The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-25
THE NEW BASIN CANAL.

To the Editor of the Democrat:
The details of the lease of the New basin
canal and appurtenances having been extern
sivey published In the daily papers, / shall
not enter into them; but In a general way
will refer to the condition Of affairs as they
now exist and as they have existed for many
years past. The original lease, granted In
1866 appropriated the sum Of $68,0OO for re-
pairs, and held that the lessees should pay
during the fifteen years the lease was to run,
$4,000.
Only $13, 1888 SO have been paid. The amount
due the State at this time is $410,000 for the
recovery of which the Attorney General
should institute proceedings and collect, as
the lessee Is dead and the canal In possession
Of irresponsible parties. Aside from tliis, the
canal is filling up and totally Inadequate for
tho demands OF commerce; the steamers
running across the lake breaking their
wheels and sustaining other damages by
stumps, logs and wrecks which fill the chan
bel and detain the mails and passengers.
Taxpayers who own property facing the
canal can get no rent, simply because trade
has been diverted by the neglect OF the lessee
to keep the canal in a condition to bring COM
merce to that section. There Is total want
OF management; captains OF vessels have to
fight their own battles for wharf privileges,
there being no harbormaster to see to their
accommodation, while partialty of peculiar
character Is shown to favored few.
The depth OF water at the head of the canal
is not over three or four feet, while the
wharves are in deplorable condition. In the
middle OF the canal near the Black bridge Is a
brick pile. one Of the piers of the Nashville
Railroad bridge. just above Il the wreck Of
an old steamboat. Logs, stumpe. bars. etc,
all along from one end to the other obstruct
the channel, while the bar at the mouth has
not over five feet Of water, and the leyee from
the lighthouse to Browns Hotel has gone
completely to ruin.
Now, the lessee obligated himself to keep
the canal and appurtenances in repair.
He has not done SO, and hence Is not enti-
tied to any consideration and his lease is
clearly forfeited. He has violated act No. 1lS,
by which he WAS released from five years rent
The State of Louisiana has been defrauded
out OF $4,000 rent and her property de-
stroyed, while now the Convention is called
upon to give relief to those doing business
thereon by the reduction Of dues and the APP
pointment of a superintendent, who shall see
70 their interests and prevent the continuance
OF one OF the most glaring outrages that ever
was, or could be, presented for their consider
alton.
The shell road is also in deplorable condi-
ton, and totally unit for public drive Me-
mortal after mem orial, petition after petition,
nave failed to afford relief; and corrupt means
nave no doubt been employed to accomplish
measures which an honest examination would
nave disclosed. 1t Is to be hoped that the
s legislature In the future will be restricted
from any control of the canal or its appurten-
alces, except in the matter OF passing such
measures as will give greater facilities 70,
yhmmerce and help to build up the fortunes ~
we city and the State. APACHE.