The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1878-01-23
5 NO. %.


will te made to have decision in
the case before your session is over
to the end that tie General Assem-
hly will he able to act with full and
certain lights before it.
BOARD OF STATE ENGINEERS, LEvEES
AND PUBLIC WORKS.
The Board Of State Engineers, cre-
ated under Act No. 140, of the ex-
ira session of 1877, has euergetically,
faithfully and economically per-
formed its duties, and has accom-
plisl,ed great deal with the limited
means throu h which it bad to oper-
ate. The levees contracted for and
in process of construction, and
which have been judi.'iously and
equitably located, aggregate 1885,,
600 yards, at a cost of $2l2, 800 aver
aging less than % cents per yard,
and ranging from I6 8 4 to 20 cents
per cubic yard.
The basis assumed in estimating
the amount of money authorized to
be expended, was three iifths of the
three mill tax on an assessment Of
$4,000, 900, with deduction of 20
per cent for delinquencies and ex-
penses Of collection, giving the sum
of 1914, 800 as available.
The contracts for these levees
were based on warrants to he drawn
against the above mentioned tax as
sessad in 1877 and collec,ible in 1878.
1t is ascertained that the assessment
ment assumed in making the esti-
mates was too small and that the
real assessment will probably be be-
tween $l76,0O0.000 and $3.50, COO, 900.
The report of the board is submit
ted herewith, and attention is spe-
cially called to its application made
on page 4 thereof, that the Legisla-
ture devote to levee purposes in 1878
the sum of $2l, 900 referred to.
The board estimates that 1,475,-
900 cubic yards will have 10 be built
in 1878 to maintain the levees of the
State in thorough order at present
grade.
This does not contemplate the clo-
sing of the large crevasses at Ashton,
Diamond Island Bend, Glasscock' s,
Morganza, Bonnet Care and other
points, nor does it look to the re-
claiming of new or abandoned lands
or to extending any interests 1T has
reference to what is strictly neces-
sary for the protection of industry
and capital now engaged in farming.
This work is proposed to be distrib-
uted as follows: Cubic Yards.
Required on the Mississippi
river above Red River... $4,000
On the Mississippi below
Red River. 600,
On tributaries and outlets. 225, 600
Total, ........ ,475, 900
1t must be borne in mind that the
means which have to be applied to
the work of 1877 are the taxes col
Iectibe in 1878, and that they have
been nearly exhausted.
The propriety of, and urgency for,
the protection of the alluvial lands
Of the Mississippi by the general
government is so manifest as to re-
quire no argument; but until it as
umes the responsibility which
rightfully rests on it, which I trust
will be at no distant day, it devolycs
upon the State to provide ways and
means for affording the protection
needed.
What to do, is dif1lcnlt problem.
The division of the alluvial region
into leyee districts, and the applica.
tom therein of tax on the produc.
lions of the protected lands, is one
of the means suggested. This plan
is said to have been successfully an
piled in Mississippi. Another mode
sugg: sted, is the organization of th,
Penitentiary convicts, so that thei
labor may be applied to levce build
ing.
An estimate OF the probable annns
cost of such system will be fuapd i
the report of the Board of Engineer
An obstacle to the adoption of tn
" system at present is the existence of
y contract i'll reference to t,,is lah,
e which would have to be FIRST set ssid
: The convict force is also engaged ,
Is present in the construction of the Ne
Is Orleans and Pacific Railroad. the in
Ie portance of which to this State ca
f. ecarcely be- over estimated.
.. A third plan is continuation of ii
Dr4Sant srstam Of ranan.l