The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-07-28
present Legislature the Democratic majority
on joint ballot is Is. Grants majority in 1879
Vas "a 0R2
THE DRAINAGE TAX,
WHEN AND HOW 1T WAS IMPOSED.

WHEN AND HOW IT WAS IMPOSED.
We print the following communication wit
pleasure, as it throws light upon questio
which has been quite obscured, and in regar
to which comparatively few of our citizens ar
informed
1t appears that the drainage tax, SO called
is not an annual tax, but an assessment whicl
was levied in 1858, upon all property in tn
city for drainage purposes. A very grea
many persons it seems, paid that assessment
promptly, while others have either declined
to pay or forgotten all about it, and henc
their surprise at being called upon, seventee,
years after the assessment was levied, for tn,
amount due.
1t must be admitted that scarcely anything
can be of greater importance to New Orleans
than perfect system of drainage and if this
be secured every foot of property assessed will
be immensely benefited. The company which
is performing the work is compelled to sub.
NIT to the surveillance Of our own city admin.
istration, and cannot obtain dollar of pay
unless the work performed is accepted by the
City Surveyor, who makes all the measure
ments and approves all the bills The price
paid for the work would be very much too
high if paid in cash, but it is questionable
whether any or much profit is left after the
bonds are disposed Of at their present depre-
ciated value
The main objection to the whole matter is
that the Legislature forced the city into the
contract, and compelled her to give the work
to the company instead of permitting the
Council to advertise for bids and give the
work to the lowest responsible bidder. This
is an objection, however, which it is too late
to urge, as so large portion of the canal and
levee work has been done that to stop now
would be more expensive than to go on.
New ORLEANS, July ~, 1875.
To the Editor of the New Orleans Bulletin:
notice an article on the drainage tax in
your issue of this tuesday, morning, and as
my name is mentioned, take the liberty of
furnishing an answer.
The drainage tax was assessed by Legis-
lature OF our own people, in the year 1858,
and has been in course of collection ever
since. Work was commenced Immediately,
to law, and with occasional inter.
ruptions, has progressed till the present time
There are now at work seven steam dredges
and four derricks, comprising in all eighteen |
steam engines, all of the most approved
patents, and dredging an aggregate of nearly |
\ million cubic yards of earth annually.
If your correspondent constructs house, |
\ a vii q hn
oe put on until the side walls are up. So |
With drainage. Many miles Of canals may be |
lug, but they do not drain the land till the |
whole system is complete.
Already over thirty miles of canal and eight |
niles of levee work are done. Within six |
months the area bounded by Julia street, the
liver, Carrollton and the Lake will be COM
,letely protected by the finest levee work in the
United States, while in the lower part of the |
'ity canals and levee are nearly constructed |
rom the Lake to the Ridge When the en-.
ire system is completed, New Orleans will be |
walled city, drained by a net work of canals
in depth and width the Erie or any
,ther in the country, and protected by levees
which in strength and durability surpass any
work Of the kind on this continent, and this
will all be done at cost of less than three
Millions of dollars to tho city.
As to the drainage tax, when once paid it
8 paid forever. 1t is not an annual tax. It
vas assessed in 1858. The property owners
ave had seventeen years grace. Can any
hing be more reasonable? Thousands have
aid their taxes in years gone by. And now,
q order to meet pressing demands, and COM
ly with the law, the city seeks to collect
he scattered remnants which, when received,
lust be and are applied solely to the above
escribed work.
There has never been any complaint, even
ON its bitterest enemies, of the manner in
hich the work has been done, while the
Ian and the workmanship have received the
ldorsement of the best engineers in our
ty. If our citizens would take enough in {
rest in public affairs to visit the rear of the
ty and see for themselves what is being ,
one, they would be astonished to find broad
mails, splendid roads, dwellings and gar
sns, where five years ago was only dense
arsh, full of poison, and inhabited by alli- !
'tors. They would see in progress in half
dozen localities, great engineering works,
at in few years will reduce the water level q
New Orleans ten feet below its present low
ster mark, that will turn the swamps into :
rn-ields and gardens, banishing malaria,
ID making malarial fever (as it has partly
me already thing Of the past.
JAS. B. GUTHRIE. s
New Orleans, July 81, 1875. n