The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-22
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
THE RIVER FRONT.
Sen. Beauregard communicates HIS
views on the subject TO the Mayor.

sen. Beaurexard Communicates His
views on the subject TO the Mayor.
The following letter, received yesterday by the
MAYOR. indicates that, although Gen. Beauregard
fs away from home, the interests OF New Orleans
are not forgotten by him:
AI1EaHAnY SPRINGS,
Montgomery County, Vs., 7
September IL, 1877.
Dear SRI notice In late papers received from
Naw Orleans that the citizens OF the beoond and
Third Districts have pettioned the Olty council
10 gdopt measures to prevent the encrosohment
f the river ON the levee aud front street OF those
districts, and arrest In time the DANGER whion
complained OF has been going on Tor many years,
ana il due principally to the increase OF bat
ture In the upper districts oil the city; unless
properly checked it will surely occasion ere long
great destruction OF property from the French
Msrkets to the lower limits OF the city. The
problem liz far from being OF easy solution, sud 10
further complicated by the necessity OF not OBJ
etructing In any way while applying remedy,
the availability Tor the purposes o. commerce OIL
Many empirical measures will doubtless be
Altered TO the consideration Of the Council who
cannot be too cautious in accepting them, for 10
their action may depend not only the loss Of
large sums OF money, but still greater increase
of the evil complained OF,
I'd properly control and direct the current of
40 mighty q stream as the Mississippi Is one OF
the most difficult problems which can be pre-
seHtea 4e The hydranlin engineer. AZ 10 shown by
The impor tant works now successfully progress
ing Mt the South Pass under the able manage
,ment of Messrs. Eads and Andrews. And no
engineer, however intelligent and able, will ven
ture TO offer q plan OF relief
WITHOUT PRECISE DATA
ID 40 upon. respectfully suggest, therefore,
that advantage should be taken at once OF the
Il.
survey OF both Its banks from the lower TO the
upper limits of this city, giving GROSS sections Of
the stream every half mile with accurate
soundings and the directions Of the current. his
survey, by the by, should be repeated hereafter
about
EVERY TWENTY YEARS,
ana the maps thereof should be carefully kept in
The surveyors Office TO determine the changes
which may take place in the depth, width and
direction Of the river.
As soon as tho first survey shall have been
completed, which ought to require only few
weeks, board OF engineers, TO consist OF not
less than three nor more than five members.
--hould be called together by the City Council to
4etermine the best AMI cheapest mode OF pro.
.ecting in permanent manner the endangered
70 be carried out gradually, according 70 the
available means OF tie city. Rest assured, my
dear sir, that this lie the most reliable, and in the
end the most economical, method Of arriving at
the solution Of o problem 30 vital to the inter
ests OF large portion OF our community. IL you
permit me would respectfully suggest, TO en-
sure success, the names OF two OF the members
of that board OF engineers Gen. j. q. Barnard,
u. 3. Corps Of Engineers. now stationed In New
York, who Is thoroughly acquainted with the
hydraulics OF the Mississippi, he having been
stationed during many years previous to the late
war In New Orleans; and Capt. J. b. Eads, whose
name Is now too familiar TO you to require favor
able mention from me.
I re,nain. dear air yorrs. most truly.