The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-14
The Levee Convention.

ventiOn OF the Parishes within the over
flowed district of the State, the delegates
elected met at the st. Charles Hotel, in Par
lor "P," yesterday at IL o'clock.
The convention was called to order by Mr.
Moore, who proposed Col. Goode, Of Terre-
bonnie, for Chairman, and Mr.. Winder as
Secretary.
The objects Of the Convention were briefly
stated by Col. Goode. He stated that he
hoped something would be done for the pro
lection Of the country III the future against
the disasters which now afflict the country
Many plans were proposed, and he hoped
the best would be adopted
The parishes OF roll call were found to be
represented as follows:
Ascension-John A. Stevenson, Hon. f. n.
Pugh.
Assumpti0n-Desire Leblanc, S. r. Garrett,
William B. Ratcliff j. B. Wilmington, Hon.
w. w. Pugh.
East Baton Rouge H. H. Walshe.
West Baton ROuge-John Hill, J. l.. Lob
dell, X. H. Bnrk Jos. II. Dougherty, Philip
Hickey.
Lafourche Williams, Lous Bush.
j. ID. Moore, L. Guion, A. Brousseaux, J. X.
GOurdain.
7eyvebonne-HOn. +. s. Goode, Robt. II.
2 Hare, N. H. RightOr, w. w. Blackboard H. G..
Minor, Hon. Edmond McCollnm, Gen. r. l..
Gibson, w. A. Shaffer.
81. Martin-
Iberia-J. F. Wyche.
81. Bernard-John Lynch, L. Gnilard, L..
Roy.
Plaquemines-E. Lawrence, Capt. Sawyer.
Ouachita-O. II. Brewster.
Potnte Coupee-F. L. Claiborne, Jas. Wig
mes, C. w. Allen, J. }. Pringle, Octave Hop
kins.
Orleans-The following gentlemen were
requested by the Convention to represent
this parish: w. r. Mills Walter Pugh, f.
H. Angamar, Mr.. Cranwell.
Iberrille-J. J. Levert, +. J. Gay, Jr.
st. Mary-Ex-Gov. Joshua Baker, T. J..
Shaffer.
On motion Of Gov. Baker, Gov. Kellogg
was requested to attend the Convention.
The chair appointed Gov. Baker, Col. Clai-
borne and Mr.. Minor.
Gen. Gibson said that some of the people
of the overlooked parishes thought that the
Levee Company had been negligent in full
filling it's contract with the State, to build
and keep in repair the levees others
thought differently and, therefore, he
them hearing before cOndemning them.
Wherefore be moved that the Levee Com
pany be requested to make settlement of
its administration.
Mr.. Walsh, Of East Baton Rouge, OPP
posed the motion. All of the necessary
facts about the financial affairs of the com
pany, he said, could be found in the Audi
tors Office and the archives Of the State.
He considered it useless to ask the company
or any member Of it for any statement. He
was opposed to having anything to do with
them, and favored the forfeiting of their
charter.
Gen. Gibsons motion being carried,
Messrs. Gibson, Robt Hare and Wyche
were appointed to wait on the Levee Com
pany and request its attendance upon the
Conventi' n.
Gen. Gibson presented to the Convention
Col. d F. Kenner, James H. OglesbY. ESQ.,.
and Mr.. Bradish Johnson. as represeI taVlves
the of Levee Company, who took sadts in
the Convention.
Col. Kenner, on behalf Of the Levee Com
pany, then proceeded to give an elaborate
and detailed statement of the operations of
the Levee Company since it came ander the
present direction.
He showed how much money had been
expended, and how many levees had been
constructed and stated that such levee as
the Morgapza could not be built for less
than As or so cents per cubic yard He
asked if the people wonld be willing to do
away with the present syste n of taxation.
which is equal upon all portions of the
State, the high lands being taxed for the
protection of the low lands
The lowland parishes should ponder well
before they advocate the adjustment Of the
present system Az to the ability Of the
company to rebuild the l.vees, Mr.. Kenner
said, that with assistance from the Jackson
Railroad and Mr.. Charles Morgan, which he
believed could be obtained, a large portion
of the lcvees could be rebuilt
But il the Levee Company undertook the
work, it must be with the understanding
that the Levee Company was to remain in
existence for an indefinite time or so long as
it was properly administered and fulfilled
its contract.
Mr.. Kenner cOnte nded that the levees |
built by the Levee Company were III IRE sub !
stantially constructed than ever before: he I
admitted that they had not been built high
enough but this fanlt was attributable to |
the engineer who laid ont the levees.
The speaker said that the company, when !
it saw the disastrous overflow. they to"k
steps to urge upon Congress the necessity of
atfording relief and expressed willingness
to get out of the way if any other measures |
Congress to give the s5OOQ0o for the lcvecs
and not to the relief fund, "A chairman of
the Relief Committee Mr.. kenner said he
lad telegraphed to Washington to stop the
OF 100000 N 'de for the relief
fnnd and suggested that it be applied to the
of levecs.
He SAID that he had a contract for rebuild
ing all the levees with a responsible party
a. &c. per cubic yard-six cents in cash and
the balance in twelve months The State
pays the company SOC.
At this stage, Kellogg, accompanied !,
by Chief of Police Badger, entered and :ook
a seat in the Convention.
Col. Kenner then addressed Kellogg,
notified him of the intention Of the Relief
Committee to request him to telegraph to
Washington and urge Senator West to OBJ
tain transfer of the 100000, appropriated
by Congress, from the relief fund to the
Of the levees.
Mr.. Bradish Johnson then addressed the
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