The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-08-25
CAPITOL NOTES.
IMPROVEMENT OF TIE MOUTH OF REI
RIVER.

l
COL Hardee's supplemental report upon tbs
condition OF the mouth Of Red river was com
pleted on Saturday at noon, and at that hour was
delivered to the Governor. The report contains
in substance that which was published in Satur
day mornings DEMOCRAT, aud
ENCLOSED CONTRACT
which was signed by the Governor on the part
Of the State, and Mr.. Andrews on the part
OF the New Orleans Wrecking Company. This
stipulates that the Usage shall be at the "gut
at the mouth of Red river by Monday next, ready
for work that her owners shall receive $500
for ten days services, to begin at the time she
starts from here that all expenses for repairs,
etc., thal be borne by the owners, and that in
case the experiment proves success the remit
neration for service after the first ten days shall
be at reduced rate.
In case it is found necessary to use rake or
scraper. either or both are to be attached at the
expense OF the owners. the State, however, pro-
vding the material. The boat is to be under the
direction of the State engineers, and days la
Dor ia to be considered
| AS TWELVE HOURS.
or from sunrise to sunset, with time for meals.
| Provision is made that the navigation OF the
river shall not be interfered with by the working
of the boat, and in his report Major Hardie
urges this az the best means available to secure
| the object desired.
| COL Hardee's report is in detail as follows:
! State or LOUISIANA
Office Board OF State Engineers,
New Orleans, August "a, l677.l
Governor +. T. Nichols:
| Dear Sir-Since submitting my report of the
22d inst, in relation to the work to be executed
ut the mouth of Red river, find that in order to
have the necessary outfit constructed as pro.
posed, week Or ten days OF time will be con-
suined before any work can be commenced. AS
| this extent OF delay was not anticpa ted, and
might prove Injurious it has been deemed adj
visable to look about for some more ready
MEANS TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE
| ia view. This has been presented in the steamer
Usage, belonging to the Orleans Wreoking Com
pany, which has powerful and extensive ma
| ohinery for removing bars and obstruotions in
water, and whose owners express great confidence
ia the ability OF their boat to perform the work
needed. The situation has been thoroughly ex
planned, and II they can do what they profess,
here s hope for believing that their efforts will
prove successful.
II is considered that any work undertaken
| through any means or agency must be more Or
| less Of an experiment, and as the Usage, with
her apparatus, can leave here so as to COM
| menee operations on the spot as carly as next
Monday, the 27th inst deem it advisable to
engage her under the terms agreed upon. The
substance OF this agreement is that IL the expert
ment does not prove satisfactory it will involve
| an expense to the State Of $500, after trial OF
ten days, but IL successful the price per day will
be so fixed beyond the first ten days that 1t can
all be accomplished probably in thirty days at
| total cost of $4,000
The advantage of q week gained in having the
work started is highly important, as
THE WATER rs FALLING
quite rapidly. and every day lessens the volume
OF outflow and consequently diminishes the force
of the current. This latter would be great aux
iliary to the operations OF the machinery en-
ployed, and therefore the Importance is apparent
OF having the work begun ut the earliest possible
moment
In case it is found advisable to attach the rake
and scraper arrangement to the Usage, as at
first proposed, it can be done after operations
have commenced; so that in any vent the en-
ployment OF the Usage will give us the advantage
Of one week in starting the work.
I would, therefore, respectfully commend as
substitute for the proposition in my first report
that
THE PROPOSED CONTRACT
with the New Orleans Wrecking Company here
with submitted. be adopted.
Respectfully, THOMAS 8. HARDEE.
In accordance with the above recommendations
Gov. Nichols has, rs stated entered into con-
tract with the New Orleans Wrecking Company
and the Usage will start to-day for her aestina-
tlon.
During the day the Governor was waited upon
by delegation Of gentlemen representing firms
in this city, who presented to him petition
signed by over thirty of the most prominent citi-
zens of Concordia parish, asking that the Maren-
go levee be built and that the gap in the st.
Catherine bend levee be closed. The petitioners
say they are fully aware OF and appreciate the
depleted condition OF the State treasury and of
the
INsUFF1CIENcY OF THE APPROPRIATION
made by the Legislature for the repairs and
maintenance OF the levees and know that conse-
quently no general work can be prosecuted, still
they respectfully urge their imperative necessity
for protection against the nexd high water by the
building OF at least the MareDgo levee, and, if
possible, the closing up of the gap of the bt.
Catherine Bend Levee hoping that the funds
AT THE GOVERNORS COMMAND
will be sufficient to allow the construction Of the
much needed work.
They say also that should these levees remain in
their present state until the next high water, q
now fertile and extensively cultivated parish,
whose taxpayers contribute no small amount to
the annual revenues Of the State, will be devas-
tated throughout its length and breadth by q
vast volume of water, etc.
The Governor will examine the petition during
the day, when reply will be made to the petit
TONERS.
Referring to the invitation received by the Gov
ernor to attend the floral exhibition at Philadel-
pbia, where d number of Southern governors
WILL BE ON HAND,
Gov. Nichols says he cannot attend at present.
During the past week Adjt. Gen. Patton has
been circulating som ewhat freely among the mil
itia and has tered in for five years service
under the law quite number of companies, in
GLIDING companies A, B and @, of the First Regi-
ment Louisiana Field Artillery, companies A, B,
G, d. L, f and G, OF the Orleans Artillery, and
during the next week will
MUSTER IN THE INFANTRY.
Gen. Patton has addressed communications to
ali of the military organizations in the city ask
ing whether or not they desire to be mustered in
and when they will be ready.
1t is contemplated that all the organizations
shall enter the service, and, as soon possible.
all will be armed, but 10 case those organizations
who now have State arms do not enter the SER
vice, the arms held by them will be given to
those who come in under the law. 1t is contem-
plated also to
RAISE A SQUADRON OF CAVALRY
in the ritv and shouId thosa who ara ma rtiaI n