New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-03
MAYOR MoNRoEls MESSAGE.


ture from customary brevity. The attacks
made upon the people of this city, and on the
authorities, by radical journals and radical
orators, and the falsehoods which have been
so industriously circulated concerning the
events of the 3Oth of July last, by newspaper
correspondents and itinerant political noun
tebanks, rendered an official defense not only
proper but necessary. Mr.. Monroe discharges
the duty in an authoritative and convincing
manner. His exposure Of the vacillating and
censurable conduct of the military authorities
on that occasion is no less thorough than his
defense of the course pursued by the civil
authorities
/ We are glad to find that, in relation to city
| affairs the views Of the mayor are at the same
time liberal, comprehensive and practical.
He recommends an increase of the police
force by at least one hundred men-a sugges-
ton which ought to be Immediately acted on.
True economy will be found, in the end, to
consist in the efficient protection of person
and property and in the suppression of crime.
# the present police force. by reason Of de-
ficient numbers, is not adequate to oaccompish
these objects, it ought, by all means, to be
increased
The plan of selling the markets, stall by
stall, instead of whole market to one farmer,
IS o wise measure Of economy, and will doubt
less materially increase our revenues. So
likewise will the leasing Of the wharves, by
sections, if We may judge by past experience
Of the various systems which have been tried.
The sum necessary to put the wharves in
perfect state of repair is estimated at
500, 600.
The leasing system was tried for ffty-seyen
months, commencing August 18th, 1858, and
ending May, SO, and during that time the
net annual income to the city amounted to-
1921. 900, or to 81, ,052, 900 for the term. Un-
der the present system the annual revenue,
according to the controllers report, would
amount to about s158, 900 less $50, 900 for re-
pairs, ETC., leaving net annual income of
S10S, 900, and showing loss, when compared
with the leasing system, Of s113,00o per
annum.
In 1851 the value of real estate in this city
was assessed at $50, SOC, 900 !; in 1865 at S85,
100000 If this kind of assessment is to be
continued great injustice will be done, as we
showed in the CRESCENT, few days ago.
Taking as an index the rate of rents prevail |
ing. the assessment should be at least doubled |
The mayor very properly calls attention to
this anomaly in our scheme of municipal |
taxation.
The statistics Of city railroads show that
New Orleans, in spite of her misfortunes, is |
not behind other cities in enterprise and en-
ergy. There are already finished forty-four
miles Of street railway, and thirty-one miles
additional are in progress. This, we believe,
10 bea greater length relatively to population,
han exists in any other city in the country.
n regard to the Royal street and Bourbon
ttFeet railroads the mayor thinks that those
ought not to be thus impeded,
4 which most persons viii agree with him,
specially as to Royal street-and he declares
hat eminent lawyers have expressed the
pinion that the contracts for those roads are
Invalid for want. Of authority on the part of
he officials by whom they were sold.
The school system Of the city is stated to be
n as good condition as could be expected
after the lamentably inefficient administration
If the three years Of military rule. During
he annual session Of the schools closing with
June, 1866, the average attendance, exclusive
IF High Schools, was IL, 3O6, of which number
1852 were boys, and 5814 were girls. In the
High Schools the attendance was 391-boys
68, girls 223. The whole number Of pupils
omitted during the year was Is, 421- boys
1924, girls 1897. The average Of pupils to
Zach teacher 49, On account Of deficient ac-
9ommodation many applicants for admission
70 the public schools have been necessarily
,ejected, and it is suggested that new school
1ouses be built for the RECEPTION Of pupils.
These are among the most important sug-
yestions made BY Mayor Monroe. They are
wise and practical, and we hope that the
council will act on them without delay.
TIE PROBLEM OF LIVING. In New York as
veil as New Orleans there are doleful com
,laints of high rents. The figures which are
,iven show that we are no worse off in this
aspect than the people ofthe "great metrop-
Ills perhaps not SO badly. Unfurnished
enements, in good neighborhoods, rent for
$500 to $500 year Suits of two and three
ooHS are nalu at Hom 95UUu TO SlUj jUuu.
These rates are higher than those charged at :
he best hotels. In Brooklyn things are not
so bad. Lots three or four miles from the
'erries are taken up every day for building
purposes, and Brooklynis consequently ad-
7ancing in population twice as fast as New
York. The Nation winds up discussion of
he problems of domestic economy thus
Housekeeping is human, boarding is simply ami
nal Yet even the lower animals know enough
% avoid boarding, the only exception being the
apparent exception of the western rattlesnake,
who Is said to take lodging and meals with the
prairie dog. Apparent exception, we say, because
lur friend the Gro talus is not so stupid as really
10 sink himself into mere hoarder. Every little
while he swallows his landlord or one of the fam
ly, which, in manner is laudable reversal of :
he custom in human boarding houses.n !
A poetieal quotation in another of its col
INNS expresses the feelings Of many lnckless
"Give me, o induIgent fate
Give me yet before / die,
Some sweet but absolute retreat,n
-------a-a--s a--ss-------
AN AERoIlrH. A few evenings since, Mrs.
George H. Cutter Of Boston, while sitting at
4 4