The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-05
THE NEW CANAL LEASE.


Lands Ii regard to the condition OF the New
\ canal and the manner In which the lessees Of
4 this important public work have discharged
u their obligations to the State is now before
the Convention for consideration.
This report, which was submitted on Satur-
day last, shows most shameful neglect and
disregard on the part OF the lessees OF every
obligation to the State and the public i'm
posed by the stlpulations OF the contract
Heretofore we have refrained from animad-
version upon the management OF this work
by the lessees, but the report OF the committee
appointed by the Convention to look into II
does not permit us to shut our eyes any
longer to the gross wrongs the State and the
public have suffered at their hands and
through their criminal disregard OF their
obligations.
BY the report Of the committee 1t appears
that
ID On the sixth dry Of March, 1866, the canal and
was leased for the period Of fifteen years. In
1867. and again In 1870, the LeRislat ure passed
the lessee to make important changes In the
depth and width Of the Canal. the number and
size Of the basins and the length Of its wharves
In consideration Of these improvements and
the keeping OF the canal, it's levees, Wharves
basins rtc.. In proper condition. the lessee was
one 81 liz most ot important atipaations 81
the lease Was that the lessee should keep the
canal its basins aa the bar ct ]. the MOUTH 1a
The report further recites that the average
depth of the canal at low tide Is only four feet,
or just one-half OF the depth required: that
the mouth is too narrow for the safe entrance
OF vessels, and Ia In dilapidated condition;
that several vessels have been lost and many
injured from these causes; leyees are In bad
condition; wharves rotten; logs In the canal,
rendering navigation unsafe; and, finally,
that the lessee has failed to comply with his
contract and has forfeited his lease, and is,
therefore, indebted to the State for the an
nual rents stipulated In his contract, amount
Ing to about four hundred thousand dollars.
The resolution Of the committee Is but the
proper sequence Of the report, and we pre-
sumo that the Convention will instruct the
Attorney General to bring suit at once for
recovery OF the canal and for the rents due
the State.
The minority report Directing to proceed-
ings In case the bond Of the lessee Is insol-
vent, amounts to nothing. II OF any conse-
quence, the insolvency Of the bond only offers
an additional reason for prompt action.
The committee have rendered q service to
the people OF the whole State, and especially
to the citizens OF the lake shore and New Or
leans by their prompt action In this matter,
and Il equal vigilance 10 exercised by the law
officers Of the State a large sum will be re-
covered and this artery OF trade will be
restored to the people, We sincerely trust
that the canal may be made free to COM
merce. The city Of New Orleans has quite q
number & dredge boats unemployed and
could well afford to pay the slight cost Of re-
pairs and supervision, II thereby all tolls
could be dispensed with. II, however, this is
inexpedient, the tolls should be limited to q
sum necessary to maintain the canal
This is the first instance brought to our
knowledge OF a defaultlng lessee having been
brought to book, and 1t is an indication Of the
spirit Of regeneration and reform Of abuses
on the part OF the Convention, which will be
gratifying to the people Of the State.