Court Opinion

ID: 7190650
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:56:28.035645+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:16:10.681577
License: Public Domain

Ludelisg, C. J.,
dissenting. The plaintiff sued to annul the contract with Richard Taylor in relation to the New Canal, on the ground that he had failed to comply with his obligations.
The defendant filed a general denial, and further alleged that his original contract had been changed and modified by the acts of 1867 and 1870 of the General Assembly.
The validity of these acts was attacked by the plaintiff; but inasmuch as in another suit the plaintiff had claimed rights under the said acts of the General Assembly and thereby asserted their validity, the State can not now be listened to when denying their validity, so that in this case the only issue is, has not the defendant complied with the obligations of his contract'?
The facts are, that in 1831 the Legislature granted to the New Orleans Canal and Banking Company the right to construct a canal of the width of sixty feet at the top of the water, and of a sufficient depth to admit vessels drawing six feet water, with one or more basins and sufficient breakwater to facilitate the ingress and egress of vessels, and keep the same in repair. Section eight and section fourteen of the same act provide that “ the said company shall construct a levee on the upper sido of said canal, to protect the same from overflow in the event of the river breaking through the levee at any point above; and shall also lay out a road, not loss than twenty-five foot wide, along the whole line of said canal, and cover the same with sand, shells, oí other hard substance, so that it may at all times be suitable for carriages to travel thereon, with a suitable drainage canal on the upper side thereof,” etc.
Section twenty-six of said act provides that “ from and after the *468expiration of thirty-five years after the passage of this act the property in said canal and road, with all the land on each side which it has a right to, acquired by forced sale, and which it does acquire by forced sale or otherwise, to the extent of one hundred and twenty feet on each side of said canal, together with the machines and utensils belonging to the canal, as also the house of the toll-receiver, shall bo vested in the State of Louisiana, with all the rights to receive tolls therefrom which are hereby granted to the said company,” etc.
In anticipation of the canal and appurtenances being turned over to the State, the Legislature on the tenth of February, 1866, passed the following:
No. 12 — An Act to authorize the Lease of the Now Canal.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana in General Assembly convened, That the canal belonging to the Canal and Banking Company, and constructed under the charter of said company, incorporated March 5, 1831, situated, lying, and being in the parishes of Orleans and Jefferson, together with all the rights, property, privileges, and uses in any way belonging or appertaining thereto, or claimed by said company under said act of incorporation, and which by virtue of said act reverts to the State on the fifth day of March, 1866, be and the same is hereby ordered to bo leased for a term of years, not to exceed' fifteen nor less thin five.years; provided, however, that nothing in this act shall be so construed as to have the effect of releasing the Canal and Banking Company from the obligation of returning the property herein described in the good order and condition provided for ’in their charter.
Seo. 2. Be it further enacted, etc., That it shall be the duty of the Governor, immediately after the passage of this act, to cause to be advertised in one or more newspapers of the city of New Orleans, for the period of twenty days, that the said canal — with all the rights and privileges appertaining thereto or claimed and now enjoyed by the Canal and Banking Company under its charter, except sixty feet immediately adjoining Cypress Grove and Greenwood Cemeteries, toward the canal, which is hereby reserved by the State of Louisiana for the use of the Firemen’s Charitable Association of the city of New Orleans — is offered for lease, as set forth in the first section of this act, and to call for sealed proposals for the lease of the same; provided, that the lessee shall be required to make the repairs described by specifications and plan in the report of the State Engineer to the Governor, dated January 18, 1866, which shall be made part of the lease; that he will also be required to keep the canal, shell road and all other property in good working order and condition, as is provided by the charter of the Canal Company; the cost of the repairs to the extent of sixty-eight'thousand dollars *469shall be allowed to the lessee, in three equal amounts, to bo deducted, one third each year, from, the annual rent;' that the repairs and improvements provided by this section shall be made subject to the approval of the State Engineer; provided, further, that it be made a condition of the lease that the lessee shall permit the culverts now receiving the waters of the second drainage district to remain open.
