New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-10-30
5~ FRIDAY

favored the nOn.bulldlng OF the Bonnet
Care leyee. because of a desire TO ieave i:
open as an "outlet:" certainly our repre-.
sentative on said board did NOT. The whole
board agreed in ordering it closed in their
first list. and they claim that its ON ssion n
the revised lis. was a ''compulfory" Il. ces.
!ty.
In reply to your statement that YOU are
''sorry 10 learn tha: the company does not
feel the interest in this leyee 1.-THE Bonnie.
Carre) which ite importance seems to de.
mand," etc, permit me to say that SO
anxious was the Levee Company 70 have
this particular ievee placed under contract.
that before the first list Of levees ordered
had been completed by the Board of Com.
missioners. amt in anticipation Of its being
ordered, the company published an adveY.
'isement calling Tor bids to build said leyee
In response to this advertisement several
bids were received. Among others, one
from a very responsible party offer
ing to do the work for cash. This
party was informed that the current
resources Of the Levee Company did not
allow them to make contracts paya.
BILE cash in full. but that a contract would
be made payable ODe-third cash. and two.
thirds on time payments. even at q very
material increase OF price per cubic yard
above the price asked IN the original bid.
have been assen.ei 20. as the Levee Com.
panv was informed by the sub-contractors
making the proposal. if any third party
could be found to assist in carrying the
paper Of the Levee Company, either by
advancing money on the notes, or by in.
dorsing the notes to make the paper more
current in the money market. and thus in.
sure discounts at reasonable rates.
The party most interested in the bu;ldin.
Of this ieyee u the New Orleans, st. Louis
ana Chicago Railroad Company, and that
corporation was applied to by the sub con"
tractors to assist them in carrying the n'fes
Of the Levee Company and thus secure the
immediate construction OF this important
work. Had said corporation consented to
lend its credit, as proposed, the work would
have been begun early in September last.
and once actually begun it must necessarily
have been left included IN the commission
ers' list, after the same was revised, even II
number Of smaller levees had to be
omitted in consea eauence. But the railroad
company peremptorily refused to have
anything TO do with the matter-to grant
any aid whatever.
The cost Of the Bonnet Carre levee would
Is about 100000, and the Leveo Company
determined to apply s2O OOO. or one-tEird OF
the cost, out uf their cash receipts to the
building Of that ievec, deemipg that tina:
was az much as their duty to other interests
of the State would allow them to do. giving
papcr at six and twelve months for the
other two-thirds. say $4,000. Had the
railroad company consented to carry So
0oc # this paper. there j. little doubt the
contract would thus have been closed
nearly two months ago, and the leyee now
would have been vel! advanced.
This statement is made. not for the pur.
pose of making complaints, or of endeavor'
ing to avoid any responsibility incidental to
the duties Of the Levee Company. but as
an explanation Of The reasons, and 80 that
you NAV fully understand them. why the
Bonnet Carre levee is not now included il
th.. liza. of levees ", he constructed this year.
JOHN HENDERSON, President.
II, ,A.TAtLEIoN, Secretary aud Treasurer