New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-26

ordinance Iphould be prepared directing the worl
to be undertaken at once, was introduced AM
! passed at q called meeting of the Council.
After all this, and many days after the tim,
hxed by the law for the company to cOmmenc,
WORK. and after it was generally known that the
Council had agreed to act under the law, propo
slti0A comes before the Council from Messrs ko
seus, Davidson and Hill, and others, proposing t.
DO the work q less price than that fixed by the
| law.
| This proposition was made, as is well known ia
ourselves, and thoroughly Understood by the pub
lie, to embarrass the Council, and, if possible
oeteat the whole plan Of drainage, in the interest
Ct persons owing large srms of drainage tax.
Inc instisators OF this movement knew full well
that refusal on the part Of the Council to act
under the law would be followed by prompt lt,-
CATION Oh the part of the State and the companv.
that in case the law were violated in any respect
the drainage tax could not be collected and that
should they succeed in obtaining q contract
under this law, they would at once be tied up BY
an injunction. This is precisely what Messrs.
R0selius, Davidson and Hill deeire. They wish
10 defeat the law, and under the circumstances
can safely offer to do the work at any price, More
over, defeat the operation of this act, aud the
drainage Of the swamp lands in the rear of tho
city, instead of being done at the expense of the
land owners, who would be immensely benefited
thereby. would be transferred manly to the city
Are the property holders of New Orleans willing
to pay tho cost Of draining the swamp lands of
Messrs. Davidson and Hill and others in the rear
of the city!
Moreover Messrs. Davidson Hill, the prime
movers of this opposition, were members of the
First District Drainage Commission. II is publicly
STATED and very generally believed that they do
not wish to render account Of their Stewardship
1t is said that in addition to the unpaid drainage
taxes some Of them still hold considerable assess.
ments paid in by other psrties 1t can be proved
that Messrs. Davidson Hill offered so far as thew
were concerned, to transfer the.books, etc. Of the
First Drainage District to the Ship Island company
on condition of being relieved nom the payment of
their drainage tax.
As one of the Commissioners of the First District
says, That was an organization how not to do it."
Their work, less than our company could accom-
pish in three months, was prolonged through
series Of years. They still $4,000 for the use
OF the dredge with which mainly the excavation
was done. Their work speaks for ITSELF 1t is the
laughing stock of the city. Let Messrs Hill l.
Davidson produce the fgures-a complete and Der.
feet statement of the cost of the works done under
their commission. Let US have from Mr. Roselius
who heads the list of. incOrpOrators of this new
company-containing only three lawyers-a full
statement OF the drainage fees, including his
present claims, he has drawn from the city, and
then compare them with our price. Men must be
judged by their acts, not their promises. Judged
by trial Of years, are Messrs ROselius, Bailey
Hill and Davidson the parties to undertake this
wsrk! Even if they had right to compete with
US, their bid should be thrown out in consequence
Of failure and incompetency. |
distinct proposition was made to us by Messrs |
Davidson Hill. the Originators Of this movement,
that II we would give them portion Of the drain.
age stock of our company they would 20 in with |
Us; they being satisfied there would be no opposi.
ton to our law in the Council. Their demands |
were not acceded to, and the result was the or.
sanization of what is styled the New Orleans
Dredging Company, and their proposition to the
council The principal mover in this organization |.
informed us that most of the gentlemen Composing
his company went into it at his request and it is
air TO presume that very few Of them feel any
peclal interest in 1t. We can assure them that no
lemand was made upon MS for stock on their &C.
cunt, but we were informed that if the principal
mover had been provided for there would have
een no opposition.
Mayor Flanders thinks we should surrender our
lights under the law, and enter into competition
nth this company. We can find one hundred
ompetent men in New Orleans, who would serve
he city as Mayor for salary thirty per cent less
han Mayor Flanders receives Will he stand
side and allow one of these men to take the
nice; or will he reduce his salary to meet all COM
efition! The fact that during the time our law
as before the Legislature, and for thirty days
tier 1t became law, no proposition was made by
lese 'persons to ask the city to contract with
lem and the further fact that the originators of
af0 tod TO %I.o<k H. !
the natter because we would not give them a |
'rtlon OF the stock Of our company, lshould debar
lie Council from considering these proposals, even
ere they permitted to do 60 by the lava law &c.
ptabe to the press and the public. and declared
be constitutional by the highest legal au-
ority.
No bids had been called for. The Council were
gagged in the arrangement of preliminaries, pre-
ratOry to the enforcement Of law of the State.
ID majority of the Council had expressed their
proval of the law
After the passage Of our law, Mayor Flanders | I
ated that it was good law. Mr.. Walton has "a @
atedly said that 1t was good law, and ought to g
carried out With aal these facts, it ia dficult I
understand just at what time this law became | I
famous"
We deny that it is an "nfamous' or un;ust ',.v y
the people Of New Orleans, but claim, that IL
IS conceived for their good, and that when it !
been carried out according to its spirit New
leans will be desirable home for it's inhabitants.
4 that the advance in the value of property and
security against overflow will repay ten times =.
cost OF the work. We ask NO more than = fair u
for the work, a. has been shown. .
expect 10 make reasonable profit to pay for pa
use OF a large capital employed and the time
responsibility required to DO the work. This
know the people will approve. When our bill
before the Legislature, we labored to secure -,
passage in the interest of the people of New Or 70
u.s. We believed they would cheerfally accept it. od
nave received overwhelming evidences from the
citizens of New Orleans that they do approve the
and with the consciousness Of having movedin nj
matter for the general wefare and that the law "A
all our record will stand the closest investgap -.
l. and be shown to be for the public good. we 49,
u trust to the judgment Of the people. Our a.,
pany has just cause Of complaint against ,
or Flanders in that he has done all in his power
ljure us by means of disparagement and oman 70 70
Of the Lake Borgne Canal, and espe. | 70
" BY attempting to use-against the win OF the 20
ncil-the prestige Of his ofacial position and !
power Of . court to embarrass q; his confsaaet IN