New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-19
Nem Orleans Daily Greatent
SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 10, 1866.
Tic rnvlrons of New Orleans
NUMBER FIFTY-EINE.

| going higher and higher towards the extreme
limits of the parishes of Jefferson and st. Charles
| Why should not our authorities dispense some Of
their largesses upon the down town section, and
J towards the parish Of st. Bernard, for instance
| We could indicate to the United States govern
ment an improvement that would not only be q
great advantage, in a military point Of view, but
which would also be of great convenience to the
whole neighbOrhood there and of public use in gen
eral. We allude to the opening of a military road
from the present military barracks, nearly the line
or limit of the parish of st. Bernard, towards the
United States fort upon Chef Menteur. This road
would traverse some of the richest forest tracts
between the Mississippirver and reach the location
of the United States fortifcaton near Lake Borgne,
across vast area of prairie lands, fit no doubt,
under proper dykeing aud ditching, for profitable
rice and other vegetable culture. Such land
communication between these two military posts
would obviate the round about transportation, now
carried on from the city in order to supply the
Chef Menteur station with the necessary garris on
supplies
| But there would even be that additional adyan-
tage connected In thus joining together, by an
easy and direct land transportation route, of these
two public military quarters, to-wit: that in the
summer season, for the health Of the troops sta
toned upon the Mississippi border. fine sea bathing
! at the other station extremity, upon the Chef
Menteur, Fort Pike, or Wood, would be Of very
easy reach or access. Now, it has always been a
strong inducement for the United States govern
ment to procure for the Federal garrison in our
citys neighborhood the best air and most healthy
location, and they have ordered them very often,
to the airy highlands of Bay St. Louis, where smi-
lar facilities for sea bathing are offered
But when we consider that the proximity Of the
outlet of the fine stream Of pure water, indicated
above, would be so much nearer the immediate
vicinity of our metropolis, we cannot entertain a
doubt but what this idea, this plan, of opening a
military road from the river to Lake Borgne, will
unquestionably, before long be undertaken by the
United States The present location Of the Fede
raj barracks is very convenient one with respect
to all the facilities Of our town market commodi
ties; and by adding to these the already projected
connection with the other military establishment!
on Chef Menteur, and even the Rgolets, the whole
local arrangements would indeed be most admir-
able tout ensemble.
When we arrived in the summer of 1916 at New
Orleans, we observed that then there seemed tt
exist the ordinance or police regulation forbddiug
J. bathing in the river opposite the lower part o
$ the city. In thatlocalty there was then compare
lively little shipping, and most of the space aonl
j the river bank was taken up with RATS from vi
the river and some naval stocks for repairing oil
river craft There was then consequently no i'm
: pediment and no great inconvenience for publ
bathing, particularly after work hours. Hence tn
youth of our city, as we'll as the soldiers of tn
garrison right in front of this locality would MAX
frequent use of the bathing facilities in that neigh
borhood. The current of the river, it is true, ou
side of the range Of the RATS, was rather strong
and it was not safe to venture much away from tn
! margin of the river. Besides, the water of tn
Mississippi even in tile midst of summer, is nearl
ice cold, and therefore not very pleasant, thong
exceedingly nvigorating. For these reasons W
have observed that though many attempts hav
been made to keep up public bath boats or floa
ing bath houses along the levee, or our river from
they have hardly ever met with sufficient encoul
agement to continue the experiment; but cOul
an easy mode of conveyance be established frol
lat our city to the lake water there is no doubt bt
Tor that the whole population of New Orleans in tn
Die summer months could avail themselves of such
opportunity to enjoy the exhilerating exercises
swimming and bathing, very necessary
:, health and bodily comfort in our climate.
Police regulations have rendered it au imposs
bility for the youth Of city to enjoy this uxul
in town; at the same time, the lake shore is tc
far away for mere pedestrian excursion, al
even the tr1ing fare Of the railroads is often
impediment to those unprovded with the chang
Hence, the masses of our INDECENT juvenile pop
lation are deprived of these bathing exercise
which in other countries are found in the enviro1
and outskirts of almost every seaport town.
there no way to provide for this want? Could n
some public baths, in form of nclosed basins,
established on some still vacant public square
the midst Of our suburban population? We kno
of some such localities, that to be waiting
exactly such destination; but then the necessa
water supplies from the Mississippi would also
required. Such basins should be formed at Il
public expense, inclosed, so as not to offend Il
public decency, but otherwise their use be pc
mitted, gratuitously, to the INDECENT masses.
some respects the manners and habits Of the Nc
Orleans population have changed very consdt
ably, for when we reflect upon the scanty cloth
-, which the poorer classes, in the summer seasC
would exhibit; when, more particularly the neg
youths would be nearly in complete state ofnake
ant ness, it seems now that these things hardly col
mo, have been and yet so general was the custo
ava even among the white people, when laboring
the field or on the levee, that 1 have known tht
- with nothing on but pair of short trowsers tt
would not come down to the knees. As for he's
dress, men as well as WOmSu-WnlLe ana DlaCh
all wore the inevitable tguon that is to say
cotton handkerchief tied around the skull. +
neither garments, good many planters then S
delighted in the mittassas, or the Indian leggin
NE attached around the calves; and Indian de
skin shoes would be preferred to any Northern
rrrns shoe store fxings; nay the majority took to
d by old fashion of being barefooted, like our gra
lopio n father Adam. Nothing would more impress
:, stranger from the old Northern States, or Euro
rally than to see the people fom the country come
the village balls in the carnival season. OF cou
adss' then they would lay out almost any amount
q money in store goods and dry goods fxings
- order to make their appearance in the ball-ro
saloon Ike other people-that is to soy, like
9R Sts fashionable people from the city of New Ores
oops Nay, the preparations for the toilet the vari
SGs tryings on of every sort of costumes and dres
re- dor people felt only at ease in their loose blou
or bunting-shirts,l offered the most curious [
ct trasts and spectacle. A good many have knt
would forsWoar dancing at all, unless ano
to make their capers in Indian shoes, because
with could not step about in the ordinary wSo
that tpeggsd Northern brogans.
ds AS for the country ladies, they would invarfa
ia'" r4 m tbafr danpinn 1rrppq rvbe,, .,.,,lr. -