The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-17
OUR CITY ,WHARVEs.

| VU0 VIII sWHAkvES.
At the time when the Council proposed &c
lease the wharves or to farm out the wharf
revenues for the purpose of paying the cost
OF necessary wharf repairs. Of paying the in
terest on wharf bonds owing by the city
amounting to $685., 900. and of redeeming the
tenth part of the principal of the origina
wharf debt, there were some misgivings as ia
the wisdom and propriety Of such lease.
The plan was vigorously opposed in the
Council and by portion Of the press. the
main opposition being from those who de-
sired the radiance of the commerce of the
city from all port charges at as early date
as possible. Various predictions were made
as to the workings of the proposed lease,
many prophesying that our port charges
would remain as high as ever, and that the
condition of the wharves would be In no
respect improved. Eight months have
elapsed since the lessees entered upon their
contract. To ascertain VII It has been done,
. resolution Of the Council authorized and
directed formal inquiry, which was &C
cordingly made under the direction Of the EN-
inent and accomplished City Surveyor. Capt.
Thos. s. Hsrdse, who reports as follows:
SURVEYORS OFFICE
City Hall, New Orleans, Feb. IA, 1876.
To the City Council of New Orleans:
In compliance with instructions conveyed
in resolution adopted by your honorable
body, have had thorough examination and
survey made of the whaIves landings, ETC.,
and now have the honor here With to transmit
the result in the accompanying detailed re-
port of B. NJ Harrod, Esq, Assistant Sur
veyor in charge, showing the amount and
character of work performed by the lessees,
Messrs Eager, Eilermsn & Co., from the COM
mencement OF their lease to February l, 1876
|, The Lease was entered into ON the Goth of
June, 1875. and active work commenced early
in July. The wharves at that time we're
mostly in . dilapidated condition. requiring
q large amount OF repairs and rebuilding to
place them in q servlce4ble order for the sp-
preaching winters business
large amount of substantial aud perma-
nent work has been executed, as will be seen
by Mr. HArrod's report, and the material and
workmanship has been fully up to the re-
quired standard. ........
The report Of this inspection Of wharves
ordered by the City Council shows that the
lessees have expended on repairs, ETC., about
Sl79, 900. or nearly three-fourths Of the total
revenues estimated by the Council for 1875.
The lessees have constructed 5000 squares OF
new wharf and 1000 feet of bulkhead. They
have repaired 1900 squares. and, besides
lumber. have used $4,000 barrels of shells
and $500 tons Of ballast. These figures,
the approximate estimates OF skilled en-
gineer, show that the lessees are ve.y
much in earnest in their resolve to carry
out their part OF the contract with the city.
1t is not probable that the. same amount Of
expenditure will be necessary in future after
thorough repair has been completed.
Our space will only permit Us to note the
work done on some Of the more important
wharves.
SALT WHARF.
This wharf commences between xth and
Washington streets, and extends, with al
average width Of seventy-five feet, 1885 feet
to First street, with front alternately pre-
pared for shipping and steamboats,. This
wharf contains lilo squares, the framing and
piaDking of which have been repaired
throughout, and are now in fair order.
POST SO
Ffey-three squares. Filling at inner end
thirty -eight by eighty feet. The framing and
planking OF this wharf have been Well repair
ed. and are now in good order, although
Effected by the bad settlement OF the bank at
has encroached fully half way across the
uals at next low water.
The conditions of the case are peculiar, rs-
sulting not, as is usual, from undermining
the bank, but from some defective substratum
or excessive depth Of the river in front.
Therefore, the ordinary course of heavy
bulkheading or filling with ballast is not
applicable, and would only add to the risk.
For the present light bulkhead, about 270
feet long, has been built to protect the bank
from the coming high water I think no
danger is to be apprehended until the sup
port given to the bank by the spring high
water is removed. But as sopn after that as
possible, permanent steps should be taken to
arrest the damage to trade and private prop
erty now threatened.
ENGLISH STEAMSHIP WHARF.
This wharf commences between Soraparu
and Philip streets, and extends SIS feet, with
an average width Of seventy feet, to the Jack
son ferry franchise This wharf has been
thoroughly rebuilt, and is now in good order.
Commencing below the terry, this wharf ex.
tends 1887 feet, to post 80, with an average
width Of " feet, and contains 1925 squares.
1t has been thoroughly and substantially
rebuilt and is therefore in perfect order.
It was impossible, in the limited time be-
for the arrival Of shipping, and before active
commercial traffic begun, to execute every bit
OF work that was needed. and in the manner
most desirable, and therefore at many points
the lessees were instructed to make such tenn
porary repairs as would insure the largest
amount of wharf surface in condition for the
transaction of business, before tho time ar
rived when their working operations would
be necessarily interfered with by the require
ments OF commerce.
The practical benefits of this course have
been verified in the fact that a larger amount
Of shipping is now accommodated in port
than has been here for many years, and better
facilities afforded for the transaction of bust
ness for so large number OF vessels.
II is dne To the lesseeS TO state that they