The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-02-20
.
s,ont,nurd from first page.
! denomination OF indebtedness

will amount to IA 1926, 279 10.
Al portion of this indebtedness is
doubtless owing to the NAL
tion IN the offices OF the State Auditor
and State Treasurer, as may be seen by
the following figures
Total tax assessed for levee pur..
POSES for the five years from 1911 x as Or
I'd 1876. inclusive, Is. ...st.....4 s5,fts,Aeo W
Deduct for cost OF assessing, col 80 M, a.
teotiug and dslinquents. ......s.. foo,oeo 20
Showing the total that should =. n.o 40
have been paid. ,....t'..a.' ss,VSesoAS ~
This still leaves balance against the
State, under the most favorable clrcum-
stances. of about $3.50, 0e0. which, OF the
end OF twenty-one years, would amount
to o., 1896, 900.
1t Id thus evident that to MAINTAIN
the levees of the State In even their
normal and very imperfect condition,
will involve either an increase In taxa
tion or n constantly increasing dept,
whose ratio Of increase will be greater
or less. according In the manner In
which the financial affairs OF the gov
eminent are administered.
Sixth--Your committee find that not
withdrawing the large amount OIL work
done and the commemorate energy
shown by the Lsvee Company that
should entitle them to the thanks OF all
their fellow-citizens, the condition or
Che levees Ia retrograding rather. than
improving, the amount annually, ex-
pended not being more than would be
REQUIRED to repair the constantly recur-
ring cayings and crevasses II the system
should be once made complete.
Iii this connection we have requested
the Board OF Engineers to make out, as
early as possible, a statement OF the
length of river front now open, ana the
amount OF work which would Do re-
required TO repair the constantly recur-
ring cayings and crevasses II the system
should be once made camplete.
I'm view OF all these facts, therefore,
your committee conclude that the
means provided are entirely inadequate
to the work to be performed; that an
increase OF taxes upon our Impoverished
and screly tried State is impraeti !;
and that the continuance OF this con-
tract will be injurious to both the con.
tracing parties. and will fail OF the end
lin view: Ii should, therefore, be an
nulled without delay.
lin arriving ut this conclusion, your
committee desire to express TO your
honorable body their conviction that
the Leyee Company have acted In per.
feet faith with the State; that they
have strained their credit, both as pri-
yate individuals and as members OF the
company, to accomplish the protection
from overflow of the greatest number
or the citizens OF the State; and that
they deserve the thanks OF their fellow
citizens for their efforts, and @ just and
speedy settlement OF their affairs.
Your committee, therefore, beg to in
troduoe two bills covering the following
points: - l..
Company be annulled, and that Q board
OF liquidation be appointed for the set
Element of their Affairs and means be
provided to pay the indebtedness OF the
State.
D. For such protection In future from
overflow as we are able to achieve, to
provide that the State be divided into
districts, each district to be In charge OF
d competent engineer.
That the revenues for levee purposes
be divided pro rata among the districts.
That no work shall be contracted for
until there is money In the treasury to
pay for the same, and that all contracts
Tor work to be- done hereafter shall be
let to the lowest bidder who can give
security for the performance OF the
work undertaken.
In addition to this, your committee
urgently recommend that, III practica-
BILE, the large force OF oonvicts serving
out sentences at hard labor in the State
Penitentiary be employed upon the
lcvees, and that every effort be made to
obtain the assistance OF the general gov
eminent In the matter.
lin support OF these views, we submit
IA statement OF their affairs from the
Levee Company, copies Of the Annual
Reports OF the Commission OF En-
gineers and OF persons. and such copies
of the reports of the Auditor and
Treasurer as we have been able to
obtain.
ALI Of which we respectfully submit.
w. NJ. WAsHBURNB, Chairman.
r. I'll. ToLER,
J. G.. TAYLOR,
T.. Ell. BowDEN,
JAMES s. ROBERTSON.
WILLIAM RIDGLEY.