The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-25

dent. was much beyond the States ability
promptly 10 pay for.
We have In all rcapeos faithfully complied
with tho terms Of our contract. and performed
much more than Of right We could on should
have been required to do ~ such contractor
aud We claim that In no particular have we de.
sorvedly forfeited tho confidence and esteem Of
the public. II has become the fashion to abuse
the Levee Company to vlify. misrepresent and
Islander IT without right. cause or reason. popu-
lar clamor aud prejudice seems to demand II.
but. so far rs we know. every investigation Of
It's affairs has failed to justify or furnish any
grounds for such abuse.
Certain II Is that until the General Govern
| ment comes to the relief Of Louisiana, no other
| method so economical to the taxpayer for SO.
curing oven tho partial protection which nlono
tho State cnn provide for. crn bo devised. II thu
public think otherwise. We nre willing 10 with.
draw u.s. soon as tho indebtedness Of tho State Ia
MS for work done Is liaudatod.
Twould now respectfully coll public attention
10 tho following resolution. unanimously a,lobtrd
by tho 9oard OF Directors ut their regular
monthly meeting. held November .. 1916. us an
expression of the viowB and purposes Of this
Company:
"Whorcas. tho Louisiana Levee Company Is
unable to build all tho leevcs Of the State out Of
more particularly us large amounts have been
deducted from said collection. to meet the cur
rent wants of tho State. and as commissions to
assessors nnd tax collectors. under u construc.
ton Of tho law deemed by Ms erroneous, and
oven in direct conflict with tho act incorporating
this Company. and
"Whcrcns n Is tho desire Of this Board TINT
tho United States Government shall take entire
charge aud control ot all the lcvccs of the State.
be II therefore
"Resotred. Thai This Bonrd will use NIL It's IN
nucnce TO induce tho General Government 10
assume control Of MI Tho levoes Of the State Of
Louisiana. mud in case such notion be taken by
Congress, the Louisiana Lcyee Company will
surrender all The rights. titles and franchises
conferred upon il by tho act incorporating said
Company, provided that the State Of Louisiana
makes "a Just aud equitable settlement Of tho
same due said Company nj that datc for repairs
upon aud construction Of lovccs NJ per contract"
JOHN HENDERSON.
President Louisiana Leyeo Company
NoTE-In as much rs our attention has been
called TO tho fact that impression exists In tho
minds Of many that the series Of bonds known
Az Ievce" and Special Leyee" bonds were Is
sued 10 this Company. We beg leave 10 add. In
addition, 10 what h stated above. that no bonds.
Of any description. have ever boon issued 10 or
In favor Of the Louisiana Lcvce Company.
Neither has any portion Of tho proceeds Of
such bonds Injured 10 the benefit Of or boon paid
to tho Lcvce Company.
The taxes annually lcyicd aud collected for
the "Levcor and Special Levee' Tux funds. are
used to pay interest on bonds issued anterior TO
the existence OF the Levoe Company. for levees
constructed under the old Boards Of Levee Com
missioners. and the present Levee Company has
nothing 10 do with tho disbursement OF said
funds. The interest alone on said bonds has
about eQuallod tho present assessment Of three
mills for tho annual construction and repairs II
levces under the contract with the Lcyec Com-
pany
The first cost of loyoes. paid for in bonds under
tho old system. was much higher than tho price
paid 10 our Company. while the annual Interest
ON the old bonds has been rs much us is now
paid to the Company for Levce work done.
For instance. the State Treasurer, In his re-
ports for 1872 and 1873. gives tho amount Of the
annual assessment to pay interest on bonds Is
sued for levee purposes anterior TO the exist
ence Of the Leveo Company nj s567 .b20 por an
mum. an amount far in excess Of the three mill
tax annually received by the Company d25 81