The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-03-13
THE ORLEANS DEMOCRAT, SATURDAY MARCH 13, 1880.

Client Justification for the complaints so often
made. These vessels contribute largely to
the support OF the canal, and 1t is time that
some relief was afforded them.
VI We find that steamboats, have been allowed
to steam up and down the canal ut a high
rate Of speed, and the suction and waves com
bined have caused much Of the dilapldatton
OF tho lsvee. This will have to be Temedied,
and we recommend that steamers be pro-
hibited from running at a greatsr speed than
three miles per hour In the canal. and we
think this will materially prevent the caving
OF the banks and offer no material obstacle to
| their business. We would recommend that
mill owners or receivers OF RATS and floating
timber be required to provide suitable land
Timber, and that they be made responsible for
any damage that may ensue from neglect in
properly securing such timber.
We find that conflict between tho city
bridKe-keeperB and the management Of the
canal operates against the interest Of COM
merce, and recommend moAsure looking for
the abatement Of this difficulty.
The shell road we find In such bad repair
that It Is hard to conceive that 1t ever was
one. The road III It's present condition gives
evidence OF glnring neglect and want OF proper
attention. We have had before US the state
ment Of N. i. Trist, executor Of Richard
basin and canal from January 81. 1879. to
January 4, 1880, to be 1877, ,s94 100, as follows
Schooners ,4l6 50 100, steamers 5s,479. From
the same statement the receipts Of the shell
The constitutional limitation for tonnage
rates Is ten cents, which produces the sum Of
1880 "a for thirteen months; which on
the annual tonnage of 1906 tons
with this showing, in our opinion. is wholly
insufficient to accomplish the objects In
tended Of q self-sustaining institution.
We are. divided in our opinions as
steam tugboat by the State for the purpose Of
towing vessels In and out Of the canal. The
repairs to the canal are paramount to all
other considerations, and the purchase Of
dredgeboats, ETC. will absorb all tho revenues
for some time to come, and the demands Of
commerce require the adaptation OF steam for
towaRe A suitable vessel might be chartered
until such tiMe as the revenues Justified the
J purchase or tugb0at, and thus enable the
management OF the canal to apply the reve-
nues to tho repairs which are Immediately
demanded This matter. however. Is for you
to determine, and we submit the matter for
!. your consideration.
II has been suggested by some of the mem
bers Of your committee that all steamers,
schooners and other water crafts be subject
to n tOwage fee not to exceed 10 cents per
ton. which would aggregate IN cents less
than the present rate OF tonnage, which has
been SIX cents per ton, exclusive OF toWage
For many years 1t has been, however, the
rule, and optional with the masters to sail In
I or out whenever tho wind was fair, and
steamers Of necessity were free of any toWagS
dues. Whether compulsory towage fec will
be just and equitable is u matter for your
careful consideration.
We have not had the time necessary to
enter further into the consideration or eX-
animation and detail or this investigation.
For the reason that the report Of the ex-
perts appointed by order OF the honorable the
Fifth District Court IN tho suit entitled State
Of Louisiana vs. Richard Taylor and others,
No 1913 of tho docket of said court, which re-
port.wns recently made and Is accompanied
by charts showing the various soundngs
| taken iii tho canal, and contains statement
of the condition OF the wharves, shell road,
etc. we recommend the report, together with
! tho charts made September |, 1879, as more
perfect In their detail than In our power to
give, considering the facilities ut our disposal
and the means Mt our command, and ask that
, they be annexed rs part of this report.
i In conclusion and In conformity with the
| facts elected by the examination made by
/ your committee, we are constrained to report
| that the, lessePB OF the canal and shell road
a have been guilty OF gross negligence in not
! keeping the canal, basin and shell road In the
a repair required by the lease. and that their
, negligence places the property OF the State
a in such a condition rs to involve a large eX-
! penditure OF money to restore 1t to the con-
dition which the terms of tho lease require.
: The gross negligence the harbor-master has
shown In permitting the wharves to be OBJ
q structed by leaving cargoes thereon. the shall
/ low condition OF the water In the canal; the
4 failure of proper wharf buildings as specified
i In the lease, both along the canal and around
Il the basin, the general ruin and dtlapidation
I OF the entire property. calls for and receives
! the condemnation Of this committee.
q We urge upon the General Assembly the
8 pressing necessity OF taking such steps IN this
Q important matter, as will insure relief to
j commerce. insure to the State OF Louisiana
n her just dues and have the effect Of indemni-
Q flying her for the wilful destruction and dete.
n riOratlOn OF this property, and recommend
J. such action as will restore To her Immediate
r possession Of this property:
S.,H hnfY Ilpt ntf yhr FIX
4 Ing resolution.
r Re II Resotucd by hc General Assembly oJ
d thr State Of Louisiana, That the Attorney
: General Is hereby authorized and directed t,
/ take such legal steps as in his judgment art
!, necessary to secure to the State the earliest
/, possible possession Of the New Basin, Cana
r and Shell Road, and all the rights privileges
s and appurtenances now held and controlled
/, by d. f. Kenner rs agent aud attorney OF
3 Richard Il. Taylor lessee and to enforce
: payment OF such amounts as may be due by
: said lcssees and their suretia5, In order tina,
!, steamers, schooners and other water craft
y plying In said canal may ut an early day have
+ the benefits Of the constitutional limitation
I or ten cents tonnage fees, and all such
v amounts so collected from the present lHssees
shall be deposited and held to the credit OF
!, the New Basin, Canal and Shell Road fund.
!, Respectfully submitted,
: For the Senate, EDWIN HARRIS
y For the House. ALIEN. w. WEEMS.
sideration Of the report was postponed unit
: the views Of the minority were printed.
! SECOND READING or SENATE BILLS.
Senate bill No. 157,
An act to provide for the sale OF all prop
erty forfeited to the State for taxes and II
, censes,
Was read the second time, and on motion ol
MIR. Walton referred to the Committee on the
| Judiciary.
SENATE BILLS ON SECOND READING.
Senate bill No. 81,
An act prescribing the manner Of deter
mining the solvency and sulliciency Of sure
, ties on official bonds, fixing the domicile Of
| such sureties, and limiting the time within
which such bonds shall be given,
Was taken up, under the unfavorable report
OF the Committee on the judiciary.