New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-04-09

The Levees and the Weather.

1
ed the water to be two inches higher thai
the highest of 1871 This is an item which
must deeply interest everybody. Yester
day when the news began to spread tha
the danger of an overflow was increasing
people began to think seriously about the
matter, especially when cutters on oui
principal streets were nearly bank full OF
river water. Matters were worse in the
Fourth, Second and Third Districts thar
elsewhere. At the head of Orange street
there was low place in the leyec and
water poured over quite freely for time
At the head of Bienville street water came
from the river at place not visible, filing
the lower gutter.
| From Bienville street down to Morgan's
ferry landing all looked serene enough, but
at the ferry water was running over the
landing in such quantities as to create some
alarm. nearly submerging the tracks. At
the head of st. Philip street, off from the
Bazar market, where there was land slide
about year ago, the levee is lower than at
| other points, consequently from the rail-
| road tracks out there is scarcely anything
but water to be seen. Luggers and larger
vessels look as if ready to sail into the
streets, and if stranger should stand
square or two off he would be unable to i'm
mediately understand why the keels were
higher than his head. At this point the cur
rent sets in very strong, but short dis.
tance below loses most Of its strength ar
the bank. There is no report of breaks or
overfows below this last named section in
the city limits.
At the head of Louisiana avenue trouble
is expected, and there would have been an
overflow or a crevasse yesterday when the
wind was SO strong had there not been
barges and RATS near the levee, which
acted as breakwaters. Here the Missis-
sippi can be seen to good advantage by the
curious. Half mile or more above Louis
lana avenue water seeps through freely,
filling the cutters far fuller than is COM
Portable for people living in that section
Mr.. E. D. Frost, general manager of the
jackson railroad, visited Kenner yester day
to look after the roads interests against
the threatening water, and telegraphed
back to Mr.. S. E. Carey to inform the pub
lie that there was no interruption as to the |
trains. 1t is true that there was a break, !
and that considerable volume of water |
passed out, but the trouble is reported as |
about over.
The rain and strong wind yesterday were
decidedly disagreeable, and it is possible
that portion of the rise in the river is at
to the breeze. The rain keeps
the levee soft and assists to weaken it.
Mayor Wilt and other city officials made
observations at the principal places yester.
day, and Surveyor Bell has about five hun
1red laborers at different points, working
and watching.
To-day General Thompson will make
our down the river to inspect the !evees,
md at the same time inquire into the feas-
'ility of making new outlet for water to
low into Lake Borgne from the river 1t
possible that the force of the current will
.ssist to create a ship canal. However. the
ubject will be canvassed.
All the draining machines were in full
peraton last night taking of surplus water.
Mayor Witt took a trip down the river
asst night at ten o'clock. Teegraphed to
'lerk Ballard, City Hail, that the Third
district levee was all right
A dispatch was received from Inspector
V. b. Abel, who made trip along the
svee on horseback from Canal street up
[e reports that all things are as well as can
e expected as far up as the ice manufac-
Dry. Water was running over at First ,
rect, but that was easily remedied La l
Orers were kept at work all night.
Administrator Turnbull passed the day '
etween Carrollton and Camp Parapet. +
e states that the danger in that section is =
OF great.
Information reached us last evening that - =
lere was crevasse fifteen feet long in ST. u
ernard parish, opposite the Beauregard n
antatlon, but was stopped by building an =
Inside levee. The place where the break !,
lppened was new. The country is over a
'wed to depth of six inches. The roads o
e Impassable, and bridges are carried r
way. All the planters are keeping their O
lnds ready for any emergency, watching Il
cir own levees. There is a call for Ia y
,rers.
There was cave IN the levee at the La il
ok plantation, below Algiers, last eve- t,
ng, about thirty feet long and twelve :.
ches thick. There was great danger and Il
was expected that there would be Gre e;
sse Up to twelve o'clock last night u
thing additional had been reported from ~ ~
at point. Il
At midnight the river had fallen one inch, II
aVIng the water one inch above high | ~
ater mark of 1871. ri