New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-12-26
BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS.

1d. tC7eSce1tt-Ine past season has been one OF
almost unparalleled prosperity in the city of New
Orleans. ALI the various pursuits that occupy the
attention and labor Of those who make up the sub
stantial part Of great metropolis, have received
an impetus equal to the most sanguine hope Our
local improvements have been prosecuted with
judicious energy and zeal; our grand chains Of
communication with the tributary country, ave,
even beyond have gone on steadily and surely, link
BY link. We have learned how to spell railroads
The result of this is only beginning to be- and vet
IS very apparently felt. Our thorourhfares. our
warehouses, our domicils, and, in few words the
busy, cheerful method that meets us everywhere
attest that under the system of improvements. 80
happlly naugurated the march of our CITY il for
ward; then let us push on. A great city must DOS
sess both population and wealth. The one il con.
comitant Of the other The coroary follows that as
the one increases the other augments. It must he
granted then that it is the interest of ALL be thew
capitalists, merchants, mechanics or what not to
lend their assistance, be it SO great or so little
in the effort to build up the city with which thev
are identified by their best interests affections ana
associations.
can only now ask the use of your valuable col
umns for the purpose of suggesting one method.
1t is patent that great difficulty exists in the pro.
curing Of houses suitable for that portion Of our
residents who are dependent upon their daily toll
for subsistence. Few who cannot call to mind an
enquiry made within short time past, "Do Won
know of house to rent?" This shows one of two
things: First, that our population is increasing in
greater ratio than our ability to bestow IT or.
second, that adequate steps have not been taken to
develop that ability. The first proposition do not
believe to be true, because it is unnatural In re-
ference to the second, submit that in the con.
structon of houses, the labor, the skill the know
ledge, and the time of the mason, the carpenter
the pasterer, etc. are all brought into reouisition
and employed. The one is indispensable to the
other Now, we have many residents who pursne
one or the other of the various branches of mecban
les for their livelihood, and with view to ultimate
profit. Why, then, may not the effort of the one be
made conducive to the interest Of the other and
thus contribute to the prosperity of all? Mr. Editor
let some one more competent answer the question.
but beg, in advance, that may not merely be met
with" the idea is eutopian In most of our
large cities " Builders Associations exist have
not been able to obtain any data in regard to them.
butt certainly borders on the anomalous that with
us there exists no such association SO far as can
learn. Why this is the case, would it not be well
for some one to tell us? Iyenture now only to out
line plan that suggests itself to me as worthy at
least, of thought in the carrying out of the objects
to which have referred There are some months
Of almost every year when the mechanic is COM
paratiyely idle. Well let the mason, the carpenter
the plasterer, etc., agree among themselves that
the labor, the skill and the time of the one shall be
contributed pro rata for the benefit of the other in
the building of homes, and I'll warrant you they'll
laugh at idle times" " But" says some one,
"where and how to buy the lots upon which to
build the housesW Why, sir, there are among us
many, pursuing the various caings to which have
referred who have nursed their earnings until they
can command their $500, or perhaps slOOO There
squares of ground in and around the suburbs of
our city that can be purchased upon most reasona.
BILE terms for the purpose indicated, because the
value of surrounding property is necessarily and
Immediately enhanced. Well, then, let this comfy
of action as it certainly is unity Of interest but
exist, and the requisite means conjointly with the
necessary labor and skill, are brought out, and in
the very nature of things will achieve the desired
object viz: the increase of the population and
wealth of our city, together with the promotion of
the comfort and interest Of the citizen.
Mr.. Editor, had intended to illustrate, by in
stancing another city of the South, where a very
similar plan has been for years in most successful
operation, but fear your crowded columns can ILL
afford me place. would then only say that what
have written is intended to attract the attention of
those more conversant with the subject in the hope
that they will show these necessarily crude sug
gestions to be fallacious elaborate some method
by which they may be carried into practical effect
ENQUIRER.