The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-07-17
Third Levee District.

Third Levee District.
Tho Impssltion Of I.evec Tax Deferred
| Until tho Completion Of New
| Assessment Rolls.
A meeting of the Board of Leyee Com
| missioners Of the Third Levee District
was held at Philharmonic Hall, Agiers,
last week, the following members pres
ent:
Messrs. w w. Pugh of Assumption,
| president; S. Perkins of Lafourche, Vic
tor Reaud of Orleans, J. B. Ferchaud of
St. James, W. B. Berthaud of Jefferson,
w. J. Kelly Of st. Charles and j. w.
Ross Of Plaquemines.
Absent-Messrs ]. C. Cofield of Ascen-
sion and L. D. Martin of st. John.
The subjoined preamble and resolu-
tions were offered and adopted without
dissent, after which the Board adjourned
subject to the Governors call:
Whereas, The assessment roll of the
third levec district will not be completed
anterior to the first of September next;
therefore he it unanimously
Reaolucd, That the levee tax to be i'm
posed for building levees be postponed to
a meeting to be called some time in the
month of September or October, at which
meeting this board agrees to raise suf-
fcient taxes TO pay the Indebtedness Of
this levee district, provided the same
shall not exceed five mills.
The Assumption Pioneer speaks in the
following complimentary terms of the
excursion Of the BIue Bucket Fire Com
pany to Napoleon, lille on the 4th inst:
The Blue Bucket Fire Company of
Donaldsonville made an excursion here
on the 4th Of July. The members of this
company belong to the very best classes
Of the young colored men Of that pros
porous little city, and have distinguished
themselves as prompt, active and efficient
fremen in several serious emergencies.
The company was accompanied by its
excellent brass band. 1t formed in pro-
cession and moved, like wcll-drilled SOL
diers, along o,r principal streets, elicit
ing much attention by their martial bear
ing and brilliant scarlet uniforms. At
night the company terminated its cele-
bration with Il ball and supper at the
Napoleonville colored town hall. It is
due to the Blue Buckets to add that they
preserved the most admirable order, dis
cipline and decornm throughout their
whole visit. Their treasurer, Mr.. Jos.
Thompson, SO well and fayorably known
here, expressed himself lis very thankful
for the kind reception accorded to the
company.
The CHIEF takes pleasure in saying
that the encomiums of the Pioneer could
not have been more worthily bestowed.
The Blue Bucket Fire Company is
splendid organization and deserves all
the good words that can be said of it.
PIcAYUNE SAwNlILL.-We paid a visit
yesterday to the Picayune Saw-Mill, sit
uated half mile below Donaldsonyille
and had the pleasure of giving the estab-
lislment q thorough inspection under
the guidance of the senior proprietor, Mr..
Alfred Esneault, and Of hearing from him
a brief history Of the circumstances I'M
der which the mill was erected and the
means employed to place it in the front
rank Of tile successful business ventures
Of this community. When Mr.. Esnault
began the erection Of the Picayune mill
i'll February, 1879, his cash capital con-
sisted of one of Uncle Sans treasury
notes Of the denomination Of SIS. He pro-
cured the loan of a small engine from
that liberal and whole-souled planter,
Mr.. James Teller, who also advanced him
sufficient means to purchase boiler.
With lis own hands, assisted by his sons,
Messrs. Albert and Cecilien Esneault and
Mr.. Henry Norris-all of whom are now
partners in the bnsiness-Mr. Esneault
put up a frame, mounted it on founda-
ton Of blocks and rough timber and be-
gan saving timber on a limited scale
without even having roof over the
heads Of himself and assistant workmen
for several months after commencing
business. The diminutive character Of
the apparatus led to many Factions COM
ments on the part of the friends and
neighbors Of the projected enterprise.
Some said it would be good coffee or
corn mill, but that log coming i'll con-
tact with the saw would "stall" it.
Others laughingly calledit a "picayune"
mill, and Mr.. Esneault judged that this
title would answer as we'll as any Other
and forthwith christened his venture
Picayune SawMiIl." Making hand
some profit from the first raft of logs
they converted into sawed lumber, the
managers Of the mill began gradually to
improve their facilities and enlarge the
scope of their operations. They paid all
their debts, erected shed over the mill,
built neat little office on the upper
side, and a workshop OIL the lower, pro-
cured larger and better machinery, bought
increased quantities of timber and turned
out = correspondingly increased amount
of lumber. In their workshop they have
a foot lathe, q steam lathe, "a carpenters
bench, blacksmith's forge, and grind
stone propelled by steam; they build
their own saw frames, repair and improve
their machinery, gum (sharpen) their
saws and grind the gumners, all with
the labor Of their own hands. They are
preparing to put up double circular
saw instead Of the single one now in use,
in order that they may be enabled to saw
logs of the largest size. This improve
ment will be added during next fall or
winter, when the present rush of work is
over. The senior Mr.. Esneault possesses
considerable mechanical genius, and last