True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1838-09-01

been utterly wasted on pavement perfectly in
utile, and perpetuate it here, when entirely ex
ploded in every city Of the civilized world, were
not less fraud on the community, than disgrace
to the enlightenment of the age.
1t is capable Of proof-for the experience of the
present day has demonstrated,
LIST That round stone pavement cannot stand
securely on any sol, but more especially on
ours
End. Tha, its cost, and constant repairs, will in
five years greatly surpass the expense of solid
pavement formed of square granite blocks.
3rd. That the latter will endure fifty, proba-
bly, huadred years, without needing repairs.
4.h. That it can be travelled over Just as
soon as laid, while the round stones must remain
unused and guarded for al least a month.
9Th. That the citizens are never deprived Of the
use OF streets paved with granite blocks; while
those covered with round stones are constantly
stopped for needful repairs
These arguments are clear, and should be con.
vincing, but what most clearly proves the utter
rscklessness OF continuing the round stone pave.
ment, is the indirect taxation they infict almost
every citizen
from Ia /" l6 years, seldom survive the desperate
labor Of two years through streets and levees in
their present condition Of round stone pavem ents,
while over those Of square blocks they would grow
| fat md Ia. III
life lime. This is tax Of fifty per cent. per an
mum or the cos. of your horse. Over the present
pavement he l2 sets of shoes; on the proposed
plan he would not require over six. This is q
yearly tax OF SI2 in shoes alone. Drays and carts
that are now used up in two years, would last from
to from the smoothness Of the surface owe
which they worked, and gigs, barrouches, and 9th
eft carriages in like proportion: while now, if CON
stantly used overths rough and brok puvern emf,
they either rendered useless in org years, o,
are keptin repair a, cost of from fifty to hun.
dred dollars yearly. Nor is the noise, inseparabe
from the present state of our streets, slight in
convenience to be removed although i. be token
of business and industry, since in forms no neces-
sary part Of them. This now garing annoy.
ance, would be tr1ing over smooth block pave
| men'.
These plain, and pnpable arguments should
have had some force with the council, for il ,heil
views were correct then, there was no fear they
would be wrong next week nor can think il
unsuitable on the part Of my four members oil
the council 70 urge the final close of this impor
tant question, when not two.thirds of the citizens
who have to pay the contrnct, were represented
When six members only were present Of q
council formed of ten, was it proper immediate.
| y on the introduction Of a resolution the yer,
purport Of which was unk aown to the four nb
sent members, to agree to an expenditure of twt
hundred thousand dollars of their constituents mo
ncy, and that, too, without asking them single
question OF opinion. 1t may he asked. why were
they absent! but it may be more properly enqur-
ed why-contrury to practice on all important
occaslons-reuse to let the community see the res
olution to form SO enormous a contract, before
they became irrevocably bound to its fuiflmen,!
| This could easily have been done by yielding ia
the motion to postpone. Every usual and parIa
meh'a'y means were adopted 10 place the matter
before fuller meeting, to delay its ac,ion but for
week lone only resource remained, and Of this
the council were not ignorant. The DELAY reouir-
ed could be forced, if all more rational measures
fai'ed:-they did, and the alternative wns inevit,
bic. MIR. Caldwell quilted the Council rather
than permit what he deemed Injustice TO his con
situents, what true patriot would not have done
he same. A