New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-13

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CouHcil can limit, this work , Is the ordi-
nance drawn up by the gentleman delu-
sion and snare. or can the Council now
limit this work9 I hold the gentleman to
mean that there is no legal necessity; hold
the gentleman to say it is a practical neces-
sity If we are compelled by law to do
thing, there is no need OF argument, but
inasmuch AS the gentleman has told us in
his first impressions and in the mature
judgment embodied in this ordinance that
it is not legal necessity, then, if this be SO,
see no necessity for entering on this thing.
Mr.. Shaw: will give the Mayor yet an
other opportunity. l do not say in this Or
dinance that the Council has the right to
limit the work laid down by the Legislature,
but l say it has the right to notify the Next
can Gulf Canal Company that whenever it
is found that the further prosecution of the
work by them is to the disadvantage of the
city, and that it can be more promptly per-
formed by other means, it has the right to
notify them accordingly. This third section
says-the Mayor does not quote it fairly
that we have the right to say to the COM
pany, "You are not doing this work to our
advantage; we can do it better and quicker
otherwise"
The Mayor: The gentleman, in drawing
, up his ordinance, was much more happy
than in his speech. Let me read his very
forcible and clear language. 1t could not be
better expressed. -43tt. stif
THE Mayor here read the extract from
the ordinance quoted in the majority re-
port.l fa...t Hs.fiH<
Mr.. Shaw: This does not say we reserve
tue right not to do it all. Suppose we
should find tomorrow. after putting them
to work-because we can not discover it
until we do put them to work-that they
did their work so slowly that it would take
ten years to complete it, this reserves the
right to us to take the work away from
them and give it to somebody else. The
Mayors own course called my atten-
ton to the necessity of this section He
urged upon us that in the dim and distant
future somebody else might be going TO
have dredgeboats, and that possibly he
might be able to point out somebody who
might be able to do it cheaper. These ideas
of the Mayor l incorporated in the ordi-
nance. If / have Incorporated too many of
the ideas of the Mayor, l have to be par
doned or account of my inexperience in the
matter.
The Mayor: 1 take it for granted that
the Council has the, whole control of this
work. We having pnt this company to
work al an expense of five hundred thou
sand dollars, it is now time TO pause. 1t is
not for us to order unnecessary work
simply TO benefit certain Spectators and
certain drainage men who have abandoned
work they commenced at the expense of
the State We have to look after the in
terests of the city The point selected for
the commencement of this work is the
very point to shade selected for the
Noyes, Bussey and Lafayette Folger land
speculation. They have bought sixty five
thousand acres of land, which will be a
very good thing as soon as this ordinance
passes. BY the way, have been offered
IAN interest in this speculation-a one-tenth
interest-which would be a perfectly legiti-
mate thing for me to take, and don't
know but what shall take it; but l shall
oppose this job to the utmost extent of my
ability. say the money is not to be had.
The Council are not prepared to pay a
million of dollars for an iron revetment,
and not single yard OF this embankment
can be put up until you get the revet-
ment l hone the Council will not
pass this thing. God knows we have
water enough to pump out without taking
in part of the lake to pump that out too.
am for the protection of this city from
f., overflow but the great cutlery made osten-
sibly in behalf of these poor people
drowned out is merely designed to further
the interests of these spectators and con-
tractors. The people were drowned out,
not through the absence of protection
levee, but because of the break in the
canal banks, which we have ordered
strengthened, and with locks in the canals
there will be no more danger of such an
overflow occurring again than there is OF a
food in the White Mountains. "
Mr.. Cockrem said he had resolution he
intended to ask the passage of, which he
would now ask to be read, in connection
with this discussion.
The resolution was as follows:
ReSOlred, That Tn ADMIN tOr VI LII
provements be and is hereby authorized to
advertise for proposals for revetting the
lake shore levee, between New canal and
Cpperline protection levee, with iron.
Mr.. Lewis: This is a question l have con-
sidered for some time. / voted to build a
Ievee according to the plans and specifica
lions of the Surveyor, and they were to
build this levee in the lake. When the
question of iron revetments for this levee
came up, changed my opinion, and voted
no. / am willing to try an experiment OF
say two thousand feet Of iron revetment,
but where is it proposed to locate this
At the upper line! l say there are no
houses there. We have Milneburg, which
is an improving place, and if it is wanted
to try this iron revetment, let us place 1t
there, where there are improvements going
on. have no doubt that if this thing meets
with appreciation there, it will grow in pub
lie favor and will be continued on. | am
not willing to try this experiment at the
u,per line. have made some inquiries as
TO the amount it will cost the city for this
iron work for the levee, as proposed. and as
vet have not been able to come within
five or six hundred thousand dollars of an
exact estimate. Though only thirteen thou.
sand dollars worth of bonds have been