Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-07

strikes the vlslter more untavorably than when
painted in ,cdter colors, as at present There
is an appearance of monotony about some of
the streets, suggestive of the aquatic period of
Noah's life, when there was nothing to be seen
but water-eternal water-a fluid acceptable in
moderate quantities, and unadulterated-with
mud ;Dut, as it appears in our streets extreme
ly disagreeable to the eye and obnoxious to the
pedal extremities. Rains do not descend here
as in most other places; we descend to their
level, for after they descend from the clouds,
their conrse (if, indeed, they have course) is
marked by most obstinate refusal to descend
farther. They find their proper and lowest
level as soon as they strike the soil of New Or
leans. They cannot descend into the river, for
to descend up hill is an anomoly. They can
not descend into the lake, because-ditto.
You would then imagine the Crescent City a
lou place. 1t is that, as the Texan would say.
The foundation of every house in the city is
several feet lower than the level of the river,
and during high stage of water, the footstep
at the entrance of the st. Charles Hotel is a
dozen feet lower than said level. Houses at a
great distance from the river are still lower, as
the land gently slopes from the rivers bank to
the ridge, which intervenes between the city
and Lake Ponchartrain. You can then readi-
ly imagine that during freshet, such as oc-
CURED last Summer, the inhabitants are in ex-
treme anxiety, lest they may be entirely sub
merged, as they were years ago.
The rain which falls on the very banks of
the river, within twenty feet of the stream it
self, must find its way throughout the entire
city. Two hours heavy rain is sufficient to
fill all the cutters, and overflow most of the
lower streets The water, however, gradually
reaches the canal on the lake side of the city,
whence it is pumped By steam engines into the
lake. All the rain which falls in the city must
thus be pumped out, at great expense and
trouble
This condition of things may seem strange
to most people; yet there are stranger things
here, that the visiter is called to notice, which
l may mention from time to time, if they
should prove interesting
One thing, the observing stranger seldom
fails to notice. His geography has taught him
that New Orleans is on the East side of the
river; yet when he arises in the morning and
looks out of his window in the st. Charles Ho
tel, fronting towards the river, behold Apollo's
orb rising from the marshes beyond the oppo-
site bank He concludes that his geography
has deceived him, and that New Orleans is
really on the West side, or that she has a sun
of her own, which rises in the West. He
learns however, that the great liquid boa con-
strictor of the American continent, the mighty
Mississippi, in dragging his slow length
along" makes tremendous evil here, forming
such curve as to bring the centre of New Or
leans really on the West side of this portion of
the stream. This curve is in the form of
crescent and hence New Orleans is called the
Crescent City.
When wrote the above in reference to an
overflow, did not imagine one was so near
at hand. Since 1 wrote it, l have been out,
and find that travelling on foot, in many places,
is impossible. In consequence of the destruc-
ton by fire of the draining machine" in the
second section, the first and second districts
are almost entirely overfowed. In some pla-
ces the water is two or three feet deep, and in
other places, two or three inches on level
ground. learn that if the rain 1.-THE heaviest
of the season. should continue, and the drain
ing machines be not speedily put in ORDER
mnch damage will be sustained.
While on the subject of overiows, l will
add that another overflow of the Mississippi
is anticipated this year. The water is now
within nine feet and one inch of the highest
water-mark of last year, and has been rising
previous to this month, several inches per
day.
The State engineer, who was close obser-
yer of the flood of 1928, and who predicted the
food of last year, closes his annual report,
with the following words, care we to have an
overflow this year? fear SOL very much
fear so; and especially, as we are by no means
so well prepared as last year. ION account of
the great number of new levees to resist high
water. do not wish to be an alarmist, but
do give you warning"
must confess this to be rather watery
communication, but as it touches on a subject
flowing with thoughts of submersion and
dreams of aquatic sports, with which your
correspondent, during the last year, has had
so much to do, it must be excused on that
ground.
With synopsis of marine news, which may
give you some idea of the extent of commerce
carried on here, L will close this dry (beg pardon
-watery) communication. The number of
sailing vessels in port is two hundred and sixty,
and six steamships. The number of vessels
that have cleared from other ports, for New
Orleans, and are expected soon, is one hun
dred and nineteen. The number of river
steamboats, at the landing is about sixty
Fourteen steamboats, arrived yesterday, and
ten vessels cleared yesterday.
In another communication will tell you of
the streets, the levees and the new Custom
House, in course of construction since the
times of Noah, and still in the same inglorious
course. l am, yours truly A. d.