In pursuance of this act, the contract was adjudicated to Bichard Taylor, and the notarial act was passed before T. O. Stark, notary public, on the sixth day of- March, 1866, which contains the following clauses:
Now, therefore, the said Governor Wells, in his capacity aforesaid, does hereby grant, devise, lease, and hire unto the said Bichard Taylor, here appearing and accepting for himself, his heirs, executors, and assigns, and acknowledging delivery and possession in conformity hereto of the said canal, shollroad, with toll-gates and houses for toll-keepers, one dredgeboat, with two mud-flats, one canal barge, and one pile-driver, together with all the rights, property, privileges, and uses thereto pertaining, in the condition as detailed by the State Engineer in his report of January 18,1866, as appears by the annexed receipt, dated seventh instant, marked “ B ” and paraphed by me, notary, for identity, for fifteen years, to commence on the fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, and to end on the fourth .day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundrod and eighty-one, the canal known as the New Canal, lately belonging to the Canal and Banking Company, constructed under the charter of said company, incorporated March 5,1831, situated, lying, and being in the parishes of Orleans and Jefferson, together with all the rights, property, privileges, and uses in airy way belonging or appertaining thereto, or claimed by said company under any of the laws of this State, except the sixty feet of ground immediately adjoining the Cypress Grove and Greenwood Cemeteries toward the canal. And the said Bichard Taylor shall have the right of charging and collecting toll for passage through said canal, and of establishing toll-gates, charging and collecting toll for transit through the same on the shellroad, adjoining said canal, to the same extent as the Canal and Banking Company wore by law authorized to do, and • shall have full power to make such rules and regulations for the management of said canal and preservation of the same, together with the shell-road and all other property in his possession belonging to the State, as in the judgment of said lessee shall be necessary, proper, or convenient for the management or protection of said canal, shollroads, embankments, . and all other property belonging to the State, from injury or deterioration. And the said lessee shall have the right to charge for towage through said canal, and to collect the same, to the same extent as the New Orleans Canal and Banking Company, its lessee or lessees, formerly did.
*470This lease is made and accepted for and in consideration of the yearly rent, payable as hereinafter expressed, on the following terms and conditions:
First — Said Taylor, lessee, shall make the repairs described by specifications and plans in the reporj; of the State Engineer to the Governor, dated January 18,1866, an authenticated copy of which said specifications and plans are annexed hereto and made a part of this contract, marked “ O ” and paraphed by mo, notary, for identity.
Second — Said lessee shall keep the canal, shellroad, and all othei property belonging to the State, and appurtenances to said canal in good working order and condition, as is provided by law.
Third — The cost of the. repairs to the extent of sixty-eight thousand dollars shall be allowed to the lessee by way of deduction, in three equal amounts, from the amount of rent for the throe first jmars, that is to say one third of said sixty-eight thousand dollars, to wit: twenty-two thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six and two-thirds cents,maybe reserved by said lessee from the first year’s rent, the same amount from the second year’s rent, and a like amount from the third year’s rent.
Fourth — The repairs and improvements herein provided to be made by said lessee shall be subject to the approval of the State Engineer.
Fifth — Said lessee shall permit the culverts now receiving the waters of the Second Drainage District to remain open.
Sixth — Said lessee shall keep the canal in good order, and shall comply with all the obligations to the State and to the public required of the Canal and Banking Company by its charter for the working and preservation of the canal, under the penalty of a forfeiture of this lease for the violation of the same.
Seventh--Said lessee engages to pay to the Governor of the State on the fourth day of March, 1867, the sum of thirty-six thousand dollars (§36,000), less the sum of twenty-two thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars sixty-six and two-thirds cents ($22-,666 6C§), which the said lessee, may reserve for repairs as herein provided.
On the fourth clay of March, 1868, the sum of thirty-seven thousand dollars (§37,000), less the sum of twenty-two thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars sixty-six and- two-thirds cents (§22,666 66§), which the said lessee may reserve for repairs as heroin provided.
On the fourth day of March, 1869, the sum of thirty-eight thousand dollars, less the sum of twenty-two thousand six hundred and sixty-six dollars sixty-six and two-thirds cents (§22,666 66|), which the said lessee may reserve for repairs as heroin provided.
On the fourth of March, 1870, the sum of thirty-nine thousand dollars (§39,000).
*471On the fourth of March, 1871, the sum of forty thousand dollars ($40,000). . •
On the fourth of March, 1872, the sum of forty-two thousand dollars (§42,000).
On the fourth of March, 1873, the sum of forty-four thousand dollars (§44,000).
On the fourth of March, 1874, the sum of forty-six thousand dollars (§46,000).
