The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-07
The Lcui, lana Levee Company.

The circumstances attending the organi-
zation of this company were not OF snch
character as to inspire any great confidence
in its efficiency Or ability to carry out tue
objects for which it was designed. Like
| many of the schemes before a corrupt ana
| irresponsible Legislature, it was regarded as
Il lob" designed for the promotion OF Ie"
individuals, who were enabled by their
money to secure the passage OF chi'f'er
that would give the incOrporators an lhee
pendent fortune in short space OF time.
| The practical operation OF this company
has demonstrated the fact that While IL mas
been remarkably profitable to its stockhoid-
ers, it has been sadly and disastrously fatai
| to the riparian planters, and has entalled an
incalculabe loss to the State.
| In the times of low water we hear OF Gen
jeff Thompson, the engineer of the Com
pany. making all sorts Of surveys and re-
porting the lcvces in the most excellent con
dition. But so soon as the river rises and
an overflow threatens, then the truth comes
ont and we find that the levees are not III a
condition to meet the volume of water pre-
cipitated against them. Gen. Thompson
then proclaims that in dozen places III
Pointe Coupee the levees are liable to give
way: that in Tensas the Bass Levee has
gone that in other parishes the levees are
in "a precariOus condition. Now, we would
ask what has Mr.. Kenner, the President OF
this Company been doing for the
past two years. We have had no
high water, and during this time it was
the duty of this company to put all the
levees in the State in such a condition that
the highest stage of water could have been
successfully resisted. Has this been done
Emphatically No. Otherwise we woulu not
now be hearing daily of crevasses in the
levees, and that too from causes that might
have easily been Obviated by anything like
care or vigilance on the part OF the Levee
Company 1t would seem that all the time
and tention Of this company are de> OF ID to
the collection of the tax levied fOl its benefit
by the State, and the declaring of dividends
to its stockholders. But we submit that
the people who pay these taxes are entitled
to some consideration, and have right to
exact from the company fultillnent of
their obligation.
We are aware that some of our Oldest and
best citizens are stockholders in this corpo-
ration, but this does not eXculpate the com
pany from any dereliction Of duty. The
Bulletin is free from any and all rings and
q ques-in other words, perfectly iHdepen
dent, and will not hesitate to expose and de-
nounce fraud and corruption wherever they
are found, whether perpetrated by political
friends or foes The critical condition of the
levees at this stage Of the river attacts pub
lie attention to the conduct of the Levee
Company, and from what we can gather in
our intercourse with the public here and
the planters from the country, there seems
to be but one opinion, and that is to the
effect that the Louisiana Levee Company is
a failure, SO far as its plan Tor maintaining
the levees is concerned.
In few words, the profits of this COM
pany have been immense. Its expenses lit
lie OF nothing, and the taxpayers have re-
.eived nothing in return for their donations
o this pet concern which affords princely
'eyenue to its officers. handsome dividend
o It's stockholders, and any amount of ere
asses and overfows to the planters.