New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-08
WHO rs RESPONSIBILITY

lAe pIeSeut ONtIuOW, anu euuedVOTln8 Ct
place the blame of neglect where it be-
longs, did not mean to do injustice to
any person. We stated that the work re.
ported by the Surveyor as necessary to
be done to strengthen the levees in GER
tain places along the New canal was not
well done. This was a conclusion that
very naturally followed the knowledge OF
the fact that in the very places where
these repairs were made the levees gave
way and caused the present overflow. We
are now informed by Mr. Bell that the work
was completed under his supervision
October l, $780, and that it was done in a
sufficiently substantial manner to confine
the waters of the canal within its banks
! without fear of breach had nothing
more than high water occurred to again
weaken them. 1t appears that the very
dirt thrown up, under the direction of the
Surveyor, to strengthen the weak points
in the bank of the canal, was permitted
to be carted away; and this is the reason
OF the crevasse near Hagan avenue that
has caused such destruction of property
to very large and fourishing section of
the city, and so much distress among the
people residing there.
In pursuing our inquiries, then, as to
who is responsible, it would seem that
the Mayor has to shoulder the most of
the blame, for he has not only neglected
to keep a vigilant eye in all matters APP
| pertaining to the best interest of the CITY,
but he has actually permitted parties to
weaken the levees of our canals by cart
ing away the earth that had been thrown
up under the supervision of Surveyor
Bell, at very considerable cost to the
city By not exercising proper Wig
lance he has allowed that to be done
which is the cause of the present disaster
to our city and many of its inhabitants,
who have a right to expect protection
from the city government against evils of
this kind
Nor does Mayor Flanders responsibility
cease here in the matter of the present
overflow and its disastrous consequences.
He has either ignorantly or willfully DISC
beyed the will of the Legislature in not
enforcing the drainage act passed during
the last session and duly promulgated
March IA, 1871. This act is intended to |
effectually relieve our city of the evils of
inundation by establishing an efficient
system of drainage and protection levees.
The eleventh section of this important
law, which authorizes the Mississippi and
Mexican Gulf Canal Company to do the
work, also makes it the imperative duty of
the Board of Administrators, over which
the Mayor presides, to see that the work
is Immediately commenced 1t reads as
follows:
BE it further enacted. etc., That it ia
hereby made the duty of the Board of Adj
duty 1T is to do the same, shall, immediately
after the passage of this act build such
levees on both sides of the Carondelet
Canal and the New, or Canal and Banking
CompaDy's canal, extending to Lake Point
chartrain and around their basins, as to
eftectually prevent the overflow of water
from the SAID canals during storm tides or
high water in Lake Pontchartrain, the
dimensions of the said levees to be deter
mined by the Board of Administrators.
Has Mayor Flanders, as chief executive
Of the city and President of the Board of
ever made the first move
oward performance of the very import
mt duty thus imposed on him by law?
It is undoubtedly one of his duties to see
hat the city laws are faithfully executed
ust as must so as it is the duty of the ,
Executive of the State to see that the ,
State laws are faithfully executed. And {
Il this case the State law makes it a duty !
# the Mayor to see that levees on both
ides of the, Carondelet canal and the new, .
r canal and banking company's canal, t
to Lake Ponchartrain and q
round their basins, be Immediately i
after the PRONUNCIATION
the law. Has Mayor Flanders o
nown disposition to obey the law? We r
llnk not He has rather evinced dis A
osition to disobey it, alleging as a reason q
s unconstitutionahty When was Mayor h
landers made a judge of the constitu- ~
onality of law? And what right has he f.
refuse the performance of duty i'm q
osed on him by law, simply because, in r.
IS "opinion," the law is unconstitu- n
onal? But we have no desire to pursue
is matter any further We think we
I'VE fairly shown that Mayor Flanders is, =,
great measure, responsible for the -
esent overflow, and as, in addition to -'
is, he is not disposed to obey ~
e law providing for system =
drainage and levees that will prevent -
erfiows in the future, it will be well that r
resign. He certainly should have no 10
sire to remain in a public position - -
1ger than he can be useful in it. 1t is -
W quite manifest that he is not useful
ayor; and as the people can not afford o.
have one that is only indiferently Or ="
mental, it is believed he will have the r +,
cd Judgment to retire at once to the
49,, us
're congenial shades of private life, and :,
doing so give great satisfaction to a
ge majority of the citizens of New Or IT.
ms LIZ
lar
TIE CITY SURVEYOR. the
l. l..