The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-09-01
CITY COUNCIL.

noon, yesterday. the Mayor in the chair, and all
the Administrators present.
Ordinances approp rating $44,615 o. for the
payment Of the pay rolls Of the several Depart
ments for the month of Au gust, were adopted
An ordinance making appropriations as fol-
lows, was also adopted
Fremens Charitable Association of New Or
leans, for services rendered in the month of
August, 1875, as per contract, $1l $3.50 &C..
Firemen's Charitable Association of the Fifth
District, for services rendered in the month of
August, 1875, 500.
Fremen's Charitable Association of the Sixth
District, for services rendered In the month OF
August, 1875, $3.50.
Firemen's Charitable Association of the
Seventh District, for services rendered IN the
month of August, 1875, s416 81.
New Orleans Gas Light Company, Lighting
city, as per contrs ct, s8429 go.
Jefferson City Gas Light Company, lighting
Sixth District, as per contract, S2d2S %.
Thomas Pickles, lighting city with oil, as per
contract, $4,000 so, less ten per cent retained,
$500 IS; s2702 Is.
Total, s27, 1888 90.
The ordinance providing for the exchange Of
bonds for premium bonds and to regulate and
carry out the funding plan adopted by the
Council, was called up by Mr.. Pilsbary and was
adopted.
The bid of James Hsmlin for the lease of the
Jackson street ferry was rejected. The bid was
was authorized to re-advertse.
An ordinance granting right OF way to extend
their line, and other privileges, to the Crescent
City Railroad Company, was introduced andre
ferred to the Committee of the Whole.
An ordinance amending ordinance No. 3076,
Administration Series, by reducing the commits
sion of the Assistant City Attorney, for collect
ing certain taxes, from five per cent to two and
one-half per cent, was adopted.
A number Of petitions and communications
pv,rtot ntr pxfar
Administrator Burke submitted the following
report:
To the Honorable Mayor and Administrators
Ge1ts-I have the honor to return the petitions
of property owners and residents OF the sixth
District, also the communication If John Clifton,
Sixth District, complaining that the cutters and
drains are not kept open to the Claiborne Canal.
These petitions but repetition OF the
complaints brought forward by the residents OF
every section of the Sixth District. and whilst the
evils actually exist it is but justice to the Admin
istration to state The causes which are really set
forth in the petitions.
The distance from st. Charles street to Clai-
borne Canal, at a point between Louisiana
Avenue and Nashville Avenue, is over three
quarters Of mile, say 1900 feet.
The Sixth District has, for some years past,
been drained by bitches discharging into the
swamps.
In 1868 some large bitches were made. but
both large and small bitches have been destroyed
by the cattle roaming at large between st.
Charles street and Claiborne Canal.
The difficulty and experience OF keeping open
small drains for such distance along the line OF
each street to the Claiborne Canal, and the
necessity Of affording relief to the residents in
front of IT. Charles street, induced the Council
to direct the examination of the Nashville Avenue
Canal.
As some effort is being made to reflect upon
Avenue Canal, I deem It proper to place upon
record the statement that it is in response to the
lust and imperative demands Of the residents Of
the Sixth District for relief.
II the boats of tbs Mississippi and Mexican
Gulf Canal Company were not employed in this
work, SO important to the district, they would,
under the law, have to be assigned to other
work indicated by law, but not so essential.
Prior to the reference Of the enclosed petitions
to this department, instructions had been issued
requiring the opening Of 10 foot bitches on
Louisiana Avenue, Napoleon Avenue, Valence
street, Peters Avenue, Nashville Avenue, and
State street, and the entire force Of the Depart
ment Of Improvements in the Sixth District, are
now on duty, opening the smaller cutters toward
the swamp.
This department will not attempt to keep open
the smaller cutters to Claiborne Canal so long
as they are liable to destruction by cattle, and
the allowance Of funds by this department will
not enable it to open the ten-foot bitches.
Therefore the Mississippi and Mexican Gull
Canal Company have been notified to do said
work. am, respectfully,
E. A. BURKE, Administrator.
Referring to the subject, Administrator Burke
said
1 understand that a report was made to the
council of the Property Holders Union, that this
was matter Of our own volition, and that we
were paying two and three prices for the digging
of this canal to the Mississippi and Mexican Gulf
Canal Company.
This report is calculated to reflect upon the
Council in an unjust manner, and in this connec-
ton, Mr.. Chairman, desire to say that there
were some other points in this report that ap-
peared in the daily papers that were very unjust
to the members OF this Council
If I understand that the terms Of the report
made by the committee of the Property Holders
Union, they indicate no disposition on the part
of the Council to afford them any relief on the
drainage question in fact they simply report
that we replied we were unable to do anything.
The facts are that these gentlemen called upon
the Council, and we were careful to explain to
them that in the month of December last, when
this administration went into office, the first OBJ
jections were raised to the work of the Missis-
sippi and Mexican Gulf Canal Company, the ad-
vice and decision of the City Attorney were
sought before single bid for their work was
a. proved or a warrant in their favor issued. The
Administrators Of Accounts and of Improve
ments were advised that under the law we were
required to proceed to examine and audit their
account.
The next step OF the Council was to refuse to
Issue teri fdcids for the collection of the drain
X,
perior Court, where mandamus was rendered
requiring us to issue these teri fdcids and col
lect the tax. The facts are that We exhausted
every remedy that, under legal advice, we could
pursue.
When these gentlemen said there were parties
belonging to this Union who could point out
a legal remedy we did not decline to
accept the remedy, but we specifically told them
if they would point out a remedy we would very
cheerfully. adopt it and pursue the matter fur
Their. We also distinctly informed them in regard
to the drainage of the Fourth District that we
would investigate the matter further and afford
any relief in our power That relief was given
before the report to the Property Holders Union
was made, but nothing was said about it, the
only statement published was, that we could dc
nothing.
think it proper to refer to these matters, be-
cause it has created an impression on the minds
Of the people that there has been no disposition
on the part of this Council to assist the peo-
pie in fighting the Objectionable bill.
/ must say, if these gentlemen would exert
themselves a little more to uphold the officers OF
this city government, who are endeayoring to
give them an honest and economical administra-
tion think it would be much better for the in
terests OF the city, instead of indulging in unus
criticisms upon them.