The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-26

| Aggregating 4aO,9I9 cubic yards costing abou
sl35,ooo, for which the Levee Company have not re
| ceved one dollar; no payment of any kind having
been made them for work to ootobe,
| l. 1873.
Summary of advance made by the Levee Company
For work done previous to October l. s40s sos
For work done subsequent to October l. 1873 40.
Total. s543 sos
In this calculation estimate is made of repairs
done since October 1873 last and previous the
sent high water, which would increase this amount
some $50 oo0
This statement is not made palliation excuse
for performance of duty, for no such offence
admitted. The Levee Company asserts, without fear
of truthful contradiction that not only has co.
lar received from the State boon faithfully truly and
economically applied to the building of levees, bat they
further assert that fully ~ third OF the cost OF the
evees made by them has been paid by the Company
of funds contributed by the stockholders.
This the condition OF the Levee Company both
the work done and disbursements ado. when the
ood which is catching universal
overflow came upon Our resources were exhausted
and called upon furnish materials, supplies
and labor, literally to hundreds of places extending
1900 miles Of lsvecs To all applicants
assistance could make bu. reply, long as our
credit lasted, will send materials and supplies
the threatened points, but the people residing behind
tue evees gill he compelled provide the labor. We
ued, mp the time furnish the
materials and supplies
We appeal to an int l!igent public to say, if the
Levee Company deserve the many harsh epthets that
have been heaped upon thom. Up to this time the
stockholders have received profits from their In
vestment of nearly half million OF dollars No caah
dividends have ever been declared. Two scrip dtSfs
bends of comparatively small amounts have been made
based upon expected profits in the future.
An impression exists that the Levee Company are
supreme their control of the levees is not the
fact; their position Is a subordinate one The State
very properly, reserved to itself the right through
Commission of Levee Engineers to locate all levees
and prescribe their dimen sions When the lovees are
located and their dimensions determined the Levee
Company proceed to build them according to plane
pro8ies and specification furnished by the Engreers
The Company have authority right change the
location increase diminish in any particular
the size or height OF the levees
The Engineers also class the levee three classeB
frat second and third class necessities according as
they deem the urgency of the to require imme
date remote building Many have mpained that
bank Oheis that they placed too close the bank
say that they are too others that they
too small
The law provides that the Engineers and they aor O.
the beet judges of these various
Levee Company are compelled TO follow implicitly the
decision of the En- giueers.
In conclusion, the Levee Company earnestly recon.
mend that the attention of the FedsiA Government
called to our forlorn condition. aud that the strong
Of ovees which viii relieve us from ali po-sibie over
induce the Federal to take charge Of our
eyeOs. and win willingly give place to power more
fhe purpose in view and tn the State
from further taxation.
BY order Of the Board Of Directors. II
JOHN HENDERSON,
sps6I 10 President Louisiana Loves Company.