New Orleans Republican., 1875-10-06
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER s. 1875

the City Surveyor will submit plans for the
reduction OF the size of the levees and
canale, and consequent reduction of the
cost several hundred THOUSAND dollars.
E. A. BURKE, Administrator.
Administrator Burke, for the committee
of the whole, presented the following re-
port, which, being read, was adopted and
ordered to be spread upon the minutes:
To the City Council of New Orleans:
The committee of the whole, to whom
the petition of citizens for repeal of the
ordinance creating the fourth drainage dis
trict was referred, instruct me to report
that they can not recommend the repeal of
the ordinance, for the following reasons:
l. The ordinance was passed by the Coun-
Gil of 1872, in pursuance of the acts of the
Legislature of 1858 and 1870, and judgments
have been obtained which involve the ques-
tion Of vested rights that would render the
city liable in damages. This administra-
tion is in no wise responsible for the ordi-
nance.
2. Collections have been made to a con.
siderable amount for the drainage of the
Fourth District and the repeal of the ordi-
nance would render the city liable for the
amounts paid.
AouA C6A AOU UU6 ldCb
that numerous petitions and complaints
from the citizens OF the lower portion of
the Third Municipal District indicate the
necessity for drainage in that section, and
the Board of Health directly charge the
great prevalence of malarial fevers and in.
creasing mortality from such fevers to the
lack Of proper drainage. In view of these
facts it is probable that the residents of the
district would, at no distant day, require
onoso <~f& 81, ho, t, &c
that section. A repeal of the ordinance
would then necessitate the homologation OF
tableau suits, judgments, and a repetition
of all the expensive litigation which the
city has passed through, adding further
burdens to property holders.
4. The tail race canal for the drainage of
the Fourth District and lower protection
levee has been extended to within q short
distance Of the Fourth District line, at an
expenditure of about $250000, and the
dredgeboats will be placed at work in the
lower portion of the Third Municipal Dis
trict within few weeks, excavating the
Claiborne canal, which has been almost en-
tirely filed up, to the prejudice of the health
of the district and to the injury of property
A repeal of the ordinance would, there.
fore, be equivalent to an abandonment of
the work that has cost the people $3.50, 900,
and prevent the Council from causing any
drainage work from being done in localities
where the most imperative demands are
made for it.
Your committee respectfully call atten-
tion to the fact that when petition was first
made to the Council by committee of
property holders, the issue of writs of fieri
facias was promptly suspended, and no
steps are now being taken by the Council
to enforce the collection of the tax in the
fourth drainage district. Also, that when
such tax was paid, that it could be paid in
the ten yearly installments, as allowed to
other districts, and a repeal of the ordi-
nance and suspension of the work now
would simply result in robbing the people
of the lower portion of the Third NUM-
cipal District of all benefits of drainage,
without now tightening their burdens, as,
under the odious law giving this important
work to the Mississippi and Mexican Gulf
Canal Company, the boats working toward
the fourth drainage district and no v in
structed to clean out the Claiborne canal,
districts, or, under the law, the city would
be liable for damages.
Your committee will cheerfully and ear
nesllv cooperate with the petitioners in
procuring by legislation repeal of this
obnoxious law; but, in view of the furious
effects of repeal of the ordinance, respect
fully suggest that further time be taken be-
fore final action.
For the committee of the whole,
E. A. BURKE.
Ordinances and Resolutions offered.
By Mr.. Bouny and adopted:
Resolution for the reduction of the as.
sessments of w. r. Bell and j. B. Delord
By Mr.. Pilsbury aud adopted:
Authorizing G. Villarubia, ULCER Lauye
and N. B. Phelps to countersign premium
bonds.
By Mr.. Laudry and adopted:
Resolution authorizing John Martin to
establish three horse power steam engine
at No. S Camp street.
An ordinance relative to tampering with
fire alarm boxes, or giving false alarms, and
to impose fines for the violation thereof.
By Mr.. Brown and adopted:
Resolution appropriating $3l5 Is to pay
on account special labor during the month
of September, 1875.
Resolution appropriating sl24 50 to pay
balance special labor for the month of Sep
tember, 1875.
By Mr.. Brown, and read twice:
An ordinance providing for the payment of
the several accounts therein named.
Be it ordained, That the following appro-
priations be and are hereby made for the
month of September, 1875, and that the Ad.
ministrator of Public Accounts warrant on
the Administrator of Finance in payment
of the same whenever there shall be money
in the city tr easury to the credit of the ap-
propriate fund for each account, and not
otherwise appropriated
johnson Armstrong, stationery, binding,
etc., for the Department of Finance in the
months of July. August and September,
1875, approved, $l4S o..
A. w. Hyatt, stationery, binding, ETC., for
the following departments, approved, as
follows, viz: Department of Public Ac-
counts. $36 20; tax mortgage registry, 81;
City Attorneys Office, sci.
Sunday Delta, advertising lease of Jack
son street ferry, approved by the Admins
traitor OF Commerce, $2 30; advertising tax
notice Of 1875, approved by the Department
of Finance, 81 80.
New Orleans Bulletin, advertising pro
posals for oyster shells, approved by the
New Orleans Bee, advertising proposals
for lumber. approved by the Administrator
OF Improvements, "a SO.
Joseph Muller, rent of wharfngers Office,
Fourth District, for the month Of Septem-
Der, 1875, approved, SIS.
Amos Morrison, sheriff of the parish of
Jefferson for the maintenance of prisoners
arrested in the Seventh District during the
month Of September, 1875, as per bill ap-
proved, $76.
New Orleans Republican Printing Com
pany, bills for the month of September, 1875,
approved as follows: Advertising proceed
ings of the Council, $3.50; advertising ordi-
nances Of the Council, $3.50; advertising
lease OF jackson street ferry. $50; printing