The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1878-07-27
CITY DRAINAGE.
WHAT THE CITY SURVEYOR AND THE
PHYSICIANS, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT
THE DRAINAGE or THE CITY.

Hall yesterday morning to ascertain all the
Facts rossihle on the subject Of drainage. Mr.
dsHemeeourt kindly allowed himself to be In
faryiewed on the subject. Seating himself at
a desk he informed the reporter that he was
ready to be questioned.
Rem would like you to tell me every
fhfng possible about the drainage OF the city,
and how you, as city surveyor, would pro-
ceed to thoroughly drain the cityH
Mr.. d'Hemecourt- entering upon o
full explanation of my views on this subject
II Is better that should commence by giving
brief description Of the
GEOGRAPHICAL AND TYPOGRAPHICAL
situation of New Orleans and it's environs,
with description OF the natural drains.
Rep.-Please do sof
MI. d'H-New Orleans is partly built on
the high ridge bordering the Mississippi
river, and 10 almost entirely eneircled py
natural leyees, which renders all the easier
this important question. These ridges are
the Metairie and Gentilly ridges.
Rep.-How were these ridges formed?
Mr.. d'H-The Metairie Ridge was formed
by the alluvion deposited on each side OF
bayou called
THE METAIRTE BAYOU,
which was branch OF the Mississippi river,
starting from Kennerville.
The Mississippi river partly discharged u
self through these bayouS, and depositing it's
sediment on both sides formed ridges, as
said before.
In the case Of the Metairie bayou the waters,
after crossing many miles, came in contact
with the waters Of the Bayou st. John and
crossing them formed sort OF connection
with the Bayou Road stream, which conf
mences about Toulouse street. These two
streams uniting continued eastward and
formed the Gentilly ridge, extending to Chef
Menteur.
Rep-Ts this region subject
TO OVERFLOW?
MIR. d'H-Tt would be at all times subject
TO fiuvial overflow If nature had not provided
for a drain. A glance at the map will show
you that the Bayou st. John is the natural
drain of all that portion lying west Of the
Bayou Road ridge Starting from the down.
ward end Of its drainage area 1t
DISCHARGED THE WATERS
into Lake Pontchartrain, after cutting, as 1t
Rep-Are these bayous ever filled with
sediment?
Mr.. dH-Tt sometimes happens that the
bayotis des crosieres (which is the name given
tobayous of the nature of Bayou st. john,
are more or less filled with sediments when
the water of the river Is high, but the current
created by heavy rains would soon carry 1t
away.
Rep.-Is the section east of the Bayou Road
ridge drained naturally as well as the onejust
spoken OFF
Mr.. d'H.-Yes; this portion, as the first one,
forms basin entirely encircled by ridges, to
wit: the river ridge, the Gentilly ridge and
the Versailles ridge which forgot to men
tion. Through this portion nature has re-
served drain which Is In every respect
similar to the Bayou st. John. mean the
Bayou Bienyenu, draining into Lake Borgne.
Draining bayous of this kind can be found In
LOWER LOUISIANA
wherever basin Is formed by q surrounding
circle of ridges.
Rep-What are the best means for draining
the city, in your opinion?
Mr.. dH.-To commenceit it will be necessary
to place O. draining machine at the angle of
the lower line levee and OF Florida Avenue,
throwing the waters in one Of the branches
of Bayou Bienvenu. 1t will also be neces-
sary to place draining machine on Pe0pleS
avenue at the intersection of Gpntilly Road.
The London Avenue machine is admirably
situated to render efficient service. Each Of
these draining machines and wheels must be
placed on side canals to allow the water to
How through the flood gates In the main
canal which often happens at times when the
lake water Is low. There should also be
canal dug In Florida Avenue up to Marigny
canal one in Lafayette Avenue and one in PO-
land Avenue, all three from Claiborne street
TO the Florida Avenue canal, will greatly
HELP THE WATER
In quickly finding its way to the draining
machines.
Rep.-Would these canals be sufficient for
draining that portion Of the city. -,
Mr.. dH.-These canals dug, together with
the
THREE DRAINING MACHINES
(six wheelsl, would complete thorough sys-
tenn Of drainage for all that portion OF the
CITY below the Carondelet canal, so that this
section which has up to the present been the
most neglected would, at the completion OF
these improvements, be the best drained, not
because It will have an excess OF power in its
draining machines In comparison with the
other sections nor in the area to be drained,
but because the water will naturally flow
downward.
Rep.-Would these machines be of assist
ance In draining any other sectionP
Mr.. d'H-These three draining machines
will not only
BE BENEFICIAL
to the above section, but they will be also of
great help in draining the section between the
Garondelet canal and the New canal, as will
be easily seen when / come to explain
SYSTEM OF CONNECTION
which have devised.
In the section between the Carondeet canal
and the New canal it will be necessary to es-
tablish UNDERSTANDING machine on the Or
leans canal at the intersection with the Me-
tairie ridge. This will restore the Orleans
canal now used as tail race, to it's original
condition of draining canal, and by this the
levees on the sides being removed, that tri-
angle comprised between the Orleans canal,
which is now constantly overaowed, will be-
come perfectly
WELL DRAINED.
Rep.-Will the draining machine of the
lower section be of any assistance in the
drainage of this.
Mr.. d'H-The draining machine of the
lower section can be made to greatly assist in
the drainage Of this section by placing two
six-feet diameter half-inch boiler iron
pipes under the waters of the Carondelet
canal, one at the intersection Of Broad street
and one at the intersection of Galvez street
thus establishing direct communication be-
tween the two sections. The drainage of the
centre section, at the completion of these Inn
provements, will certainly be almost perfect
Rep.-What Is the condition Of the upper
section In regard to easy drainage?
Mr.. d'H.-The drainage of the upper sec
tion is
MUCH MORE DIFFICULT,
both on account Of its area (Which is equal tx
the other two sections) and its topography
Aa a-aI,.. 4