New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-17
JAMES b. WANDS,
Chairman:
O. II. BREWSTER,
J. G.. MEADOWS.
L. JONES lOkkE.
j. w. QUINN.

Nj. Barrett. OF Orleans moved tlal tiie
report and accompanying documents be
printed IL pamphlet form and laid on the
desks OF members
Carried.
The special committee appointed to eS-
anime into the affairs OF the Ship Island
Canal Company. submitted the following
report. through its chairman. which WAS
read. received and accepted
The undersigned. a special committee OF
thu House OF Representatives D! the State
of Louisiana. appointed TO investigate the
a fairs OF the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal Company. beg leave t. submit rs
their report that said New Orleans and
Ship Island Canal Company was created a
bonv corUor,te by act No. liS of the
legislature OF the State of Louisiana. APP
proved October I, Isl, ;. under the provisions
o.. whici. act said company WAS duly and
properly organized on the fourteenth day of
october sos. on the basis of Sb,OOoO 900
caD;tal all tho stock OF which was sub
scr:oeii for. subject to such assessments as
miyi, from time to time be called for by the
directors, as provided for in section two ot
said act.
Subsequently. by virtue of the AUTHORITY
conferred by section one OF said act, the
tiD.l:u Stock Oh Sdti company WIS. lIoiil
tine 20 time. increased, until il was made
10 10 The tt,ll limit authorized by said act.
w: ten million dollars. at which figure II
rf:na ned until August. $40. when the stock
holders. By vote. agreed to retire the Issue
OF stock tilcn outstanding. and to issue in
leu thereof one million dollars of preferred
sock.
SECTION fourteen Of said act stipulates that
''t!le construction OF said canal shall com
~,
mittee find that said company did commence
within that time by making the necessary
surveys, by acquiring real estate Tor the
right a. way and tor other purposes. and
BIZ making IA formal commencement of the
work u. excavation on the real estate pur-
cha sed and that such formal commencement
WAS made on the second day Of October,
1852. IN the presence OF the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor. and other officials of
the State Of Louisiana, the city OF New Or
leans. and Of the federal government.
On March ,. 1860, the Legislature OF this
State passed act No. ii. entitled IAN act 70
repeal al laws OF parts of laws creating
draining districts in certain portions of the
parishes Of Orleans and Jefferson. and pro-
v.ting the mode and means for drainin. the
same. and to provide for the disposition of
the property Belonging to the said draining
d STREETS and for collecting the taxes for
derived are to he appropriated to aid in the
construction of the New Orleans and Ship
Island Canal which act section one CONSOLE
dated the several draining districts created
BIZ the act of March lS, 1888, and the several
acts supplementary thereto. and created the
Office OF a commissioner to be known
as commissioner of drainage. and who
was by the provisions OF SAID act to
become the successor, to perform the powers
and duties before performed under said act
of March lS. 1853 by the Board of Drainage
Commissioners the Office of said commits
sioners being abolished by the said act No.
81, Of the session of the Legislature of 1869.
Said last named act further provided that
the funds accruing to said commissioners Of
drainage shouId be used fo- the payment to
this company of its work i'll constructing
certain canals. lcvrcs, etc.
Subsequently,, the Legislature of LouiS-
ana passed an act No. l. extra session of
1870. approved March 10. 1870, en-
titled an act to amend and re-enact
an actI entitled IAN act to repeal all
laws and parts of laws creating draining
districts III the portions OF the parishes OF
Orleans and Jefferson, and providing the
mode and means for draining the same: and
to provide for the disposition Of the property
belonging to the said draining districts, and
for collecting the taxes for draining pllr-
poses. and the manner the funds so derived
are to be Appropriated to aid in the CON
struction Of the New Orleans and Ship
Island canal" passed March .. 1869; which
act in repeating the said act No. u, of 1869,
abolished all Offices created under
the act of March 49, 1913, and in
vested the New Orleans and Ship
Island Canal Company with all the rights,
powers and privileges conferred Hereunder
i,oon the boards OF drainage commission
ets. and commanded that the property and
affairs Of said draining districts. consisting
OF and including all canals, dretge boats,
draining machines. engines, buildings,
real estate. maps, plans. tabiea'iX, books:
MONEYS credits. deeds, mortgages, and ali
assessments of taxes pertaining to the blSl-
ness OF drainage. shall! be turned over by
the commissioners Of the said draining dis
tIicts to the New Orleans and Ship Island
Canal Company.
Your committee find that the said Board
o. Drainage Commissioners refused com
pliance with the act No. 81. OF 1879, and
that the State of Louisiana, through the
Attorney General, took action to enforce
s;ch compliance and gained Judgment, but
that Judgment was appealed from to the
Supreme Court, where the case is still
pending.
On the passage of act No. 4. approved
March Is, 1870, the company filed its ac
ceptance of said act, and executed the
bonds required by section two of said act,
which bond was approved by the Governor
Of the State, and filed with the Secretary