On the fourth of March, 1875, the sum of forty-eight thousand dollars •(§48,000).
On the fourth of March, 1876, the sum of fifty thousand dollars (§50,000).
On the fourth of March, 1877, the sum of fifty-five thousand' dollars (§55,000).
On the fourth of March, 1878, the sum of sixty thousand dollars (§60,000).
On the fourth of March, 1879, the sum of sixty-five thousand dollars (§65,000).
On the fourth of March, 1880, the sum of seventy thousand dollars (§70,000).
On the fourth of March, 1881, the sum of eighty-five thousand dollars (85,000).
For all of which sums as they shall be respectively paid to the Governor of the State for the time being the said Governor shall give full acquittance and receipt.
And now to this act intervenes Messrs. B. W. Huntington and D. D. Withers, both of the city of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, and who declaring themselves cognizant of the obligations herein assumed by the said Bichard Taylor, lessee, make themselves parties hereto, and hereby bind themselves as sureties of said lessee in the amount of thirty-six thousand dollars in the manner and to the extent provided in said act of the Legislature.
Thus done and passed in my office at the city of New Orleans, on the. sixth day of the month of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in presence of Felix Grima, Jr., and Thomas A. Henderson, competent witnesses, who hereto sign with said parties and me, notary.
(Original signed) ■ B. TATLOR,
D. D. WITHERS,
B. W. HUNTINGTON,
J. MADISON WELLS,
F. GBIMA, J it.,
THOMAS A. HENDERSON,
T. O. STARK, Notary Public.
*472Tho report of tlie Engineer of'the eighteenth of January, 1866, referred to in the contract, is as follows:
Office State- Engineer Louisiana, ) New Orleans, January 18,1866. j
To his Excellency, J. M. Wells, Governor of Louisiana:
Sir — I beg leave to submit the following report as to tho condition of the Now Canal, with the repairs and alterations needed to place tho same in proper condition.
I have made inquiry with the past and present revenue returned by tho canal, slicllroad, etc., to tho Canal Bank, in order to assist you in tho future disposition of the same, and respectfully submit tho following as tho result: '
From the time the canal was completed until 1848 it was managed for account of tho Canal and Banking Company, and returned but very light receipts.
On the eighth of July, 1848, tho Canal Company leased to Major Ran-noy for tho remaining period of the charter, until March 6,1866, the basin, shellroad, canal, toll-houses, superintendent’s house, negro quarters, stables, and depots, with thirty slaves, forty mulos, one dredge-boat, mud-boats, etc., all in good condition.
Major Rannoy was to pay the company thirty-throe thousand dollars for tho first year, thirty-four thousand dollars for tho second year, and so on, increasing one thousand dollars every year until tho expiration of the lease.
In 1862, when tho United States forces entered New Orleans, Major Rannoy left tho city, and tho hank had to resume the charge of the canal. On the first of February, 1863, Mr. Blanc took charge of tho canal for the bank, and informs me that during the war the expenses exceeded the receipts of the canal. The bank expended some four thousand dollars in repairs at or about that time.
On tho first of July, 1865, Mr. Blanc leased from the bank tho canal, with all its appurtenances, houses, etc., with ten mules and harness, for which ho pays tho sum of one thousand dollars per month.
First — Tho entrance now existing to tho canal is an imperfect and difficult one, being too narrow, and of such form that vessels entering have a great deal of trouble in effecting tho same. The accompanying plan to this report will indicate the alteration proposed.
Second — Again, tho embankments forming the side of the entrance have, from the effect of the sea and time, become decayed and out of order; new piling and revetment, as per plan, will be necessary, and also tho filling up of the embankment with additional earthwork.
Third — The bar formed by annual storms will require occasional dredging, but I hope by tho substitution of open piling at the end to obviate, to a groat extent, tho frequency of dredging.
*473Fourth. — The amount of work requisite will be shown in the plans, and such portions of old work that can not be repaired will necessarily have to be constructed anew.; interior revetting will be required some considerable distance down the entrance and adjoining the bridge near the shore.
' Fifth — To allow of vessels passing each other more readily, and the gaining of time thereby, I would suggest the construction of four additional “ turnouts ” along the line of the canal at designated intervals, the turnouts to bo two hundred and fifty feet long, twenty-five feet wide, and of the same depth, as the canal.
