Horace Gray

“ Two questions have been argued: First. Whether the city of New Orleans had power to dispose of the land so as to change its destination or character as locus publicus, and make the land its own private property. ”

“ At the end of the 25 years, the city is to have the option of terminating the lease and taking the sheds at half their appraised value, or of extending the lease for 15 years, at the end of which the sheds shall revert to the city free of all cost. Among the public uses for which the quay or levee was established, and to which it was devoted, was the landing of sugar and molasses brought by the Mississippi river to the port of New Orleans in the regular course of commerce and navigation. ”

“ The lessee agrees to erect the sheds, 'with such accommodations and conveniences for the transaction of business as may be necessary,' and to keep them in repair, at his own expense, is authorized to charge certain prescribed rates on each hogshead or barrel, or other package, of sugar or molasses sheltered under the sheds, and agrees to pay to the city one-tenth of the gross amount of such charges, and to give security in the sum of $50,000 for the faithful performance of the contract. ”