New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-06
Local Intelligence.

does not seem to be well settled. City Sur
veyor Bell has been u~ntiring in his efforts to
repair the crevasse in the canals, and at the
present. writing the gap has been completely
closed.
There seems to be an apparent rise of the
water in the flooded districts in some par
ticular places, while in others there is
equally a apparent fall. Whether the
great body of the inundation can be pro
nounced on the decline is yet uncertain,
though from intelligence CLEANED carefully
from all quarters the probability is that the
tide is falling.
The city authorities set to work with great
unanimity to prevent the damage from ex-
tending, and in no department was this zeal
to alleviate distress more conspicuous than
in the Department of Police. Superintend-
ent Badger Immediately detailed a large
number of the force to visit the overlooked
district and give every aid to the sufferers,
and his orders were efficiently carried out
In company of the Superintendent the re-
porter paid a visit to the New canal. On
the right of the shellroad the water was
gradually flooding, and at ten o'clock all the
space between CarrolltOn avenue and Gal
vez street was a sheet of water. This latter
part of the city is not built up, and hence
the damage is not so apparent as on the left
side of the canal between Galvez and the
ridge cemeteries. In this part of the city
the streets are turned into rivers and the
water in a swift current sets steadily to-
ward its level. Not a spot of dry Ian be-
yond the Julia street bank of the New cana
could be seen. The houses, most of which
were cottages. seemed to be aioat.
Some idea of the damage may be gained
when il is known that the water was
about four feet in depth between the
banks of the Old canal and the Julia street
bank of the new one. Nearly all of the
houses looked deserted, and where occupied
the poor people could be seen gathered
upon the dOorsteps, while their furniture
foated about the empty rooms. A sight
more distressing could scarcely be imagined
than the appearance of this and other over
flowed districts. Occasionally a vegetable
garden was seen, the corn being all that
could be diseerned above the water. Houses
topping over on one side or leaning over in
front; fences washed away; doorsteps and
stray pieces of furniture floating about;
cattle. horses and diseonsolate looking
dogs grouped upon the feeble canal banks
the only dry spot to be found; families
moving everything they had upon earth,
and carrying themselves upon RATS rapidly
constructed, were sights most common TO
see. while the ever present water was a
dull, despairing monotony.
The break at the intersection OF the New
canal with Hagan avenue which, as Is now
well known, produced the flood of water In
rear of the First District, was closed yester-
dav morning. a Slight volume of water
yelling up, however, beneath the work OF
embanking. which, under the auspices Of
City Surveyor Bell, had been nearly finished.
Bulkheads were built the whole length of
the crevasse. about two hundred feet, and
within sandbags, about three thousand III
all. were dumped until the dam rose above
the level of the canal about three feet. The
work progressed vigorously the whole day
A gang of men with barrows wheeled up the
bags when filed and another gang was
busy filing them. The Mayor, Admins
traitors Delassize and Bonzano, were upon
the ground to inspect the operations. ms
crevasse in the bank of the New canal
which. like that in the Old canal about two
wears ago. has caused so much damage, Is
now completely closed, as the men nave
worked night and day. Though the looks
of a freshet are usually alike in all local
tiles, vet the present food presents a view
particularly its own. The dead level OF the
water, the rank smell of the inky tide are
both unusual to other places where there Is
a fall for drainage purposes.
The banks of the New canal look as IL
they could not much longer remain as a
barrier to the water. In some places, as at
Derbigny street, it appears as if a spade full
of dirt taken out would let the water
through into the streets, while IN other Spots
between Galvez street and the Hallway
House the banks look equally thln-so
much so that one is apt to think if it had
not broken at Hagan avenue there were sew
.eral other places in which it might nave
taken place.
The road known as Carrollton avenue Is
slightly overhowed, the water coming from
the lake, while portions of the ridge, usually
known as above high water, are overt1oWed
in certain places. The cemeteries are dry
with the exception of st. Patrick's, which is
partially overtlowed.
The efforts of the police in the late emer-
gency have been directed to the submerged
quarter, night and day. Boats have been
built, RATS put together and launched
within a short space of time, while the more
actual necessaries of life, bread and provi-
sions, have been afforded by the police in
large quantities. There are now, as ordered
by the Superintendent, about twenty-five
boats busy in moving furniture and in Civ
ing bread-for many of the submerged were
in danger of starvation.
The back waters from the lake coming up
toward the city and filling every outlet,
meeting at the same time the water and
street washings from the late rains on their
wav through these canals and outlets to the
lake. naturally brought great pressure to
bear upon the banks, which In several IN
stances broke and let the water through
Accordingly news came from all quarters
that a break was either imminent or had
already occurred in these outlets, which
were the object of so much solicitude.
Neua arriv ad that sEthe leyee OF Claiborne