New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-28
REGULAR MEETING.
CITY HALL, NEW ORLEANS, !
II n 1neH

noon. ...,.
Mayor Benz. F. Flanders presided, an
there were present Administrators job
Cockrem Qmprovements), Alfred Sha'
(Accounts), L. T. Delassize (Waterwork
and Public Buildings), F. c. Remick Con
merce), James Lewis (Police), John S. Wa
ton (Finance), and H. Benzano Assess
ments).
The I.evee ON the Lake Front.
The following message from the Mayo
was read by the Secretary:
MAYoRALTY OF NEW ORLEANS
City Hall, June q, 1871.
ADMINISTRATORS: The Council, at its las
meeting, passed the following resolution:
Resolced That the Mississippi and Mex
kan Cult Ship Canal Company be and they
are hereby authorized to commence work
Immediately on the lake shore protection
levee, under the direction of the Admins
TRAITOR of Improvements and City Surveyor
according to plans and specifications on file
in the Office of the City Surveyor,
This resolution differs materially from
the ordinance under which the Mississippi
and Mexican Gulf Ship Canal Company
were set to work, which ordinance provided
that the Mayor and Administrator of Finance
should be associated with the Administrator
of improvements as a standing committee
on drainage, and that it should be the
duty of this committee to prepare plan
of work to be entered upon Immediately,
reporting their action to the Council. Under
the provisions of this ordinance plan was
prepared, and the company were set to
work in time to prevent delay, in accord
ance with the strict terms of act No. 80 OF
the Legislature of 1871. ea#r.
The present resolution, ignoring the
standing committee previously appointed,
sets the company Immediately to work, at
the exorbitaIt prices provided in the bill,
on an extensive levee, not required even by
the act of the Legislature to be entered
upon Immediately, namely: lake shore
protection levee; and if rightly under
stand the plans and specifications of the
Surveyor therein alluded to, this levee is
to be located either in the lake or near the
shore. l think this question of location has
not 5sen thoroughly considered by the |
Council.
~As administrators are aware, l addressed |
10 NdElOus cukiuCcIS Sibi1Cuo
familiar with the subject of drainage, with |
out selection or previous knowledge of their |
views, a request that they would furnish |
me with their advice on this important sub
ject In reply, Lreceired written communi-
cations from Mr. j. A AHemmecourt, Mr..
Albert c. Blanchard, Mr.. Louis II. Pile,
Mr. l.. j. 0laastead, Mr.. G. w. r. Bayley,
Mr. John Roy and Mr.. P. NJ Lapice, which
have been laid before the Council, and
spread upon the minutes of the proceedings
but being received SO close upon the time
of the passage of the resolution, question |
whether they have even been read by the
Council, and respectfully call the admins
traitors attention to these opinions. They
will perceive that. with one exception only,
these gentlemen, long familiar with the
subject, and closely identified with the in
terests of New Orleans. concur in the
opinion that the natural barriers interpOsed
by the Metairie and GENTLY ridges, if
strengthened and repaired, and aided by
fiood-gates placed in the canals, would
afford the city all needed protection against
overflow at far reduced cost.
The direct outlay involved in the plan
adopted by the Council is $2,5OO,OOO. The
contingent expenses of pumping interme-
date lands will greatly increase this esti-
mate, and with the existing deficiency and
liabilities of the city, will render necessary
an increased tax. The failure to collect FIVE
Fights of one per cent of the tax of this
year will, of course, add that amount to
the taxation of next year, as the expenses
provided for in the budget have not been
reduced accordingly. '.
From this statement every one can esti-
mate for himself what the burden Of taxa
ton is likely to be next year if the cost of
this great work be added to our existing
difficulties.
The question of public health having been
introduced into the discussion as an argu-
ment in favor of the location of the protec-
ton levee on the lake shore, l addressed, on
the eighteenth of June, the subjoined letter
to one of New Orleans most distinguished
surgeons:
MAYQRALTy OF NEW ORLEANS
City Hall, June 49, 1871. | ,
DIR. Warren Stone
A proposition is before the City Coun-
Gil for the construction of levee along the {
lake shore, with view to drain all the {
land between the city and the lake for
distance of nearly four miles along the lake
front.
One of the chief arguments used to justify ]
this extensive work is the immediate and
important benefit the draining of these I
lands will have upon the health of the city.
May ask you to give me in brief your
opinion on this point. If the sanitary re- {
suits would be so great, Of course the city
ought not to hesitate to do the work, no
matter how much it may cost; but if, on
the other hand, no appreciate beneht, in
sanitary point of view, would be derived
from the drainage of these unneeded lands,
it will be, in my opinion, both inexpedlent
and improper to enter upon this work In
the present condition of the city.
The great Importance of this subject is
my apology for thus troubling you in the
midst of your arduous professional duties.
BENZ. f. FLANDERS, Mayor.
On the twenty-second Of June | received
the following reply:
New ORLEANS, June %, 1871.
Hon. B. F. Flanders:
Your communication of the nineteenth,
in reference to the sanitary benefit which
would accrue to the city from the con-
Sstruction of a levee along the lake shore,
was received by my father on the eve of
his departure for Mobile.
At his request write to say that it is his
opinion that no benefit whatsoever would be
gained for the general health of the city by
the construction of such leyee.
He will return from Mobile in few days,
an1 II ic his trfa than fn call |