New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-03
CITY DRAINAGE.


| Orleans. Its location is low, and between
two large bodies OF water-the Mississippi
river and Lake Pontchartrain. To
thoroughly guard against inundation and
properly drain the lands of the city and
its suburbs, a protection levee along Lake
Pontchartrain and system of drains have
been provided for and authorized by legis-
lative enactment.
The first step in this essential work
having been announced as taken by the
Mississippi and Mexican Gulf Ship Canal
Company, we naturally felt a desire to
visit the scene of operations and witness
the workings of the company's powerful
dredging machine for cutting channels
for carrying off water. This desire has
been gratifed. The work commenced
is adjoining the draining machine,
on Hagan avenue, and near the Old
Canal, or Bayou st. John. The company
have cut channel connecting Bayou st.
John and the channel that receives the
drainage of the Second District through
the aid of the draining machine of the
district. This had to be done in order to
get the dredgeboat from the Bayou st.
John to position where the work of the
new channel commences. This is at the
head of the Second District draining ma
chine and its junction with Bayou st.
John. The channel that has been COM
menced is to be fifty feet wide and fifteen
feet deep, leading into Lake Pontchar-
train. The distance to be cut to make
this connection with the lake is estimated
to be about four miles, and as it will take
the dredgeboat that has commenced the
work about seventy-fve working days to
cut mile of this channel, an idea can be
formed of the time required to complete
it with the present force. This channel
will run nearly parallel with Bayou st.
John to the lake.
We understand the company will soon
have three or four more dredgeboats of
equal capacity at work excavating other
channels. The one now at work is pos
sessed of great power, scooping up with
great ease large CARLOAD of dirt minute,
and dumping it at least fifty feet from
where it is cutting the channel. 1t extli-
Gates stumps of the largest size with
much more ease than some dentists extri-
cate teeth. We were much pleased with
the efficiency of this dredgeboat in.making
channels, and hope to soon see more of
its kind at work, for we believe that a
system of drains and protection levees
are absolutely necessary to secure the
sanitary and commercial welfare of New
Orleans. If the work is a great under
taking, it is full of important results.
The efficient drainage of this city will |
not only bring health and business to it;
it will reclaim thousands of acres of |
swamp lands in its rear that are now not |
only valueless, but source of disease.
1t will reclaim these lands and make |
hem valuable. For farming purposes
hey would be worth hundred dollars an |
lcre, and as the city extends to the lake.
which it will do when it is properly
Trained and protection levee built to
prevent inundation from that direction,
hey would become infinitely more valua-
Die cut up into city lots.
After satisfying our curiosity to see the
steps that have been taken in a
work. of so much Importance, we con-
luded to continue our trip of observation
o the City Park, with view of noting
he improvements in that direction.
long Esplanade street we found much to
lease the eye. Many handsome resi-
ences extend onward through the whole
ength of this magnificent thoroughfare
Oward the Fair Grounds, and they
re increasing We passed the Fair
rounds a little to the left of
hem going to the park. We saw much
violence of improvement in this direc-
on. The grand old live oaks of the
ark were in sight long before we reached
here. When We reached the park we
'und large number of little girls in
ossession of it, enjoying themselves
nder the refreshing shade of its trees.
[ere they had come to spend the day, in
barge of the good Sisters of Charity.
hey were evidently the inmates of some
'ylum that were out on picnic, and
'emed delighted with the opportunities
romp in this quiet retreat The i
lstling of the winds among the luxur-
mt foliage of the park and the bright
ces Of these innocent children inclined !
5 to tarry here for while, but then we
'collected that we were out on a tour of
and we sped onward toward ,
lie beautiful cemeteries that border on
-etalrie Ridge. In this direction we
und more evidence of improvement.
he Girod Asylum is of recent con-
ruction in this part of our city. Taking
e Canal street cars here, we proceeded to +.
e Clay statue. The trip from one end
the other end of Canal street opened
our vision many other evidences of
lprovement along the whole line of this :
Dad avenue. We saw enough to satisfy
" reasonable man that with a perfect :
stem of drainage once established in
is city, there is nothing to prevent its
tension to the lake. 1t could then be
ade one of the most beautiful cities in
q world Whnt O do1;ol 4f,,l e.o,.4 Al |