New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-01
TEE CRESCENT CITY COMPANY



make law by the publication Of an alleged
copy ii an official document in the Louisia-
ma State Register and German Gasette, which
the REPuBLIcAN refused to recognize as en-
anating from any responsible authority, has
happened quite so ridiculous as certain par
ties attempting to act under pretended
law, appeared last Wednesday evening.
The sublime impudence OF these men,
created into a Waterworks company by the
fat of Mr. Bovee, the patent law-maker,
exceeds anything that has transpired in
this vicinity for many day. 1t over
shadows the Gatlin guns, the federal bay
onets and the deputy marshals clustered
around and in the Customhouse. The Gus
tomhouse act was an audacity, while this
was impudence most sublime and ridiculous.
1t seems, according to the report of the
Picaystne, that Wednesday evening, after
office hours at the City Hall, several individ-
uals entered the Mayors parlor and handed
Mr.. Clarke, the Mayors Secretary, COM
munication from the president of the Cres-
cent City Waterworks Company, containing
demand for the possession of the City
Waterworks, under the act promulgated by
the late Secretary of State.
Mr.. Clarke informed the parties that it
was after office hours, and that he would
hane the document to the Mayor the next
morning.
Shortly after the individuals making the
demand left, Mayor Flanders returned to
the Office, and on being informed of the
facts, took immediate steps to prevent
any seizure of the Waterworks office, books,
etc. He wrote letter to the Superintend-
ent of Police, requesting him to detail a
sufficient force TO protect the property OF
the Waterworks, a request that was at once
complied with.
We give below copy of the demand from
the president of the Crescent City Water
works Company upon the Mayor and Ad-
ministrators, and of the letter TO the Chief
of Police from the Mayor.
To the Hon B. F. Flanders Mayor and Admjnistra-
tors of the city of New Orleans:
GENTLEMES-As president of the Cres-
cent CITY Waterworks Company, ] beg to
enclose YOU copies of the German Gdzeue
and State Register, the first published IN
New Orleans exclusively, and the other
both in New Orleans and Carroilton, and
also enclose YOU copies of the correspond
ence between the Secretary of State, the
president of the company and the Attorney
General of the State. / would call your
attention to the first section Of the act, IN
which it is stated to enable it to execute
and perform the duties imposed on it, all
the present Watefworks of said city, In
Guiding the engines, pumps, reservoirs and
paraphernalia and property OF all kinds and
description appertaining thereto, and all the
rights. privileges and franchises thereunto
belonging, areshereby transferred and con-
yeyed to said company; and the same shall
be held, used, owned, enjoyed, worked and
managed by said company under the restrie-
tions, limitations and provisions specltled
and declared; and the board of corpOrators
shall assume the existing obligations OF the
eity of New Orleans, secured by mortgage
against the present Waterworks OF the city
of New Orleans, and oblgate themselves to
pay the same as their bond, for evidence of
debt shall mature. In compliance with the
requirements imposed on this company by
the provisions of the act quoted, beg to
notify you in my official capacity. as presi-
dent of said Waterworks, that | demand
hereby the surrender of the property de-
signated in said act
Please to consider this as a formal de-
mand to that effect.
By order: r. CONWAY, President.
Colonel A. Badger, Chief of Police:
have just received latter Office hours a
formal demand for the immediate sur
render of the City Waterworks to COM
pany styled the Crescent City WaterwOrks
Company claiming to act under a pre-
tended law of the Legislature.
As it is too late to advise with the other
members of the Council to-day; ltake the
responsibility of requesting that you Will
station police officers at the Waterworks,
and at the office Of the Waterworks, on
Dryades street, to prevent intrusion oD the
part of persons unauthorized by the City
Council, and 20 defeat any attempt OF the
so-called company to thus take forcible pos
session of the property until further orders.
Very respectfully.
BENZ. F. FLANDERS, Mayor.
Hon. John S. Walton, Acting Administrator of
Waterworks:
SIR-WiIl you be good enough 10 instruct
the engineer in charge of the Waterworks,
as well as the clerk in charge of the Water
works office, and any others who may be in
charge of Waterworks property, that should
anv person not authorized by the Council
attempt to intrude upon or take possession
of Waterworks property, they are 60 cali
upon the police, who will be stationed at
the doors to eject the intrudersl
By order Of the Mayor:
H. CONQUEST CLARKE.
The PicayitRe says:
This is, perhaps, the most bold and out
rageous attempt to- rob the city that has
ever been made at any time by any ndl-
yiduals.
In the first place, the bill, even if it had
been passed through the Legislature with
out fraud, and its PRONUNCIATION had been
entirely legal, is unconstitutional, and will
not stand for moment in the courts.
1t contemplates the seizure OF one of the
most valuable properties belonging to the
city, and its transfer to a private corpora
tom for its special and exclusive benefit. 1t
overrides the rights of the city and OF mdi-
vidual citizens, and if it were possible that
such a measure could be- consummated, it
would justify such a demonstration on the
part of the injured and outraged people as
wonld forever deter any similar attempt by
any set of public plunderers.
This is one of the logical results of Mr.
Bevee's attempt to make law in the in
terest of spectators and averse to the in
terests of the people, who viii now see
what objects bold, unscrupulous men have
in view when they assume responsibilities
they can not sustain.