The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-03
PROPOSITION AND sALUBRITY.
Mr.. Bells views On the Revetment Levee
and the City Drainage.

NEW phIEaNs, NuNempeI d. lofls
Editor Democrot-aen. q. T. Beauregsrd pub.
ttehed few da, q ago communication upon the
subject or the "Revetmept Levee," In which The
enbiect OF drainage is incidentally touched upon.
Both or the topics are highly interesting. and
upon their trestment depends, in large meas
IRE, the future of our city. am pleased to see
that the General objects to facing that import
ant levee and pleasant boulevard" (the revet-
ment leveel with perishable materials.
Under mistaken idea of economy and against
nv wishes I'D advice the Council in 1871 ordered
ID faced with wood. AT the time Of the adopt 70
al wood "a r, vetment by the Council they had
before them the report and plan dated December
26. 1858, prepaI ed by Gen Beauregard. who was
then chief en- gneer of the First Drainage District,
comprised between the New canal, Old canal, the
river and lake, Upon that plan is represented
profile FOR levee twenty three feet base, ff cen
feet top and four feet high above the natural
surface OF the ground and about level with Met
tairie Ridge. II was to be faced with wooden
piles driven perpedcularly into the coil aud lined
with plAnkinR longitudinally. The whole 10 be
placed .about 100 feet" from the shore or
water line. Upn that plan the storm level
of 1891 lie indicated as one foot elk
inches or eighteen inches below the top of
che levee Since 1891 the storm levels have ex-
ceeded that height on several occasions, and the
last storm level, Sep ember, 1877, would have
passed over the top of the evee referred to above
about three incher, AMI without doubt the seas
that were then running in the lake would have
awelt such work away had il been constructed.
The present elton of protection levee wac, after
much discussion, located beyond the shore line
for several reasons, to wit To avoid the expense
OF expropris ting large amount Of property to
enable the city to own the lands reclaimed within
the levee (about 400 acreel for pleasure grounds.
etc. and, Lastly, to have full control of the out
side 'front.'
The Council decided to build the shortest line,
enclosing the rear Of the second drainage sectio,
having 3 lake front Of 1900 feet and extending
out into the lake 1000 feet more, making revet-
ment work OF 1890 feet. urgently advised a
reyctment of cast iron, somewhat similar to that
used TO reclaim the Jersey flats, and used to
great extent In Europe; but the Council thought
the expense Of such construction too great, and
Instructed me to prepare plans for wooden
facing, knowing full well that such facing would
decay In five or six years. The slope WAS adopted
10 suit the angle Of repose for the earth OF the
ernbankment, and the loose stone ballast with
which 1t was intended to replace the woodwork as
Il decayed. The ballast to be supported by close
piling, driven near the foot Of planking, down to
water line. The rough surface thus offered to
the waves would have the effect Of breaking
them snd preventing their running up the slope
a. they did upon the smooth panking.
Some time previous to the storm of September
rs last had an Interview with the City Survey or
MIR. d'Hemecourt, aud explained to him my views
"a to the most rapid and economical method OF
replacing the wooden revetment, and observed
subsequently that he did all in his power (by
warning the city authoritiesl to prevent the de-
struction VIII Oh ensued.
Regarding the views expressed by Gen. Beau.
regard concerning the Metsirie Ridge az a rear
protection for this city, / respectfully submit
there are many and grave reasons against their
adoption--reasons the force of which are recog-
nized not only by most of the civil engineers who
have studied the subject of the drainage of New
or cans but by the ablest members Of our M di-
al faculty. am firmly convinced that the thor,
cugh drainsge and reclamation OF the swamp
lsSsss in the rear of the city would result in
doubling the population of New Orleans in ten
years. ...soa o,,r ,o,,n,ou
.;sl growth - the fear of yellow and mslarisl
<avrs. entertained by people in other sections OF
ia countsy and Europe having commercia rel
sisns With ns. 1t is worse than IDLE 30 argue WIN
1910 injected aith his fear; the only way %
*nnsince item # safety is to remove the cause q
500 ferrufk and the cause cannot be remover
iiSons dfainipe thoroughly al the swamp lsnus
fsr1sSn shs riyer and the lake embraced ~ ms
&is1Sao 5 Sec3>pns. -. Y.
lsk.s 4 S11 ~ singular or alone IN these vi6ws
~ - q mote from the recently expressed