New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-14
The River and the Levees-No Abatemen mt
Of the Danger.

U. tue D00Zefs
Nearly week ago it was thought tha
| the river had gained its highest point, ant
after little excitement over the subjec
the maeter partly passed out of daily
topics. When the water went over the
high mark OF 1871 and reports of crevasses
came in, the case looked different. Our
city was greatly threatened with an over
flow, and when street cutters were filled
with river water more serious thoughts
arose in the minds of all.
The river along the front of the city yes
terday presented an aggressive appearance
Opposite Jackson square it actually scaled
the barricade-the levee-and invaded
the city far enough to cover the
New Orleans and Mobile railroad
When we arrived there we found CITY Sur
veyor Bell and Colonel Lewis, the Admin
istrator of Public Improvements. on the
spot, with men and material, disputing the
march of the enemy.
We must confess that matters looked
rather serious, as the wind had veer d
around again to the southeast, and was
blowing sufficiently hard to materially aid
the Father Of Waters in his work of inva
sion. The battle ragged for several hours
with decided advantage to the invader, but
at last he experienced a check, and from
that time beat retreat and showed signs
of yielding and conining himself to his
proper sphere.
While contemplating the dangers of in
undation and viewing the grand proper
tions to which the Mississippi had grown,
we casually fell in with a gentleman who's
| years numbered more than seven decades.
| and from him learned that at no time since
the year 1881 had the river in front of the
city presented such threatening aspe ct.
! In August of that year. according to our
| antique intOrmer, there was a storm and
| rise in the Mississippi that exceeded any
| thing that has since taken place. In that
| storm the waters Of the Mississippi; were
| driven over the levees fronting the city,
| and with them some twenty or thirty vessels
lying at the wharves were stranded. We
| mention this now to show that alth ough
our present danger Of overflow may ap pear
| great, it has been exceeded at former per
iod, and, indeed, we might say periods; for
| it is no uncommon occurrence for the Missis-
sippi, especially at this season of the year, to
| get in a swelling mood. And as the city is
no stranger to these freaks of the river, no
one should feel astonished at them now.
Opposite the Waterworks and in that
| neighborhood the streets are under water,
but not so bad as to prevent vehicles pass
ing, because the street cutters draw off
quite freely.
At several points above, in the Sixth Dis
trict, water not only threatens. but actually
passes over the levee, and nothing but con-
stant vigilance and labor prevent crevasses.
Several streets in the Third District are
partly under water, and causing the people
to fear that they will be drowned out. All
the skiffs that could be secured are held as
precious property.
At Carrollton the entire levee has been
strengthened and earth piled on top, so that
the danger in that locality is not as great
as elsewhere.
Above CarrolltOn to kenner reports of a
bad character are heard. committee of
residents of Jefferson parish, left bank,
sent petition to Governor Kellogg, asking
iof lihhedlate assistance as follows:
We the UNDERSIGNED citizens of Jefferson
parish, leiI pank, between Carrollton and
~ thn nrnoor;o,,p oai yoti a'Ien.ion
more particularly to those of Boisblanc'
Sauve and Trudeau. now apparently neg
lecIeu since .ne removal OF the jackson
so farusan onr utmost exert;ons IN saon. n"re
ing these levees, but feel unable TO main !
tain them any longer. We solicit your ex- |
Ta Ge,len.y ~ W auJp. such measures as may re-
Your exeeIlenev's most obedient servants
T. Soniat, Lucien Sonat, II. Darcantel, |
Robert Norbert, A: Boisblanc, +. ID: Fau-
E,t;s DTaaouT Doisolanc, Z; rof.iIr,
G. A. Reogio n CHARLES T'.barra IT Soniat
du Fossat, S. st. Martin, James Labarre.
To this the Governor oave a. favorabIa q
reply as he could under the circumstances
The Stackhouse crarasse ba,ov our c;.r
has grown into bupe nronortions and tho
water is now fIling Ravou Raratar;a or5
tbe swamns bac,- of a1o;ors o,d cro.,o
I,daea +ba va+or ;s or,,, .,.o ,,au
no, r.;1rood .r,o,- :. &C.,. ~
tho residap+. :, +,o - os
Alr;ors baro boo,, oa,,.,,o5 80 ,oo 49,:
homes.
Genera, Thomnson returned fran Ken.
neryi,le at nine o'clocls last evening He
reports the water runninu over the ton of
the levee at the Sauve Trnaeau. Boisbla nc
and Holiday places. at least half miIe in
extent. There is az vet no break. hut such
a calamity is imminent unless relief is fur
,;.ho.l ~ ava, 1l - , |