The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-07-28
THE ALLUVION RECLAMATION COM
MISSION.

most sanguine must admit, is gloomy and un
| promising, for it is certain that the Bonnie
Care levee cannot be built by the Levee Com
beyond their power, or at least beyond thei
| means.
| The only hope that We can discern in the
future is the Reclamation Committee ant
that the hope it inspires is not as fiattering a.
| we could desire
| The duty Of this commission is to perfect
plan for the general reclamation of the Mis-
sissippi alluvial basin, and they have nothing
| to do with the repair of old leyees or the
| closing of crevasses.
Unfortunately for Louisiana there is not q
single levee man upon this commission, not a
man who has ever travelled over the levees OF
who has any experience in building them; not
a man who has any right to represent this
State in a matter of such vast importance to
every inhabitant
1t is notorious that the appointment of the
two civil engineers on that committee was for
purely political, and not for their professional
requirements.
General 2. 0. Hebert one Of the two, Was,
it is true, once Governor of Louisiana, and %
years ago was State Engineer, but his guberna-
toral position in no way lifted him for this,
and there are those still living who served
with him on the river who remember that he
never did any levee work, and rarely, if ever,
visited the public works of the State. The
levees were then under the jurisdiction of the
parishes, and the position Of State Engineer
was mere sinecure. For quite number of
years General HILBERT has been gentleman Of
elegant leisure, and though he was military
engineer in his youth, he never had any ex-
perience as civil engineer. As gentleman
Of wealth he has travelled and amused himself,
and, it is quite fair to presume, has forgotten
all he ever knew about engineering
There were plenty of civil engineers whose
selection by the President would have given
to our people-men who have had
twenty years of experience in levee building;
such practical men as Waller, Bayley, Blanch-
ard, Forshey, Cozzens and Williams. Yet
they were all sighted in order that the poll
tician Hebert might be given lucrative office
1t is true, that none OF the gentlemen named
in the above list ever fawned at the feet OF
power; and it is likewise true, they would
not exchange places to-day with the man who
kissed the rod that scourged his native State,
for all the Offices and greenbacks that followed
fast upon the act Of reimbursement
For the privilege Of having Gen. Hebert
figure in the capacity of Levee Commissioner
he tax impoverished eople of Louisiana pay
he magnificent sum of $4,000 per annum,
which the General has forwarded to him at
,een in sight of a levee, though We believe he |
las occasionally affixed his valuable signature
o arrays Of figures compiled by jeff Thomp-
on.
For letter which the General wrote falsely,
tating that the people Of Louisiana preferred
he heel Of the usurper Kellogg upon their
ecks to new election, he was given al
lost Immediately the new Office of United
tates Commissioner on alluvion reclamation,
18th salary Of $1,000 per annum.
For the letter advocating Grant for third
ERIN he will no doubt obtain a Cabinet ap-
ointment, or a foreign mission.
Meantime poor Louisiana pays taxes and
rowns, and the clink Of champagne glasses
nd hilarious laughter at Long Branch is all
nat is heard responsive.
The appointment Of Sickles, Of Arkansas,
as also serious mistake, that gentleman
aving none of the qualities to fit him for the
osition; but Arkansas politicians demanded
lie place, and they got it for a favorite.
here is one consolation, however; the army
Ulcers will do their duty--they always do
ut we believe that neither of them have any ,
,ecal knowledge Of levees. Gen. Warren
Id Gen. Abbott are men Of distinguished
Tents, but they are not relieved of their ,
ain duties, and will only act as consulting
lgineers. =
We have q right to expect the Board !
III make u rapid reconnaissance of the pres ,
It condition of the levees, and make esti- ,
ates OF the work absolutely needed to main u,
in the present levees and to close recent
evasses against the floods, until the general
stem of reclamation can be planned and re- y
rted; that they will take up the present i
stem, enlarge and extend it, and make it !.
TT Of the generel system.
In this way We might get report at the
ginning of the next session Of Congress,
At might get an appropriation, and have the
rk begun by January, and much Of it done
fore the rise Of the waters of the next food.
Unless this be done Louisiana will necessa-
Y be under water next year-a calamity we
mot calmly contemplate. We shall watch r
$ political Reclamation Commission with a
sat interest and anxiety i
MERCHANTS EXCHANGE o
There was quite a well-attended meeting at r
, office Of Glover & Odandahl Yesterday !,