New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-14
Local Intelligence.

"a ''AAN - 49,
.Riga Naser.-As the time is at hand to look
well 10 our local ~levees, anticipating a con-
siderable rise in a few weeks, City Hall 9th
Gals deemed it necessary to take a close
view of the lines, to examine what repairs
were necessary, inspect those portions re-
Gently finished, and to see how the contrac-
tors we're progressing with their jobs. Ad-
ministrator Cockrem and Surveyor Bell
took the lead, being directly interested,
while Police Commissioner William Baker,
n Colonel Catlin, Messrs. Laskey, McCubbln,
Pessou and others kept them company.
Mr.. Baker had arranged to have the police
boa. Two Brothers at the Administrators
d:sposal. and it was well he did. Every
one of the excursionists pronounced her a
handy. practical pet, as good for city ON
Gals as for chasing wharf-rats or saving
burning vessels.
The boat steamed slowly down along the
left bank past the slaughterhouse, and then
across to the opposite sid below the lower
limits of Orleans parish. The party landed
and made a personal inspection OF the
levee. walking over the ground several
miles. Every foot of the bank was in
spected. the quick. critical eyes OF Messrs.
Cochrem, Bell and Baker seeing safety or
danger where the uninitiated saw nothing
but unpoetical dirt. That portion Of the
questionable ground gone over and points
noted. the gentlemen took to steam again.
I'D stream. Most of the levee near the
lower limits is in tolerably fair condition,
but most of it needing a little surface
dressing. Passing up to a point just below
the Cutoff, where there were several weak
places. we noted that laborers had been
employed to some purpose.
The levees in that important locality are
now in quite perfect order, and high enough
for ordinary emergencies. A long walk
along the river brought the party up to
DroDer-v owned by the Ursuiines Convent.
where the banks had taken a slide river
war;. Here we found gangs OF strong
men hard al work wheeling earth from the
nature to fill up vacancies and 10 make a
COMING. raising the levee about eighteen
inches. The work is well and scientifically
done. evidently under the guidance OF mas
ter hands. Mr.. Laskey, we hear, is the
contractor.
In = few places we noticed that planters
had made some effort to protect the river
front by planting willow trees close to
oether. stockade fashion. These trees take
root. thus binding the ground and resist
water cutie effectually. In other places we
saw immense quantities of bagasse pur
poseIv disposed along the front SO as to pre-
vent rainwater cutting seams on the panh
Progressing up stream, when nearly OPP
nos;-a the Convent we found another lot OF
Iaborers delving as merrily as If at a frollc
Here. 100. human ingenuity was batting
against nature, successfully essaylng u
raise a barrier, which will confine the tur
bid Mississippi within its proper boundaries
Messrs. Cockrem and Bell expressed them
selves satisfied with the work.
A warm walk took the inspectors up tt
where the monitors are rotting. The leVef
had been worn and wasted in that neighoor
hood. but has been quite thoroughly re
paired. so that at present 1t Is IN nearly per
feet condition, although if more earth were
piled on it people in that thickly settled
vicinity would be better pleased.
Once more ON the Two Brothers the part
passed along up to Algiers, emitting to view
the Ievee above the monitors, as it is known
that every foot is all right.
Landing in Algiers. a suggestion wa
made that Mrs. Laskey would refresh I'll
weary gentlemen, and the suggestion wa
favorablv received. The madam did no
disappoint the expectations.
From Algiers up to the Jefferson line tn
Ievee is new and strong. ready to resist a
the water which will flow this way. !
cursorv view showed lis that the work we
well done. Indeed, it is said that tie sooe
inhabitants of Aigiers are now Offering
sell their old skitfs at less than half price
Probably the levee was never before MOI
secure than it is to-day.
Inis completed the inspection trip, whe
CAPTAIN Edgeworth and his pleasant asS's
ants landed the gentlemen at the head {
VII Canal street.
Oar readers will thus notice that our CT
caicerS are net idle or inefficient; on Ii
contrary. they are alive to the nccessiti'
Of the time. but perform their duties VIII
ont DaraGe or ostentation. 1t was not Il
tended that any representative of the pre-.
IS should accompany Iucih
there was no sense in denying Us a seat
the boat when once on board.
l. must ne remembered that there a
ireafg-iou. miles OF leyee for our author
ties 70 look after, and the peculiarlile'
that business require skill, courage al
money, 1t is pleasant to know thaL u
iavees in this parish are to day IN such pc
feet condition as to defy the Mississip
river. even though it rise thirteen or loo
teen feet above its present level.
TIE UPTOWN F~REuES.-Thc city OF Jf
ferson Sixth District fire department W
celebrate its anniversary on Monday, fI
day Of April. of which TACT we are pleasant
reminded by a cheerful note 6rOm Mr.. H..
Phillips, foreman of that gallant compan
a Protector No. ,, who greets us with an in
tation, as usual, to be guests on that int
es.;ng occasion. Nothing short of a serio