The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-14

Eds. Crsscsnt-T suicidal policy evinced by
soma Of the awgivers Of this Municipality, induces
me to offer few remarks on what some persons
consider nuisances, namely. the erecting and use
If steam engines. The doing Of this is immedi-
ately seized upon by those who cannot by any
means see nuisance in any other shape As
proof of this short-sig htedness not many years
since, an Alderman let off much gas in putting
down a blacksmith shop; and at the same time he
was connected with a storehouse in central part
Of the city. where, during the whole summer.
sinking hides were going in and coming out, and
it il still going ON without let or hndrance for,
as it is connected with commerce, it is of course
no nuisance.
As the " handwriting on the wall says plainly
that commerce is passing away, it behooves those
who wish well to the city, to fill up the void by
encouraging other branches of industry.
Having sojourned for time in twenty four
States Of the Union, l speak advisedly when l
state, that honest industry is restricted and
hampered in the city Of New Orleans than any
other place out of it.
In my boyhood the city of Philadelphia was
second in commerce, and believe it now rates as
the fifth in q commercial view. How this change
occurred it is not necessary to explain here. Well,
commerce, and the many branches of business
attending upon it, almost became extinct and the
ruin Of Philadelphia was predicted; yet, she has
gone on increasing in wealth and population, out
stripping other cities which at one time stood be-
fore her. The first of the reaction is due to
the mechanical and manufacturing branches carried
on within the city and around it; next followed
railroads, another element of her success. Work
shops are dotted every part of the city where
the rent and location eligible for business. l
for years knew Of turner of wood whose shop,
where steam power used, was located along
side of the family residence of millionaire, who
never thought of his neighbours business being
nuisance. If such had been the case here, how
many parvenues sensitive nerves would be affected
by the nuisance! And with the aid of the hon
orable Council, they soon would have had the sat
isfaction of driving him and his business away.
At Philadelphia, the right of the citizen to fol-
low his business having been nterfered with,
the result is that if you travel much or eve here
you may articles fabricated in the very heart of
that city. There chemical factories sugar refine
ries, soap, candle and marble factories exist in the
city proper ; here they are nuisances even in the
swamp. If there was consistency in this war
against steam power it would be very we'll; for no
one could complain if the same sauce was used
for the goose well the gander; but let a
steam engine be erected near the Levee, and its
smoke is nuisance right off, and yet every day
masses of smoke pass into the city from the chin
MES of the steamboats, and l believe that the
chimney of certain eating house was called a
nuisance, when, if the truth was known, the most
of the smoke complained of came from the steam
boats.
Almost every dwelling house in this place may
be considered nuisance, as any nasal appendage
will confirm and although this could be corrected
with decided benefit to the health of the place,
yet is overlooked by the Solons of the city Few
mechanical branches can be made remunerative,
except by the aid Of steam power, and unless this
is allowed, many persons will not enter into bust.
ness at all, to the loss of the city. As there will
soon be a new batch of Aldermen made, hope
they will have sense enough to lay the petitions of
these old women on the table, or else appoint
to examine into the habits and actions of
The signers thereof; for hold it to be true, that
here is no one person in the city whose business
,r- habits is not considered nuisance by others, |
Ind, consequently, if all had their way, it would /
oon be depopulated. Respectfully, A.c.J.