The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-03-01


| is not denied From all which, the inference is
drawn that because the geometrcal ratio increase
has not continued, or that New Orleans has not
doubled its population in the last ten years, as in
the earlier periods of its growth, there must Of
consequence have been decline in its prosperity,
and all attributable to defective organization We
viii assume the table to be correct, but do object
to the deductions from it, and the manner of argu-
ment Might it not as well be said that time has
stood still with man who at thirty is thirty times
the age Of boy Of one year; because thirty
years after the one is only twice old the other
A fairer mode Of deduction would be to take the
increase for the first year with which to compare
the second term, and up to 1850 From 1910 to
1870 gives 1879 for increase from 1920 10 1880
only S467 from 1880 to 1910, 50, 1865. By far the
largest accession to population accrued in the
four five last years of that period in which, if
there be any force of argument at ALL should be set
down to the existing organization Of the city which
dates from 1885, There is much reason to believe,
| though, that under any imaginable shape of NUM-
cpal government, the city must have been but little
diminished Of its present extent, its prosperity
but little behind its present advanced state. 1t is
more matter Of surprise how public conveniences
large number.
But, coming to the last ten years of its growth,
| the admitted suppositon is an increase of about
$4,000, comparing most favorably for the advocates
of consolidation with any of the periods before the
division of the city which have been taken for COM
parison. Yet we hear the defamation of what a
falling off, and the assertion that the progress of
population has declined 10 per cent the ten years
previous--a consequence we are to infer from the
division into municipalities.
70 demonstrate this position, the Delta would
have to show that there is some feature in the
existing order of things which repels those seeking
citizenship among us, and is unfavorable to the
growth Of population here. If it be exorbitant
taxation or other enormity in one municipality,
there the other four, including Lafayette and
Algiers, to choose from, and might perhaps fur
nish good reason for the decline of the one thus
offending, but none against the others. But, I'm
fortunately for this mode of argument, the munich
pahty most subjected to censure, has been the one
most uniformly steady and progressive in its extern
sion and prosperity.
Cities, when they have arrived at a certain point
do not double their population every ten, or even
twenty years. If so but very few such periods
would suffice the cities Of London, Paris and even
New York, to swallow up the whole number of
their respective countries. In life time at the rate
Of increase which is said to have been prohibited
to this city by the destructive act of 1885, the city
Of London would contain more than now inhabit
the globe.
The rest Of the article referred to is merely COM
parative of New Orleans and Baltimore founded
upon statistics which we have not seen, but which
can have no bearing on the question of consolida-
ton. If exactly accurate-which is not pretended
causes Independent of the city government may
have brought about an unequal advance in popua-
ton. One thing is worthy of observation, however,
in this search for statistical information by the
Delta, that one only of the municipalities could
furnish record Of new buildings erected, which
is duly put to the credit of Recorder Baldwin and
the Second Municipality. That the others could
not, is act down to the lamentabe division of our
city. In other words, but the same sense, if the
whole city under one municipal government
and that conducted the Second Municipality is it
would be consummation devoutly to be wished
We are not widely at variance as we had at first
supposed. But, according to the Delta own show
ing, can it be expected that the Second Munich
pality will risk her welfare by being merged into
one great whole, of which she will form minority
viii the people of the Second give their voices to
be ruled by majority of whom the great CONSOLE
dation advocate thus indiferently speaks? We
trust not.