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

I.XNBONCIuCI Alduus Vi s|ts CudI lCSs u low
days aimee. addressed the following letter
TO the president Of the Levee Company:
UAH>vuLE. October y. 1879
John Henderson. Es.;.. President Louisiana Levec
Company:
Ny DEAR SIE-Allow me to address you
a few words in favor OF an immediate re.
building o! the Bonnet Carye !evee. No
section Of the State has suffered more
severely from inundations than that part
OF the parish OF st. Charles embraced within
the ravages OF the Bonnet Carre crevasse.
Their proximity to New Orleans. and their
well known character for having always
done their utmost toward building their
own levees, the terrible extent Of their loss
and suffering consequent on two great in.
un1ations within a few years, and the un.
certainty and despair now pervating all
classes Ot the people of that unfortunate
section of my parish, should certainly
en'itle them to the most earnes:
solicitude and sympathy OF the Levee
Company. Many planters. from Bonnie,
Carre down TO Kennerville. lost grea. por.
tions OF their crops and we're compelled
Z" abandon the cultivation OF much
J nj, as is well' known to your ,i:e
president (Mr. kenner). who has friends
and relatives residing there, while not Il
few were reduced from great wealth to
sheer poverty. The rich, as is natural in
such cases, were not the only sufferers.
Tue little homes of the poorer people were
| dritt'd awa., and all their live stock and
movable property we're drowned and .Gst.
The forced abandonment Of many large
plantations threw hundreds Of cOlored
people out of employment. and thus greatly
reduced the wages OF labor in the three
parishes OF St. John. 81: Charles aud Jeffer.
son. The miserable system Of ''relief"
planned and executed by the politicians
and office holders Of New Orleans yielded
no relief to these people. whatever may
have been its operations elsewhere. There
is still much misery. still many unem empioy.d
cv!ored people. and the planters will be
unable to resume work or get aid from the
city merchants unless some assurances are
given that your company intend to rebuild
sh, leyee.
an, sorry TO learn that the coz pany
does not feel the interest in this levee which
its Importance seems to demand. and that
it iu;ends to excuse lts non-acfion by some
technicahty founded ON recon nendation
Oi certain engineers or commissioners: and
attn sorry to learn that some engineers con.
Dected with Ieyee matters are opposed to
the rebuilding OF this levee because they
deem this good point for al outlet Of the
water to the lakes. Geographically, there
are other points along the river much better
suited for the creation Of outlets than this.
Eu,, if their views should be entertained
and approved, Justice and humanity de-
manG that the water from the river TO the
lake should be controlled and restricted
within suitable bounds by means Of new
levees.
am aware Of the financial difficulties
the company ia6ors upder. and | can bear
| testimony to yonr own desire to aid your
fellow.citizens. But in view Of the fore
going facts. may not be pardoned tor ask
ing you to reconsider any hasty decision
that may have been made by your COM
pany On this suhj.ct. and for earnestly
entreating you TO strain some points. and
make extra exertiuns for securing leyee
protection to the hundreds OF my good
neighbors and constituents on the left bank
OF the river, who are now undergoing such
great mental anxiety and suffering much
material loss! Your promise to rebuild the
Bonnet Carre levee will revive their hopes
and energies, restore their city credit. and
give them renewed and valuable assistance.
/: will cause them at once to teel like new
men, adding skill. labor, improv ment, u,a.
terial wealth and cheerfnlDess to the State.
Yours. truly. etc,
MICHAEL HAHN.
Yesterday the following reply was re.
ceiyec. I: will be read with interest by all
interested in the sni.iect. as setting forth
the embarrassHents under which the com.
pany !abors. the restrictions upon its la
bocs. and its responsibility to the public.
The answer Of President Henderson. in this
case. applies to many other points upon
which the company is severely criticised:
Lor,..AN. LsvEE CoMpAsy)
M. !J JCarondeltt STREET. ;
New OI.rans. October 25 1879
Eor. Miclae: Hahn. 81. Charles Parish. Louisiana:
DEAR SIE-Iour letter OF tho twenty.
frs: Instant has been received. and the sub
ice. matter to which yOu refer. viz: the re-
bu: ding Of the BOnnet Care levee. has
been the cause Of much anxious thought on
the part OF the Levee Company. They are
very we'll aware of the great Importance Of
ti!. l.vce. not only to the local interests OF
the planters to whom you refer. but ais" on
account OF the commercial interests q! New
Orleans as involved in the protection ot the
NV Orleans. st. Louis and Chicago rail.
yOaI :roin in.eriUp ptiun by overflow.
iG order, however. that ] NAV convey to
ycu a full understanding of this sub; 81. it
is necessary that ! should make some cx.
plaaation Of the powers and duties ot the
Lev.e Company. This company has no au.
thority 20 determine either the location or
dimensions Of levees. nor where they shall
or snail not be built. These questions are
all determined by the State Board of Levee
Engineer Comm ssiOners. This is not what
you are pleased to term o technical Obiec.
ii"n OF. the part of the Leyee Company; j:
is a positive restraint imposed ny law on
said company, and, it you will allow me- to
say 30. for a wise purpose. II the Levee
Compan: had the option and selection of
the particular levees to be bnlt, the govern.
ing motive with them might be to build
those which are the easiest 70 be built. and
TO leave those. which iron. their location.
through tim beced or swampy lands. ar. more