The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-05-28
THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.

been so frequently visited by our people in
every section of the Confederacy. that de-
scription of the place may be deemed super
fuous, but as there are doubtless many who
have never seen ii, to these brief descrip-
ton will not prove uninIeresting.
The place is built around bend in the RI
yer, from which circumstance it has been
denominated the Crescent City," The
site inclines gently from the margin of the
Mississippi towards the marshy ground in the
rear, and is from two to five feet below the
level of the river st tho sz..--i--r-.-s = sst'-
Ell eis. 70 prevent inundations, an embank-
ment or levee about fifteen feet wide and
six feet high. has been raised, extending one
. hundred and twenty miles above the city,
and TO Port Plaquemine. forty,three miles
below it. This forms a delightful prom
enade. The city now extends from six to
seven miles along the river, and five miles
70 Lake Ponichartrain.
The streets are OF convenient breadth,
well paved and usually intersect each other
at right angles. Canal street is the broadcast,
being 1901 feet in width. with grass plot
in the middle about twenty-five feet wide,
extending throughout its entire length. Most
of the buildings are constructed of brick,
and are generally low except in the business
portion, where they are usually FIVE or six
stories high. The dwellings in the suburbs,
many of them. particularly in Lafayette,
are surrounded with spacious yards. beauti-
fully decorated with the grange, lemon. mag
nelia and other ornamental trees. base
ment about six feet high constitutes the on
" cellar, as none are sunk below the sur
face on account OF the marshy character OF
the ground. In different sections Of the CT
" are several public squares, among which
may be mentioned Jackson square, formerly
Place d'Armes. II is ornamented with she'll
walks, shrubbery, statuetts, &c, and is much
frequented for recreation. Lafayette Square.
In the Second District, is finely laid out, and
adorned with a proportion Of shade-trees.
Congo Square, in the rear Of the city, is also
handsome enclosure.
The public buildings Of New Orleans are
splendid specimens Of architecture. The
Custom House is probably the largest build
ing in the Confederacy. covering an area OF
67,5S5 superficial feet. Its dimensions are
Canal street front, 334 feet; Custom House
street, 252 feet; New Leyee street. $40;
Old Leyee street, 297 feet height, So feet.
The general business room is ll6 feet BY 90,
and has so windows. The Mint in New
Orleans is near the river. Il IS massive
structure, 2s2 feet long. los feet deep, 5
stories high. with two wings, each 81 feet
BY 90. The Municipal Hall, opposite La
fayetie square, is beautiful marble edifce
in the Grecisn style Of architecture. The
Odd Fellows Hall, erected in 1852, and The
Merchants Exchange, are both extensive
buildings.
Many Of the churches are large and cost
f.to he rtt
Of which are Roman Catholic, Episcopal,
Presbyterian, Methodist. Lutheran,
Baptist, aud Jewish sYnagogues.
The hotels Of New Orleans are conducted
upon scale Of magnitude scarcely equalled
in any city on the Continent. The st.
Charles was completed in ssthe autumn OF
1852, al cost Of nearly 100000. Ii rent
ed for $4,000 per annum. and the rent O
the basement alone. is estimated at $4,000
The ST. Louis and ysrandah Hotel. are also
costly establishments. The city contains 4
or theatres, the principal OF which are the
ST. Charles, the Orleans and the American
1he FIRST Of these is ls2 feet long by l7C
deep, and cost s550,0OO. Among the mos
remarkable bank edifees may be mentioned
the City Bank. Canal Bank and Bank o.
Louisiana. The market houses and cottor
presses Of New Orleans, are also deserving
notice. The centre building Of the New
Orleans cotton press Is 3 stories high, anC
surmounted by a dome, the summit OF which
commands 6ne view Of the city. Not lesi
than 10000 bales Of cotton, On an average,
are annually pressed at this establishment.
The benevolent, literary aud educationa
institutions. are among the most ertensiv,
and best conducted In the country. There
are over 40 school houses in the city. ant
the average annual attendance is 10000 pu.
pills.
New Orleans is distinguished for The abili
~ displayed 10 the management Of is pub
lie journals. About 20 newspapers are pub
lished in the city. nine or ten Of which are
dailies. Several are printed in the Frenet
Language.
New Orleans was nsmed in honor Of tbs
Duke Of Orleans. regent OF France during
the minority o. Louis XIV. It's population 4
few yers since, a. aseertained by q local
census, was is6,44e, Of vhom ao.l74 were