The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-04-08
Proceedings Of the Police Jury,
Parish of Ascension.

Parish OF Ascension.
DoNALDsONvILLE, March 80, 1882.
this day. The roll was called and resulted
as follows:
j Present-R. T. Hanson, President: DR..
Edward Dut4el, Messrs. Matthias Rodriguez.
| Henry c. Braud and Ben Gibson.
Absent-Mcssrs. Pierre Klopman, Solo
mon Barmon and G. z. Blouin.
The President said he had called the Jury
for the purpose of deyising MEANS if posi-
bic, to close the Landry crevasse. He
stated, in substance, that some days after
1.-The break, the Hon. j. l.. Gaudet. President
of the Police Jury of st. James, recognizing
| the great injury said crevasse would do TO IL
large portion of his people, had offered the
| assistance Of his parish in closing the same.
That at the time the men engaged therein
had expressed so much hope in their success
that lie did not accept the proffercd aid.
But success with the appliances used be-
coming doubtful, he had. at the request of
those who were thus fighting the common
enemy, instructed the secretary to write the
following letter:
DoNALDsoNvILLE, March 25, 1882
Hon. j. L. Gaudet, President Of the Police
Jury, parish of st. James:
Dear Sir-The President of the Police
Jury of the parish of Ascension directs me
to inform you, that unless the Landry
creyasse is closed by Sunday or Monday,
then, it is believed, it will be impossible to
close the same without the use Of steam
pile-drivers. This would require an outlay
of money which this parish alone can not
make. Therefore, he wishes to know what
amount you will contribute, if it becomes
necessary to use steam pile-drlvers. Con
sidering the magnitude of the work, its
probable cut and the calamity to be aver
ted, he thinks it not unreasonable to hope
including the money which is now and may
be hereafter subscribed by individual citi-
zens.
The destitution resulting from this ere
vase Enclosed would entail heavy expenses
on our parishes and ON every good citizen
who might be SO fortunate as to escape
unscathed but however great these ex-
penses might be, they dwindle into trifles
compared to the suffering such utter
dcstitution would inflict on thousand men,
women and children.
Your vigilance and activity in performing
inc VI y our olHCe. SNOW IL correct
appreciation of the threatening danger aud
q worthy regard for the welfare of the
people. These warrant tho trust that you
will give this. his earnest appeal, your carly
and your serious attention.
Your very respectful servant,
r. PROSPER LANDRY,
Secretary.
That about O'Clock p. NJ. the same day,
Mr., Gaudet, who had Just returned from
the erevasse, ,vhere he had conferred with
Messrs. Kenner, Brent Bringier and the
State Engineer, sent for him Mr.. H. to
meet him (Mr. G at the Robt. E. Lee
Hotel, where Mr.. Gaudet, in the presence of
several prominent citizens of Ascension and
st. James, presented for his signature the
following telegram which bad already been
written:
DoNALDsoNyILLE, La, March 81. $780,
State Board OF Engineers:
Send a steam pile-driver to Landry ere
vase, together with $500 running feet Of
wharf timber, Immediately. ST. james and
Ascension will pay costs.
j. L. GAUDET,
President Police Jury ST. james,
r. I. HANSON,
President Police Jury, Ascension.
That Monday he received the following
letter:
OFFICE PREsInEsT Police JURY,
Parish OF st. James, La, March rs, 1882. (
r. I. Hanson, Esq, President Police jury
Of Ascension:
Dear Sir-Levee matters in the 5th, 3rti
and 1th wards this morning prevented me
from calling upon you to-day, in order to
further discuss the subject Which occupied
our attention yesterday.
= l have convened the Police Jury for |
Tuesday. the 25th inst, and wonld be
pleased to get from You official information |
of the probable amount needed from this |
parish in order to lay the matter before the |
body and have the appropriation made. |
My personal observations of the work, at
the Landry crevasse last Saturday made me
hope earnestly that under such able manage
ment as that of Col. Bringier, Gen. Brent |
and Hon Mr.. kenner, the break might be |
closed. For this reason it is my intention |
to render them all the assistance which they |
need. | would therefore res ectfully re- |
quest you to ascertain if our telegram has
been received and the pile-driver and TIM i
Der at hand, and to let me know by special |
Tomorrow.
Very respectfully.
j. L. GAUDET,
President Police Jury.
That in answer to the last letter he had
Mr.. Gaudet that $500 was the
amount expected of St. James that this
answer was written Immediately in receipt
Of the letter, and Immediately forwarded by
special messenger that later the same day
he had dispatched telegram reiterating
the amount required.
Continuing, he said that the rapid pro-
gress of the evil and the necessity of
immediate remedy had determined his
action before the meeting of tile Jury, which
under an existing resolution could not be
until the expiration Of five days
notice.
That i'll the meantime, viz the GOTH inst,
he had received the following letter:
OFFICE PRESIDENT Police JURY,
Parish Of St James, La, March Is, 1882. { I
Hon. Il. L. Hanson, President Police Jury,
parish OF Ascension:
Dear Sri am sorry to say that it has
been deemed impossible to grant your re-
quest OF 25ti inst. asking from S2501 to
$4,000 from this parish TO detray the expenses
OF the Landry erevasse. An examination of
the parish treasury diseloses the fact that
INC aiAouhe "liCH We adO VI Hsiiiii mas bea4
ne ariy eaten up ID levee repairs already
made and will be insufficient to meet them
all. The horrible calamity which has since
befalien Your parish by the breaking OF
another OF your levees would, it was thought.
render any further attempts to close the
Landry gap unnecessary and the following
resolution was adopted:
F." iesoteed. That considering the present
state OF the finances OF the parish and the
large expenditures which will have TO be
made for the uaiAssnanee of our levees it
will tie impossible for the parish to furnish