The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1875-12-26

dent, was much beyond the States ab,l,.
promptly TO pay for.
We have in oil respects faithfully comn,,.,
with the terms uf our contrp.t and perforr,s
much more than OF right we could or shonls
have been required to do us such contrnctns
aud we claim that ia no particular hayo we "a
setvedly forfeited the contldence and esteem
| the public IL has become tho fashion 10 abuaa
| tho Lcvee Company to Willy misrepresept and
SANDER It without right. cause or reason. POM.
lar clamor and prejudice seems to demand Il
but so far as We know. every Investigation !;
its affairs has failed to justify or furnish apv
| grounds for such abuse.
| Certain it is that, until the General Govern
mcnt comes to the relief Of Louisiana. no othor
method 80 economical to the taxpayer for se-
| curing even the partial protection which alone
tho State can provide for. can be devised. If the
public think otherwIse. we are willing TO with,
draw as soon as the indebtedness Of tho State IN
us for work done Is iiqudatcd
would now respectfully call public attention
to the following resolution. unanimously udopted
by the Board Of Directors at their regular
monthly meeting. held November o. 1875. as mn
expression Of the views aud purposes of tlis
Company:
Whereas, tho Louisiana Levee Company ID
unable TO build all the eevcs OF the State out az
more particularly MS largo amounts have been
deducted from said collection, to meet the cur.
rent wants OF the State. and rs commissions tn
assessors and tax collectors under a eonstrue-
ton of the law deemed by us erroneous, and
even in direct conflict with the act incorporating
this Company, and
Whereas, II Is the desire Of this Board that
the United States Government shall take entire
charge and control Of all the leyees of the State
be II therefore
"I,esolued. That this Board will use oil It's In.
nuence to induces the General Government to
assume control Of all tho Ieyees of the State of
Louisiana. and in ease such action be taken by
Congress- tho Louisiana Levee Company will
surrender all tho rights. titles aud franchises
conferred upon IL by the act incorporating said
Company. provided that tho State of Louisiana
makes u lust and equitable settlement of the
same due said Company at that date for repairs
upon and construction Of levccs as per contract"
JOHN HENDERSON.
President Louisiana Levee Company
NoTE.-1n ~ much as our attention has been
called 10 the fact that impression exists In tho
minds Of many that the series Of bonds known
as Levee" and Special Levee" bonds we're Is.
sued to this Company. we beg leave to add, In
addition to what Is stated above, that no bonds,
Of any description, have ever been issued TO or
In favor Of the Louisiana Levee Company.
Neither has any portion Of the proceeds Of
such bonds Injured 10 the benefit Of or been paid
to the Levee Company.
The taxes annually leyied and collected for
the 'Levce" and Special Levee" tax funds. are
used TO pay interest on bonds issued anterior to
the existence of the Levee Company. for levees
constructed under the old Boards Of Levee Com.
missionors and the present Levce Company has
nothing to do with the disbursement OF said
funds. The interest alone on said bonds has
about cqualled the present assessment Of three
mills for the annual construction and repairs Of
levees under tho contract with the Levee Com
pany.
The first cost Of ievees. paid for in bonds under
the old system. was much higher than the price
paid TO our Company, while the annual interest
on the old bonds has been us much as is now
paid to the Company for Levee work done.
For instance. the State Treasurer. in his re-
ports for 1872 and 1873. gives the amount of the
annual assessment to pay interest on bonds is-
sued for levee purposes anterior to the exist
encc of the Levee Company. at 1867 $40 per an
mum, an amount far in excess Of the three mill
tiny unnuuIlv r,paivel nv tho Com pHny f25 IT.