New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-05

before, and they again were much less than
the expenses of preceding years. STILL
by the employment Of unnecessary clerks
and pages and by excessive appropriations
for contingent purposes the expenses even
of last year were fully double what they
should have been had proper economy been
praotised.
can not too persistently urge upon
you, gentlemen of the Legislature,
the great Importance of at once carrying
into effect the reforms and reductions
Of public expenditure which I have indi.
Gated, and others which will doubtless sug-
gest themselves to you. Having scaled down
|. our State debt to point which will enable
us by economy. thrift and good mana cement
to meet our interest promptly and greatly
appreciate our bonds, We owe it to our
creditors and to ourselves so to administer
our affairs as to secure to the holders of our
bonds the promised enhancement of the
State credit. and to our taxpayers and the
people generally that relief from oppressive
burdens which will increase the prosperity
OF the State. and bring emigration and
capital once more within our borders. I as.
sure you that any well considered measures
you may pass having in view the further re.
duction Of State and city expenditures. and
the further reduction of taxation. will
promptly receive the Executive approval.
Let me add that the experience of
the past two years has strengthened
the opinion ] expressed in my inaugural
address. namely: That the Executive
is invested with too much patronage
and that it would be better for the Execu'.
tive and better for the State il a large amount
OF this patronage were remitted to the
people to whom it properly belongA
xEvEEs.
lou will perceive by the accompany ing
reports of the commission of engineers,
board of State engineers, and commission
of persons that during the levee year 1873 1,
whic terminated September 80, there were
built ninety-six levees aggregating ~ ,952
cubic yards, and that there have been or
dere d for the year 1915 seventy. five levees
aggregating over a million of cubic yards,
nearly all of which have been completed.
From correspondence accompanying the
report of the commission of engineers it
will be seen that an agreement has been
entered into between the commission of
engine rs and the Levee Company to apply
the W hole of the three mill tax for leyee
purposes to the construction of new levees
this md fhof rho of< 10 <~,I
levees will thus devolve upon the parishes
or riparian proprietors. The breaks at
Ashton, Omega, Diamond Bend, Point Pleas.
ant, Buc kridge, Hardtimes, Green's. Glass
cocks, Morganza aud Bonnet Care are left
open; many dangerous points are risked,
and a number Of creyasses in Red river.
Ouachits, Atchafalaya and Lafourche are
left Enclosed. Consequently, unless the
general government comes to the assistance
of the State. the people living in these Sec
lions of the country must suffer another
overflow. During the last session of Con-
gress the chairman of the commission of
engineers and the chief State engineer went
to Washington at my request to lay before
our representatives and before Congress the
condition Of the levees, and the inability of
the State to rebuild and maintain them,
with view Of inducing the government to
take upon itself the rebuilding and main
renance of the larger levees as national
work. They were materially aided in their
presentment Of the case by delegation
sent by the Chamber of Commerce; but the
lack of time. and the pressure of other i'm
portant business, prevented any definite re.
suit being arrived at. An act was, how.
sver. passed by Congress creating a com.
mission Of engineers to devise and prepare
! plan by which the general government
'ould make the necessary appropriations to
reclaim the overfowed lands |
If the Mississippi valley. This commission
s now in session in Washington. and hopes |
ire entertained that it Will report favorably
upon the policy Of the general government |
aking partial if not entire control of the |
eyee system Of tie Mississippi valley.
RAILROADS.
regret that no material progress has set
'een made toward opening prailroad com.
between this State and Texas.
FULLY impressed with the great importance
I this work. have given the subject un-
easing attention, but variety of causes
ave combined to disappoint the hopes en-
ertained of speedy success. still believe,
owever, that By concentrated effort on
he part of the people of the State the early
ompletion of this much needed railroad can
g secured. IT no other way presents itself
syndicate Of responsible citizens might be
'rmed to prosecute the work. All neces-
ary modification Of existing charters would,
am sure. be readily granted them by the
legislature. This is all you can do in the
latter. Further subsidies are out of the
uestion. and are, besides. prohibited by the
institutional amendment recently adopted.
FORT ST. PHILIP CANAL.
ask your prompt attention to any meas.
res that may be laid before you designed
} strengthen the hands Of our representa-
yes in Congress in urging the national
to undertake the construction
a ship canal as an outlet for the CON-
cree of thu Mississippi river, either by the
ay of Fort st. Philip or by any other
ute that may be deemed practicable.
STATE CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The condition Of the various charitable |
situations of the State demands your i'm.
ediate attention. The appropriation made
r the support of the Charity Hospital in
is city has proved entirely inadequate to
9 maintenance of that institution. 1t is
avily in debt, and but for the benevolent
tervention Of two of the directors. who
We pledged their individual credit for the
BITS of the hospital, the many sick and in.
red people who are sheltered and cared t
within its walls must have been turned S