Sixth — Owing to tlio height of tho ridge and the description of soil, with its tendency to cave, it will be necessary to construct said five hundred feet of piling and rovotrnent to prevent the destruction of the shell-road. Tho plan will indicate the mode proposed for the same.
Seventh — Much additional wharf accommodations required at the basin, or city terminus of tlio canal, and it is proposed that tho present line of wharves bo repaired and now ones continued on each sido of tho canal until they reach the present toll-gate.
Eighth — The increasing business of the canal demands tho construction of the wharves, and tho piling necessary for the same with additional revetments will prevent the caving in of the banks, the filling up of the canal, and the encroachments upon the landings or property thereof.
Ninth — The canal will require but little dredging, for the soundings taken show a good depth of ■water.
Tenth — The toll-gates, etc., of tlio canal need some repairs, likewise tho bridges; the mud-boats are worthless; the dredgeboat will require considerable overhauling before it is in proper condition for work.
Eleventh — The shellroad, owing to tho occupation of a portion of it by the United States government, requires considerable repairs; the railroad track, crossties, etc., have been removed and an attempt made to grade the same, but it will require many thousand barrels of shells to place it in proper condition.
Twelfth — By reference to the charter it will be observed that a levee and draining canal are called for as parts of tho condition of granting the same. The draining canal does not exist at present, although oi much importance in carrying away the water from the portion of country lying on the upper side of the canal. Of comparative necessity in the past, its value is greatly increasing since the erection of a draining machine and the more rapid and increased accumulation of deposit in the canal.
The necessity of the canal is fully shown by the filling up of the Bayou St. John, and the fact of its being a condition in the charter proves that the Legislature was aware of the rights of property-holders lying above *474the canal, and of the evil effects of using a canal intended for navigation for other purposes; lately the same has been demonstrated by the fact of the city being obliged to change the drainage of Julia street from the basin to a canal constructed for that purpose, which leads to one of .the city draining canals.
The cost of placing the canal, shellroad, etc., in good order and making •the alterations proposed would have amounted to the sum of thirty-five thousand dollars in ordinary times.
If executed at the present time it will be nearly twice that amount, say sixty-eight thousand dollars. • The fluctuations of the price of labor, materials, etc., will increase or diminish the amount, according to the period of execution.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. A. FRERET, State Engineer.
State on Louisiana, City on New Oeleans.
I, the undersigned, Charles G. Andry, a notary public, duly commissioned and qualified in and for the city of New Orleans, and the parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original act and documents thereto annexed, extant among the records of Theodore O. Stark, also a notary public of this city, now temporarily absent from the parish of Orleans, and whose records are now under my custody.
In faith whereof I grant these presents under my signature and the impress of my seal of -office at New Orleans on this eighteenth day of December, A. D. 1873.
CHAS. G. ANDRY, Notary Public.
And thereafter the contracting parties appeared before T. O. Stark, notary public, and entered into the following modified contract of lease, in pursuance of said act:
State oe Louisiana, Pabish of Orleans.
Be it known that before mo, Theodore O. Stark, a notary public in and for the said State and parish, duly commissioned and qualified, personally came and appeared Duncan F. Kenner, Esq., herein acting as the true and lawful attorney in fact of Richard Taylor, Esq., of this parish, lessee of the New Canal and Basin, the authority of said Kenner being ■derived from a power of attorney executed by said Taylor on the twenty-■eighth day of March, 1867, before DuPlessis M. Helm, notary in the city of' New York, and hereto annexed, who declared that the General Assembly of this State has passed an act entitled “ an act to authorize the *475widening- and enlarging of the New Canal and Basin,” approved March 14,1867, a copy of which is hereto embodied as follows, to wit:
No. 118 — An act to authorize the widening and enlarging the Now Canal and Basin.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana, in General Assembly convened, That Richard Taylor, the lessee of the New Canal and Basin, be and he is hereby authorized and required to widen the New Canal to a width of not less than one hundred feet, and for this purpose to use the land contiguous to the canal belonging to the State, the depth of the canal when widened to be not less than eight feet at the lowest tides; and all wharves, basins’ piers, abutments, bridges, etc.,- shall be constructed according to plans and specifications prepared by the State Engineer.
