-
,tructed; the same to be allowed for by the |
company in deduction of their measurements
If work performed and completed.
g The canal work to be measured and |
certified monthly; the levee work also to u
and certified monthly so far as
he same shall have been shaped and COM
,leted, and sufficiently dried for the pas
age thereon of vehicles, it being the inten-
ion hereof that the levees shall have the
ull dimensions required after being dried
md ready for use and all payments shall
,e based upon measurements made Of them
n that condition.
3. The earth removed from the canals, and
lot required for levees, shall be the property
# the city, and disposed of as the city may
leem proper.
4. The city will issue warrants for thepay
nent of the work, as required by the act Of
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