New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-17
Communicated
National Aid for the Levees.

NEW ORLEANS, may To- IO"f.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
The rapid fall of the Mississippi and it's
tributaries admOnishes us that unless we
intend to abandon half the State and give
| it up to the flood, there Is no time to be lost
in taking steps to avert an overflow next
year. Another disaster like that of the
present year will impOverish the people to
such an extent that they will never be able
to contribute money necessary for their
protection. Many persons do not hesitate
to say that nothing can be done and that
all is lost. l do not think 60.
The levee construction and repair tax last
year. four mills on the dollar, was $Dl4,-
6G6 40. This year the tax is three mills on
| the dollar, and deductng tax collectors
commissions, etc., there should be realized
100000. This money will be paid to the
Levee Company, unless prevented by
judicial proceedings. The experience of
this year has demonstrated the inability, at
least the failure of that company to afford
adequate protection. The money now being
collected, if paid to the Levee Company,
will be used in paying old claims based
upon exOrbitant charges, arrearages Of
salaries, judgments for damages to be rem
dered, costs and fees, and not a cent will be
left to rebuild or repair the levees.
therefore suggest that public meetings
be held in all the inundated parishes, that
delegates disappointed to a general conven-
ton to he held as early as possible in the
city of New Orleans, and that the Hon. A.
p. Field, who has shown a commendable
anxiety to befriend the people and protect
their interests, be earnestly requested to
institute suit against the Levee Company
for fos feiture of its charter FOR mis- user
and non-user, and to eniOin the Auditor and
TreasurertrOm paying any more money to
the company.
There is no tax that our people pay with
more reluctance than tbs -levee tax, and
there is none they would pay more cheer
fully if assured of it's faithful and efficient
expenditure. Let the Governor request the
President to detail five army engineers to
compose the levee board, and let the tax
now being collected be paid to and expended
by this board.
| admit there Is no warrant in the law
for all this, but IN view of the great public
exigency, involving such vast interests,
am prepared to believe that the President,
Governor, Auditor and Treasurer, will not
hesitate to take the responsibility of acting,
relying upon Congress and the Legislature
to ratify and approve their course.
Five hundred thousand dollars judiciOus-
" expended, would etfectually repair sew
eral of the principal breaks in the levee.
| and protect two-thirds of that portion of
| the State now. under water. Next year,
100000 could be again appropriated, and
thus, in two or three years we can reclaim
the State.
1t would be better to rebuild all the levees
this year, and this can be done if Congress
would appropriate $5,O00,O0O to be ex-
pended as have suggested, and to be con-
sidered as a loan to the State, secured by a
pledge Of the levee tax until refunded.
The people have every confidence in the
ability and integrity of the United States
army officers Congress is now in session,
| and believe would at once authorize the
President to make the detail above sug-
gested, and in view of the disastrous over
| flow of this year and the impoverished con-
dition of our people, would promptly come
| to our assistance.
All we ask of the general government is
to permit us to nee the educated talent OF
it's officers and loan of the necessary
funds for few years.
Very respectfully,
4 C,OODE