Seo. 2. Be it further enacted, etc., That the lessee is hereby required and shall bind himself by the notarial act hereinafter provided for to dig and construct three additional basins, each not less than one thousand feet long by three hundred feet wide, and to this end said lessee is authorized to use the contiguous land belonging to the State, and to obtain lands by purchase or by expropriation, under the act of the General Assembly, entitled “an act for the expropriation of lands to railroads and other works of public utility,” approved February 28, 1855; provided, that the land granted to the Firemen’s Charitable Association of New Orleans shall be exempted from the provisions of this section.
Seo. 3: Be it further enacted, etc., That as a consideration for the outlay necessary for the improvements to the New Canal and Basin, the said Taylor is authorized to retain the annual payments due to the State under the existing lease; provided, that at least one-fifth of the work shall be completed annually from the time this act is promulgated until the whole improvement is finished.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, etc., That the improvements to be made in said canal and basin shall be commenced within one year from the passage of this act, and be completed within five years thereafter, or in failure thereof the annual rent shall be due and payable to the State, as provided in the existing lease.
Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, etc., That at the expiration of said lease all the improvements made to said canal and basins, and on land belonging to the State, or on lands purchased or expropriated, shall become absolutely the property of the State of Louisiana, without any claim by said lessee.
Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, etc., That immediately after the passage of this act it shall be the duty of the Governor to cause a notarial act to be executed embodying the provisions of this • act and the plans and *476specifications of the State Engineer, to which said act the securities on the original lease shall be parties, and expressly consent to the modifications of said lease, as hereinbefore set forth.
(Signed) DUNCAN S. CAGE, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(Signed) ALBERT YOORHIES, Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate.
Approved March 14,1867.
(Signed) J. MADISON WELLS, Governor of the State of Louisiana.
A true copy:
[L.S.] J. H. Hardy, Secretary of State.
Now, therefore, the said Kenner, in -his said capacity of attorney in fact of said Taylor, lessee, does hereby accept the said act in all its parts, as well the rights given to the said lessee under said act, as the obligations imposed thereby, and does engage that the said lessee will, within the time required by said act, cause the said canal to be widened to a width of not less than one hundred feet, with a depth of not less than eight feet at lowest tides, and to dig and construct three additional basins, each not less than one thousand foot long, by three hundred feet wide; and all wharves, basins, piers, abutments, bridges, etc., which the lessee may have occasion to construct shall be constructed according to plans and specifications prepared by the State Engineer, hereto annexed, but which are accepted by said lessee only in so far as they carry out the. terms and conditions set forth in the above-cited act of the -Legislature.
And now personally came and appeared Messrs. D. D. Withers and B. W. Huntington, securities of said Taylor, lessee, in the original lease executed between the State and said Taylor, by act before me, notary, under date of the sixth day of March, 1866, who severally declared that they do hereby expressly consent to the modifications of said lease provided for by said act of the General Assembly and by this act; and now appears his Excellency J: Madison Wells, Governor of the State of Louisiana, who in accordance with the requirements of said act of the General Assembly has caused this act to be prepared, and docs hereby accept the same on behalf of the State of Louisiana.
Thus done and passed in the office of the undersigned, notary, at New Orleans, this twenty-ninth day of April, A. D. eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, in presence of Charles G. Andry and Edgar Grima, competent witnesses, who hereto sign with said appearei’s and me, notary.
Original signed: R. Taylor, per pro Duncan E. Kenner; D. D. Withers, J. Madison Wells, Governor of Louisiana; R. W. Huntington, Charles G. Andry, Edgar Grima, T. 0. Stark, notary public.
*477COPY OP DOCUMENTS ANNEXED TO THE ORIGINAL ACT.
Specifications for the widening and enlarging of the New Canal and Basin.
Specifications of State Engineer to be embodied in the notarial act, as required by an act of the Legislature, approved March 14,1867, to authorize the widening and enlarging of the New Canal and basins, etc.:
First — -The canal to be widened to one hundred feet; the depth of the canal when widened to be not less than eight feet at the lowest tide. In widening the canal all stumps and roots of trees shall be removed, leaving a clear channel.
Second — The new basins shall be of the dimensions and areas required by the act approved March 14,1867. That is to say, the lessee shall dig and construct three additional basins one thousand feet long each, and three hundred feet wide, the depth of the basins to be the same as the canal.
