The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-06-05
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE LEVEES.

ington from this State, to urge upon Con-
gress the assumption by the National Gov
eminent Of the responsibility of construct
ing and maintaining the levces in this
State.
The people of Louisiana are quite salts
fed that the Levee Company is either IN
able or unwilling to build and keep in re-
pair the levees of this State.
No better proof of this fact is required
than the present submerged condition OF the
country amply affords. In its contract with
the State the Levee Company has failed in
every particular, as we propose to show.
Under acts No. 4 and n of ISL the Lousi-
ana Levee Company was to build 15,OOO,OOO
cubic yards of levee by the end of the year
1874. On the LIST Of April it had built only
100000, whereas it should have built II, >
900 cubic yards.
Had it done this work as contracted, and
spent the 100000 Of the Levee Repair fund
tax already received by 1t from the State in
the repair Of the levees, there would have
been no crevasses If it would, between
this and next March, build the remaining
II 100000 cubic yards of levee to complete
its contract with the State, and expend the
$4,000 already received of the Levee Re-
pair fund, and such as may be hereafter col
ectcd of that tax in the repair of the levees,
there would be no necessity of calling on
the National Government for aid. The
company was to spend its own money in
building the l5,OOO,OOO cubic yards of levee,
costing cash about $3,OOO,OOO, and for this
the State, by the Levee Construction fund
tax, was to pay it S9,OOO,OOO in twenty one
years.
The failure on the part of this company
to fulfill it's part of the contract should
cause forfeiture of their charter and sub
ject them to an action for damages. In
despair of any hope fer relief, the people, in
their impoverished condition, are forced to
look to the Federal Government for assist
ance, in this, the hour Of their dire necessity
and terrible atflction.
For this end Col. John NJ. Sandldge left
here for Washington, to represent the Cham
Der of Commerce and the Cotton Exchange
And just here we would offer this sugges-
ton to the Colonel. HIS mission to Wash
iEgtOn is well defined. He goes there to
urge Congress to pass bill for the relief Of
the Louisiana levees. This business will
employ all of his time and attention, if he
he faithful to his trust. We hope, then,
that he will not initiate the conduct of an
other agent Of the Chamber Of Commerce,
Gov. Hebert, and use his position to mis-
his people and to bolster up the
Kellogg usurpation.
Col. Sandige, we regret to say, of late has
somewhat modified his political views, and
is no longer the ardent, Jealous and active
champion of his people, as he was on pre-
vious occasion, when he aspired to "a posi-
ton on the ticket of the Democrats, styled |
1t that time The Last Ditchers." Hence
we would caution the Colonel in his con-
luct. Let him steer clear of the bIunders
by Gov. Hebcrt, and he will |
save hi mself much annoyance and avoid an
reputation.
In the event then of the success Of this
mission, the occupation of the Levee CON-
'any we hope will be at an end. The taxes
fir ON the people for the enrichment
# the few stockholders in that gigantic
raud must cease, and the money they have
and given nothing in return for it,
must be restored to the State Treasury. If
lOthiny else will be accomplished we will
70 relieved of the incubus of the Louisiana
4evee Company. So long as that exists
federal aid should be withheld
The people want nothing that will make
he rich richer, or the poor poorer.