New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1867-06-12
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
Board of Aldermen

AT the last meeting Mr.. Segur, president
OF the Opelousas railroad company, sent
petition to the mayor and council in refer
ence to grant of landings to said road for
the purpose of ferries, in accordance with
the legislative act of 1858, particularly one
at the foot of 81. Ann street of $50 feet front,
on certain conditions; but that the same
has been quite insufficient since the compa-
ny have been deprived by the city of the
| freight landings, and the petitioners pray
for $50 feet more at the same place in order
| to accommodate the number of ferry boats
| required to do the business of the road and
of the city. Two boats at one time were re-
quired at landing and there is not now
room for them. The petition was referred
to the committee on streets and landings
A communication was received from the
chief of police, through the mayor, relative
to the mismansgement of the city work
house. 1t stated that five or six notorious
prisoners made their escape from that in
stitution on the 9th ultimo, and that no re-
port thereof was made to the chief of police;
| that those criminals had been aided in get
ting out by being placed in certain positions
in the workhouse; that they had since COM
mitted many burglaries and other crimes,
showing that it was useless for detectives to
arrest rogues if thus put at liberty. 1t was
referred to the committee Oh streets and
landings.
| A communication was received from the
| secretary of the city commercial water
works, asking the council to name time
when committee thereof will meet the di-
rectory of the water works company. The
chairman of the council made statement
that the charter of the company is about
expiring, and of the Improvements contem-
plated when it is determined whether the
company be allowed to go on, or whether
the city shall hereafter take charge of the
works. Saturday evening next, at six
o'clock, was selected as the time of the meet
ing, at the office of the water works.
The Pontchartrain railroad companyasked
for the right of an extension of their road
from its present terminus on Elysian Fields
street along the levee, to point at or near
the junction of Glrod and Water streets.
Ordered to be printed.
Several resolutions were adopted author
izing contracts to be entered into with
parties for the paving, cleaning, etc., of
several streets in different parts of the city.
Also a resolution for selling the powder
4 magazine, which is said to be under water
and likely to be washed away by the river.
The committee to whom the matter had
been referred, reported in favor of making
certain specified improvements to the city
alarm bells and tire-alarm telegraphs A
plan was recommended for $28, 900, in in
stallments, and resolutions relative thereto
were offered, argued, and according to rule,
laid over.
The city surveyor for the third time
called the attention of the board to the use
less condition of the draining machines, and
to the imminence of an overflow and the
destruction which would ensue. In the
| place of proposition on the subject already
before the board a series of resolutions was
offered and passed relative to contracting
| for certain repairs of the several draining
machines of the city, and other improve
| ments.
The New Orleans, Mobile, and Chatta-
| nooga railroad company's petition or ordi-
| III aud aavpral m fo
| were offered thereto, when the ordinance as
amended was, after full and free argument
postponed again, and then the board ad
journed.
At the meeting of the assistant board, the
same action was taken upon the matter of
contracting for keeping the streets in re-
pair, resolutions passed, etc.
The city surveyor informed the board he
was unable to contract for the repair of the
iron railing around Lafayette square for
$500, $1,000 being the lowest amount offered.
The matter was referred.
protest of some of the dismissed po-
licemen against those summary proceed
ings of Mayor Heath, holding the city re-
sponsible for their salary, was referred to
the finance committee.
The following communication was re-
ceived from the street commissioner:
STREET COMMISSIONERS DEPARTMENT, !
Room No. 7, CITY HALL,
I OAs'@HaANNt
To the Honorable. the Board of Assistant Aldermen:
Gentemen--As street commissioner ap-
pointed by Major General P. H. Sheridan,
commanding fifth military district, / have
the honor to submit the following;
In accordance with an ordinance passed
by the common council, the controller sold,
on the 9Th instant, contracts for cleaning
and repairing the unpaved streets of the
first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth,
tenth, and eleventh wards OF this city,
for term of three years from the date of
their being signed. There was also sold at
the same time contracts for repairing and
keeping in repair the paved streets of all
the wards of this city, except the sixth, for
term of three years from the date of the
signing of the contracts. The cleaning and
repairing of the wards not sold being al
ready under contract. The eighth and
ninth wards for three years from 25th July,
1866. The seventh ward for three years
from the lst September, 1866. The repair
ing and keeping in repair Of the paved
streets Of the sixth ward Is also under con-
tract for three years from July l5, 1866.
The confirmation of the contracts made
on the 9th instant will, make no doubt, be
presented for your action. would most
respectfully represent to you that the best
interests of the city demand that you should
reject these contracts. In the present un.
settled state of public affairs, both financial
and political, and at q moment when the in
! itiatory steps have already been taken to
ward an entire reconstruction of our pOlit
ical organization, it is, in my opinion, highly
improper to enter into any contract for three
years, or for any other period. The'work
can be done as cheaply and thoroughly with
out any contract. Under all the circum
stances, and after careful examination,
do not hesitate to say that consider the
contract system as no better tn an fraud
neither the city nor the laborer getting full
value for either their money or labor.
The cost of cleaning and repairing the
streets of the city by contract is largely in
excess of the estimate made by my prede
cessor In office. M
Estimated expense of cleaning and repairing
Price II which the contracts were isSSss
Estimated cost OF repairing paved streets Tor Az ~.
Price st which the contracts were sold $50
: the paved streets seems altogether dispro
portionate to the amount of work done.
Paved streets of the city for ls65 COST 0e2
Paved streets of the city for 1886 cost.-.. 90
Paved streets Of the city for five months Of
le61 COST. .-...,....-...............-. s5.oD
As regards the contract price for the
cleaning and repairing the unpayed streets
y will be no saving to the city, being about
the same as the two preceding years. IL
the matter of cleaning the streets j ann vel
satisfied that the contractor win in no cas-,
> execute the terms of the contract unless b,
: can make q large profit; for rather thar
lose he win either abandon his contract
II neglect, and shirk the work, or, If closel]
watched, save himself from loss by grinding
1 down the workmen to the starvation point
Therefore most respectfully ask that no con
tract be entered into for cleaning and re
pairing the paved or unpayed streets Of thii