Third — The wharves for the new basins to be constructed as shown on plans numbered one and two, and in the following manner: The piles to be driven at distances of ten feet apart, measuring from centres; the piles to be twelve inches square at the but-end and ten inches at the •small end, and to be driven not less than fifteen feet into the solid ground. The caps to bo twelve inches square and bolted to each pile head with one three-quarter by twenty-inch ragged bolt; a string course, •ten inches by eight inches, to be bolted to the inside of the piles near water level, by three-quarter by fourteen-inch ragged bolt, two at each end of stringers, and one at each intermediate pile. Sheet piling of three-inch plank to form a revetment to be driven on the inner side of string course, and each plank to be fastened with two seven-inch boat spikes. The sheeting to be driven at least four feet six inches into the solid .ground, and the heads of plank to be left one foot above string course.
Fourth — The top of wharves to be covered with three-inch plank laid ihalf an inch apart. A ground sill ten inches by eight inches to be provided, and each plank to be fastened with four seven-inch boat spikes, .two at each end.
Fifth — Mooring piles to be driven aloDg the new line of wharves at distances not exceeding twenty-five feet apart, the piles to be ten inches ■ square, to project two feet above the planking, and tobe neatly dressed ■off at the corners and top.
Sixth — The whole of the timber for the above works to bo of the best quality of yellow pine, free from all defects.
Seventh — On the completion of the wharves in the basins, the ground in rear of the planking shall be graded to meet the levels of the streets, all irregularities of the ground removed, and the whole left clear of rub-lbish.
*478Eighth — All bridges, piers, wharves, basins, abutments, etc., shall be-constructed of similar materials to those now built, and of the best materials, and the whole shall be constructed in accordance with the plans of the New Canal signed by the State Engineer marked or numbered one, two, and three, and bearing the dates of nineteenth January, I860, and fourteenth of March, 1867.
Ninth — In enlarging the canal a sufficient quantity of earth to bo deposited on the bank of the canal to afford such ample protection against all overflow or inundation as now exists.
Tenth — The lessee to furnish and provide all the labor and materials necessary for carrying on and completing the work designated in this specification, together with all necessary implements, tools, dredgeboats, pile-drivers, etc.
Eleventh — The whole of the work to be executed in the best and most workmanlike manner, under the supervision, according to the lines, levels, sections, detail, drawings, and to the entire satisfaction of the State Engineer.
Now Orleans, Louisiana, March 27,1867.
WILL. A. FRERET, State Engineer.
Know all men by these presents that I, Richard Taylor, of Now Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, have made and do hereby make, constitute, and appoint Duncan F. Kenner, of the same place, my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, and as my act and deed, to accept from the constituted authorities of the State of Louisiana a certain lease of the New Canal and Basin upon the terms and conditions set forth in an act of the Legislature of the said State passed on the fourteenth day of March, 1867, such now lease to be in modification of one that I now hold from said State for the same property, and with full power to sign my name to all said formal acceptances of such lease, as well as to the lease itself, and to acknowledge the same for me and as my act and deed, as fully and completely as I could do if present, and to sign and acknowledge for me all such other papers as may be necessary, in his discretion, connected with said lease or the modification thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said attorney shall do by virtue hereof.
Witness my hand and seal this twenty-eighth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
[L. S.] R. ’TAYLOR.
Witness — DuPlessis M. Helm.
State oe New York, I City and County of New York. [ k' '
On this twenty-eighth day of March, A. D. 1867, personally came before me Richard Taylor, to me known to be the person described in and' *479who executed the foregoing power of attorney, and acknowledged that he executed the same for the uses and purposes therein contained.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand' and affixed my official seal the day and year last above written.
[L.S.] DUPLESSIS M. HELM, Notary Public, City of New York.
On the twenty-eighth of March, 1870, the General Assembly passed act No. 82, which is as follows :
No. 82 — An act to facilitate 'dbmmerco by providing for the construction, of additional basins on the New Canal.
SectioN 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Bepresentatives of the State of Louisiana, in General Assembly convened, that in lieu and instead of the three basins heretofore provided for by existing law, the lessee of the New Canal is hereby required and directed to dig and construct sixteen basins, each not less than two hundred feet in length, with a width of one hundred and fifty feet, measured from the west bank of said canal.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, etc., That this act shall take effect from and after its passage.
(Signed) MOBTIMEB OABB, Speaker of the House of Bepresentatives.
