New Orleans Republican., 1871-09-16
The Levee Company.

from the Empire Parish Register
We stated in our last issue that the levet
company chartered by the Legislature had
| organized tor operations, so far as the cleo
tien of board of directors can effect al
| organization. Since then rumOr has taller
upon the tynpanum of our ear, to the effect
that the energies aud principal income q
| this company will be devoted to the build
ing. strengthening and maintaining the
| levees in those parishes through whica tht
| jackson railroad, the New Orleans, Mobile
| and Texas railroad, and MOrgan's Texai
| railroad pass, and that the levees in the
parishes which these railroads do not touch
| and are in no way protection. are to be
| comparatively neglected. It is not i'm
| possible. but is it probable that this levee
company will thus exercise its power as the
exclusive authority in the management Of
| the levees Of this State.
Hoping that this rumOr is barren of truth,
yet we can but confess to the lodgment of a
suspicion in our brain tha. there is some
foundation for it.
1t may not be generally known. but it is
nevertheless true, that all along McComb. the
president and ostensible owner Of the Jack
son railroad, has had finger in this levee
company pie. The late Bonnet Carre cre-
vase has strengthened his attachment to
this coHlDany. The company. with its re-
sources, it's privileges and its lease of life,
is good thing for McCom5's railroad. A
motive then, as irresistible as the laws of
gravitatiOn, draws his finger into this levee
company mince pie.
Charles Morgan, who owns the railroad
which runs from Alx.ers to Brashear City,
is as thick with McCOmb as "two in a bed"
His railroad is ali the time threatened with
inundation when the Mississippi river is
rampant. AS matter of course he is IN.
terested in this levee business.
The New Orleans. Mobile ard Texas rail-
road, which has throttled everything that
has come in it's way, aud skirts the river
bank from Algiers to DonaldsOnville, has
also vital interest in this levee bust
ness.
These are facts, and they are apparent to
the intelligent public. If. however, this
levee company is to be run in the interest
of these three railroad companies, we, as a
journalist of Louisiana, raise a voice of con-
domination, and Of admOnitiOn, also.
Speaking of this company. the CONNER
cial editor of the New Orleans REPUBLICAN,
IN the issue OF that paper of the fifth in
slant says:
The franchises Of the company are
greater than any ever granted in the State
Its entitled pay for work ia liberal; its privi-
leges at the Auditors and Treasurer's offices
stand above all other corporations: its ex-
pectations, already half way realized, are
more to its prosperity"
A corporation of this character, and with
these privileges, is expected to meet the re-
quirements of its charter. 1t is called upon
to perform its duties to every part of the
State which is liable to inundation. 1t was
not chartered to protect railroad companies.
The tax upon which it is to fatten does not
come from these mOnOpolies. it comes from
the planters-frOm the muscle and sweat of
the tiliers Of the soil in this State
None Of these railroads touch this parish
Dc are endangered by the river after it en-
:ers its domain; but the obligations of this |
Levee company for the performance of its |
whole duty are as binding for the interests
If Plaquemfnes as they are for any other
portion of the State