The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-23
OUR CITY WHARVES.
The Recent Action of the City Council In Re.
latiOn Thereto.

As considerable discussion has arisen wit
regard to the policy Of the city administra
ton in relation to the wharves, we have take
the trouble to examine its several ordinance
lately passed bearing on the subject, with
view to determine the true merits of the case
and to determine also whether the CONNER
cial interests of the city are to be injured o
benefited by the course which has beel
adopted.
In furtherarce Of our object we have ap
piled for information in the City Surveyor
office and have been furnished with VALUABLE
information touching the whole question.
The first ordinance in relation to the mat
ter was adopted February q 1875, and is en-
titled can ordinance providing for the re
pairs of the Liverpool steamship wharf in the
Third District, This wharf is one of the
largest and most important in the city, and
was SO dilapidated as to be actually unfit fol
the purposes of commerce, and would
soon have had to be abandoned. There
was an urgent demand for its immediate re.
building, and the question arose with the
Administrators as to how it should be accom-
plished The estimate Of the City Surveyor
for the work was fifteen thousand dollars, and
the financial condition of the city was such
as to have rendered it impossible to contract
for the work on a cash basis, which was the
only plan which would have been permitted
by the City Council in order to have the
work done at the lowest possible cost.
In this emergency, Col J. C. Denis, the
President of the Levee Steam Cotton Press,
proposed for himself and friends, who were
commercially interested, to advance the fifteen
thousand dollars, on condition that the city
should apply the levee dues of the wharf for
the reimbursement Of the parties for the ad-
vances made.
1t was question whether the wharf should
was adopted, which is now bearing its fruit
in a work about one-half completed, and
which will be one of the best wharves ever
built in the city.
Under the ordinance the work was let out
to the lowest bidder.
The only concession made by the city is to
A. X. Miller j Co. and Ocean, Zerega & Co.,
and only to give them the preference for the
use of the wharf while they have steamers in
port, and only for few months, until such
time as they are refunded the amounts they'll
severally advance. The other parties, includJ
ing Col. j. c. Denis and the proprietor Of thu
Liverpool Warehouse, receive no concession
whatever for their advances, and are merely {!
wharf in front of the properties which they
represent. The entire work will be COM
pleted within two months from the time it |
vas commenced, and as it will take about |
eight or ten months for 5000 Of levee dues
% be received from the wharf, it is clear that
he parties advancing the money will lose the
outlay and interest on the same for that
ength of time.
The concession even to A. X Miller Il Co.
md Ocean, Ierega q Co., does not amount
to anything. as the same wharf
las been set apart for their use for some time
'ast, and this new arrangement only confirms
hem for limited period in a right which
hey have heretofore enjoyed.
In addition to the benefits conferred upon
he city by the terms of this ordinance, we
earn also that Col. J. G. Denis has raised
rom the property holders in the neighbor- I
God the sum Of one thousand dollars, which
} to be expended in the shape of DONATION
} the city in grading and ballasting the whole
If tho ,hor <bo s
le Administrator of Improvements
This is certainly very trustworthy liberality |
n the part Of Col. Denis and his friends, and !
! the present impoverished condition Of the I
ty it is something worthy of emulation by !,
hers having like commercial interest in n
her localities. 1t is in this way and under j
e provisions of such an ordinance as we are !
DIV discussing that the city can be materially J.
sisted by its citizens, AMI enabled to do Il
ork which it could not otherwise at present a
:,
The second ordinance passed was one in !;
lation to certain privileges granted to Mr.. 1
seph Cooper. We published this ordinance G.
full few days since, and can see nothing =
u
ilitate against the commercial interests Of a.
. city. So far from Mr.. Cooper being made g
exception of. we understand that the Ad- 81
nistrators expressed a willingness to afford fo
. same facilities to any other stevedore who h,
uld make similar application. Mr.. Cooper re
,eives not one dollar of levee dles in re- =
n for what expenditures he is to make, and h
} only consideration he obtains therefor il Is
having his ships concentrated at one wharf, ftr'
tead of being scattered, SO as to enable %
Il to expedite his business, and this is Ger n th
My benefit to commerce. Fl
The City Council has also granted to PIN, IA
rwood 4 Co. similar privilege as accorded E,
the parties interested in the Liverpool lio
.mship wharf iii
Zone Of these parties have any vested right, au