The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-12

nored and all the city's affairs conducted by
the respective departments, purchases were
made by the Administrators But on the ist OIL
June Just past, the contract system was again re-
nswed and no department should have been pei
mitted to ignore the ordinance.
T now come to tina wharf question, which Of
present engages the attention OF all classes Oh
ppr people. The Administrators who signed the
communication read to-day took the trouble 10
call upon the City Surveyor for verification OF
their assertions that the wharf lessees are doing
all in their power TO fulfill their contract. would
like to append to that opinion OF the City Sur
veyor one addressed by him to the Adminlstfa.
tors of Commerce and improvements, dated
September 1, 1871 just ten days ago; Here IL 10
SURVEYORS OFFICE, Room NO. l9, CITY hall, nAhL'
New Orleans, Sept. l, 1871.
TO the honorable Administrators OF Improve
ments and Commerce.
Ge,,Hemen-I have the honor herewith to
transmit the report OF Mr.. Louis FL Pile. ASSIST
ant Surveyor in charge, relating TO the negiect
On the part of the lessee OF wharyes to obey the
instructions from this department.. L would
respectfully suggest that appointment be
made at your earliest convenience to consider
this matter.
remain very respectfully,
J. A. D'HEMECOURT,
City Surveyor.
sunvEYon's OFFICE, Room No. 10, Cry HALL,l
New Orleans, -, 1877. {
Jules A. dHemecourt, Esq, City Surveyor:
tSir-Ib becomes my duty to report that not
witbssandipg your notice of few days ago, Mr..
e. Etlerman, lessee of the wharvss, has neither
begun the repairs OF the apron OF the steamboat
wharves OF the Second District, nor the levee
where cave has occurred opposite Lesseps
street.
From the little progress made during the week
in the construction Of the first whsrf OF the Ih1rd
District the lessee will require at least hfteen
days per wharf. The number OF wharves being
fifteen at that rate he will hardly complete the
wharves of that district by the first OF April 1873,
| am therefore obliged to recommend that the
penalties of the contract be at once imposed In
order to have the wharves In the Second and
Third Districts repaired in time for the wants OF
commerce. [ remain, respectfully,
Deputy City Surveyor.
NV communication was made after the recep-
ton of this communication from the City Sur
veyor.
Mr.. Csvanae-What is the date of that com
munication
MIR. MoCaffrey-Septembe l, 1877.
MIR. Cavanac The communication to me bears
a later date, September 10, which shows that
since the communication Of September | the
lessees have employed larger force OF men, and
are pushing the work.
Mr.. McCaffrey-If since the publication of my
protest Of eight days ago the lessees have be-
come more Industrious and Jealous IN the per-
formsnce OF their contract, am glad that my
communication has at least obtained that much
in the interest of the people.
Now, sir, ordinance No. 1921, adopted May.
1875, confers authority upon the City SURVEYOR
and the Administrators of Commerce and I'M
provemenis to supervise the construction and re-
pair of wharves. Leaving out the question
whether that is in accordance with the CITY cnar-
ter or not, but accepting the ordinance for ar
gument sake would remark that the city sur
veyor is permitted to employ representative to
manage the interests OF the city in the epa1rlng
and construction OF the wharves, and the Admnis-
tnIt flftu
perintendeut of wharves and landings.
As far back as Jnly or August, / cannot say
| which at this moment, petitioDed the Council
| by communication for permission to be repre-
sented in the management OF the repairs OF the
wharves, as required Of me by the city charter.
The Council saw fit to defer action upon the conn
municaton on account OF the absence OK the
Mayor at the time. AS the season was advancing
rapidly, when the wharves should be put in .
condition to be prepared for the winters
| business, and presuming that the Council
| would be interested by reason OF the
public importance OF the matter, L TOOK
upon myself to commission Gen. Blanchard as
my representative, and gave him his authority to
that effect. If the Council fit to refuse COM
pensation to that officer, well, that was their
province; but why that officers authority should
be denied while holding his commission or au-
| thority from Administrator OF the city, with
| the right to exercise such powers. by the
charter, as well as by ordinance, has not
been explained. Admitting, for argument
| sake that the employees OF the city must
be appointed by the Council, it ia the first time
in the history of city affairs when an Admin
istrator was not recognized in his written author
ity. In this instance it is not denied that mine
was.
l. therefore, leave the whole subject with these
explanations to go upon the record, and let an
| Intelligent public" judge whether the Council
has by its proceedings exceeded it's authority, or
whether the Administrator of Improvements, in
his individuality, or single Administrator, has
gone beyond the bounds OF reason making an
honorable protest.
The Council then adj ourned
THOS. G, RAPIER, Secretary.