New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-14
The Great Protection Levee.

Past bitter experien ce teaches US that
one of our worst enemies is flood of water,
whether from crevasses, from Lake Pont-
chartrain or from an uncommon fall of
rain. The learning of thousands of men
has been expended in devising some reaso n
able means to protect our entire city fro m
overflow and to drain the land within Our
municipal districts. Both are momentOus
questions and have been discussed in near ly
all their bearings by scientific gentlemen
The nearest thing to solution to prevent
Overhows from the river and lake are at
present in existence-or rather in course OF
cOnstruction-the protection levee and la Ike
shore revetments, an immense undertak ing.
The levee will begin on the river ba nix
less than half mile above Hickok's Hotel
in Carrollton, thence running out to the
lake in an almost straight line, in part fol-
lowing the line of the old railroad, and
more than half of this section is complete
Laborers are continually employed, though
not in large numbers. Dredging machines
are used to obtain the required earth, and
the excavation makes a canal which is used
for draining the surrounding country. The
earth thus obtained is afterward leveled by
hand. and put in comely shape, the surface
making wide roadway which will be used
as free drive.
Recently the reporter made trip over that
portion from Metairie ridge out to the lake.
At the lake the revetment is nearly COM
pleted from the western angle down to the
New canal, and probably most of our read
ers have inspected it, and those who have
can form something of an. idea Of what it
will be when finished. Pontchartrain, in
its greatest fury, can not destroy or over
reach this huge bank of solid earth.
On the lake side of the revetment two
inch plank are fastened from the top dow n
into the water, and is fine specimen of
engineering. The surface is sufficiently
wide for three good rOadways and prom
enade. Up to the present time only few
feet of this levee have shown signs of weak =
ness, and that at the western angle. The
filling has sunk a few feet, as if the found da-
| ton was quicksand, but this can easily be
| remedied by further :illing. That porto n
| which faces the lake has not given any in
dications of not having grown where it
| stands. This is several feet higher than the
| top of Metairie ridge, and can not be sub.
merged even during the greatest storms.
1t is intended to have this levee extended
| east as far as Peoples avenue, where a
turn will be made and the levee thence
continued On in direct line up to Florida
walk, thence changing its course, passing
| along the last named avenue in an easterly
| course to Bayou Bienvenu, where it takes
another direction, going straight north te
the river at point near the slaughter
| houses. This will make a levee over seven
teen miles long. The crown Of this levet
will be so wide that double line of rail
road tracks can be laid, leaving plenty O
space for carriage drive. The mouths o
the New canal and Bayou st. John will nee
essarily be left open, but these streams will
have embankments quite as high as tn
revetment, thus insuring against an over
flow from the lake.
This, of course, is & vast ndertakine
but its accomplishment will be as nothin
in comparison to another and attendin
feature-drainage
There are four draining sections, havin
an area of 26, O26 acres, which will constitute
when the protection shall be finished wha
may be termed a bowl with a high rim
Rain and gutter water will collect in thi
valley and must be disposed of by artiicis
means; this filthy water must be throw
into the lake. All that drains from th
river front and collects in the lowest loca
tiles must be sent on. To accomplish thi
several large drainage canals have bee
dug to in part contain the waste, and g
certain points draining machines, wit
powerful engines aid wheels, are in operi
ton, and when the levees are closed it wi
be necessary to have more, especially at th
lake, where most Of the water will be Ger
tered. This must be lifted over the reve
ment and will require immense pumps.
Accomplished engineers say that th
swamp lands near the lake will raise an
become inhabitable, thus adding conside
ably to taxable property. 1t is expecte
tn at in time the entire lake shore, that il
about four and halt miles, will grow int
one continuous line of villas. summer res
dences and permanent homes, and this Wi
be realized in our day and generation.
By reference to City Surveyor Bells ma
we see that this basin is drained by nin'
teen and half miles Of drainage canals
every foot of which is constructed with
view to make them useful for that one pu
pose alone. Eventually some of them ma
be turned to account for commercial pu
poses. All the draining machines are
perfect working order, under the supe
vision of competent men, and they are CT
/ pable Of throwing off all the extra waite
For instance, the fall of rain yesterday wa
great and sudden, yet these machines ha
the surplus on the lake side of Metairi
ridge before dark.
Thus it will be seen that at last one
the greatest problems that has agitated ou
people for many years is about tc be solved
and solved in a very practical and benef
cial manner.
The sheriff of the parish Of Orleans Wi
cell at auction tomorrow at half-past te