(Signed) • OSCAB J. DUNN, Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate.
Approved March 28,1870.
(Signed) II. O. WABMOTH, Governor of the State of Louisiana.
A true copy:
Geo. E. Bovee,
Secretary of State.
It is not pretended that the defendant has performed the works designated in the Engineer’s report; on the contrary, it is strenuously insisted that the act of 1866 and the act of 1867, and the contracts thereunder, “nowhere provide for the performance by the lessee of all the proposals or suggestions of the State Engineer, Ererot, in his letter of January 18, 1866.
“ The act of 1866 provides only that the lessee shall make the repairs recommended by that letter,” etc.; and it is further said the “plans of the State Engineer were accepted by said lessee only in so far as they carry out the terms and conditions of the act of 1867.” If by this last sentence it is meant that the lessee did not accept the terms expressed in the notarial act, then there would be no contract, if the act of 1867 be different from the notarial act, for want of a concurrence of mind. But the defendant sets up this contract, under the act of 1867, himself, as al *480modification of tho one made under the act of 1866, and he can not say he is not bound by its terms.
The act of 1867, it is true, uses the word repairs in one place when referring to tho Engineer’s report, but it immediately after provides that “the costs of ihe repairs to tho extent of sixty-eight thousand dollars shall be allowed to tho lessee, in three equal amounts, to bo deducted one third each year from the annual rents;” and then it adds that “ the repairs and IMPROVEMENTS provided by this section shall be made,” etc.
There is no room for a serious doubt that the Legislature intended to have tho contractor do the works reported as needed by the Engineer, and which report was made a part of the specifications to be annexed to tho notarial act. The very sum which he estimated it would cost at present prices to do the luliole work recommended was allowed to the lessee for making the repairs and improvements.
Now, the act of 1867 provided that the canal be made one hundred feet wide and that three additional basins, each not less than one thousand feet long, by three hundred feet wide, should be made, all to be eight feet deep at lowest tide, for which works the amounts stipulated to be paid by Taylor for the rental of the canal should bo remitted to him. It did not change or affect tho other obligations of Taylor to the State created by the contract of 1866 any more than it affected his rights under said contract. Under tho contract of 1867 he assumed the obligation to make the above-mentioned improvements in addition to what he had engaged to perform in tho contract of 1866.
The third section of the act of 1867 required that one fifth of the work be done annually until the whole is finished. I am convinced from the evidence that this provision had not been complied with when tho act of 1870 was enacted. I am equally convinced that the defendant had failed in several other important particulars to perform his contract under tho act of 1867; to wit:
He has not made “the repairs described by the specifications and plans in the report of the State Engineer to the Governor,” dated January 18,1866. Tne new wharves have not been “ continued on each side of the Now Canal until they reach tho present toll-gate.” They have not been begun from Magnolia to Claiborne street, say one thousand foot on each sido. The “ levee and draining canal” on the upper side of 1 the canal” lias not been made, as required by specification twelve of the State Engineer’s report. The entrance to the canal (specifications 1, 2, and 3) has not been improved as required. The shellroad has been repaired only in part; nothing has been done this side of Claiborne street, as required by specifications of State Engineer.
Eor all this, and especially tho two thousand feet of extra wharfage, defendant was to retain sixty-eight thousand dollars during tho first *481three years o£ the lease. This presupposes that the improvements were to be made during the three years at the most, but they have not been made at all.
The act of 1870 appears, from its terms, to have been passed for the relief of tho defendant. It provides that, in lieu of the three basins of one thousand feet in length by three hundred feet wide, sixteen basins, each not less than two hundred feet in length, with a width of one hundred and fifty feet, measuring from the voest bank of the said canal — or in plain language, fifty feet wide.
But even this obligation has not boon performed.
The evidence shows that there are only nine basins fifty feet wide, and that there are no wharves around them. But it is pretended that these nine basins measure in the aggregate about thirty-two hundred feet in length, and therefore that is á compliance with tho contract. The law and the contract permitted the contractor to make the basins as long or as widens he pleased, but both required him to make them at least two hundred feet in length, and the contract required sixteen. As the counsel for plaintiff well remarked, it is not possible to truthfully call nine basins sixteen basins.
I therefore dissent from the opinion of the majority.
Taliaferro, J. I concur in the dissenting opinion of the Chief Justice.