The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-01-24
P PREPARED For
FLOOD At NEW
ORLEANS
No Apprehension Exists and
1t Is Believed LeveeS
Will Withstand the
Pressure.

The New Orleans Picayune of yes
| teraday says:
The flood coming down from the
upper rivers does not cause any ap-
prehenSion here, though 1t Is gen
orally admitted that there is a posi-
bility of the record stage of 1908,
when the river guage at Canal street
showed 20.3 feet, may be equalied
If not passed.
Chairman Jules c. KOenis, OF the
Executive Committee of the New Or
leans Levee Board said yesterday that
while every preparation had been
made to meet the flood, there need
be no alarm as the leveeS were all
in satisfactory condition and could
stand even three feet more than
came down four years ago. All the
weak places in the levees had been
strengthened and made perfect, and
even the Second street and Third
District Levees, which had been the
source of anxiety in the past, were
in splendid condition.
Mr.. Koenig was asked If there
were not a number of openings in the
levees between Napoleon and Carroll
plants for their own convenience. He
said that there were none which
need cause any feeling Of anxiety
Where there are pipes they were all
run over the top OF the levee, so that
the embankment was not pierced
Whatever depresSiOns there might be
in the levee, could be Temedied i'm
mediately, and if the situation de-
manded it men would be put to work
on them without delay All such
privileges were revokable at the
pleasure of the board.
The levees are being patrolled
daily, and should any weak spot mani
fest itself the president and chair
man of the executive committee are
prepared to act Immediately. In fact
at the last meeting of the board the
president was empowered to act i'm
mediately when the occasion so de-
manded.
The State levees seem 10 be in
good shape except that small stretch
in the Grand Prairie district, where
several breaks have been reported
about seventy miles below New Or
leans This stretch of levee was bad
~ battered during the storm last fall,
drift being driven right through the
embankment by the force of the
waters. A contract was let for the
repair of this work, but the contrac-
tor was unable TO get the labor to do
the work. and high water came up
with the Ievee still in bad shape. I'm
gineer. Lewis is on the scene. but
it is said that a scarcity of lumber
and sacks prevents effective work
being done in closing the breaks.
Colonel Lewis has been very active
during the past two weeks down on
the lower levees. making thorough in
spections, and ordering weak spots
repaired. He happened to be near
Neptune at the time of the breaks in
the Grand Prairie levees, and has
tened to the scene
At a joint meeting of the Bayou
LafOurche and Aachafalaya Levee
Boards in Donaldsonvifie Monday the
two boards decided separately that it
was time 10 begin putting inspectors
out, and they are now Datrolling the
banks.
President Hunter c. Leake, of the
Pontchartrain Levee Board said that
reports from his levees were reas-
surfing. the line being in good shape
and ready for any emergency.
Colonel Frank NJ Kerr. chief state
engineer. and Assistant State En-
gineer PeTilliat take very hopeful
view of the situation. The levees are
much better prepared to resist the
food than in 1908. when there was
a record stage, and while a big flood
was coming down the river, they saw
no reason to lock for as much water
as in 1903. The most hopeful phase
of the situation lay in the low stage
of the Red river. which in 1903 was
bank full during the food.
During the high water in 1903 the
United States Engineer kept barges
and tugs stationed at convenient
point along the river, 10 rush with
materials to any weak spot which
might develop. but the situation this
year has not reached that stage
where such emergency preparation is
considered necessary.