New Orleans Republican., 1868-05-07

the ccntre of the streets, and within the
lines, we're paved with round stones, except
where square stone pavements existed
or might thereafter be made, in which
rails employed were TO be of the same pat
tern, and the cars Of the same description as
those in the city of Philadelphia, (though
different patterns have since been adopted,)
and the contractors were required to keep
the paved and unpaYed streets through
which the tracks should pass in good order
during twenty years, the period they were
entitled, under their contract with the city,
to enjoy the right Of way. The speed OF
said cars was not to exceed six miles an
hour. All cars running on said railroads,
between sunset and daybreak, were to be
provided with good head and rear light,
placed In conspicuous position OUTSIDE the
cars. These provisions have Deen tor Ine
most part carried into effect in the structure
Of our city railroads, but it is to be regretted
that the contractors have not always taken
care to keep the streets through Whlch the
| tracks pass in good order, making 1t lncum-
bent On the city government to repair them
| at theirexpense.
| Iwould remark that, notwithstanding the
many benefits derived from our city rall-
| roads, and the excellence of the general
plan, there are some inconvenie1ces attend
| ing the latter, as at present carried out,
which require attention in order to perfect
it. allude, first to the difficulty OF driving
carriages over the tracks, 1t has often oc-
CURED 70 me that this might be removed,
at least to a considerable extent, by an oval
projection on the rail instead of the square
knuckle: but, secondly a still greater dith-
Guilty exists where these roads are laid in
our unpaVed streets. The Carriages and
drays, in trying to follow the track, soon
wear deep rut on the outside Of the rail,
thus leaving it, in many Instances, eight or
ten inches above the road, and almost use
less as q roadway, The various companies
ought to be compelled to carry out the con-
ditions of their contracts, and in some way
remedy this great evil, either by employing
the Nicholson pavement to some extent, or
a wooden slab alongside the rail.
Allow me, gentlemen, to call your atten-
tion pointedly to the imperfect manner in
which the duties of the City Assessors are
performed A reform is loudly demanded
in this department. Carelessness, partial
ity, and inadequate returns are the imme-
diate evils to be recti6ed. Many lots in the
city are not assessed at all, while some are
assessed at more, others at less than their
real value. Thus there Is no equality, no
uniformity, and no justice IN the assess
ments. Everything Is prosecuted without
order. We are often without proper in
formation in respect to the real owners of
lots, and are unable to decide whether the
entire lot OF only portion of it is assessed.
The Assessors either act blindly, and without
sufficient information, or without due re-
gard to the proper execution of their trusts.
II the former, it is exceedingly important
that they should be properly instructed;
and if after ward remiss, that they be held
strictly accountable tor their laches. In
a word, more method must be introduced
into our system of assessments. Everthing
is left too much at loose ends. The Assess
ors are too irresponsible to the government
from which they derive their powers. Some
strong checks should be placed upon the
exercise of favoritism in making assess
ments. The remedy / propose for the cor
rection Of the defects of the present system
is very mple, and viii, if applied, think,
rrJvc efectual.
| would recommend in order to make
Just and equitable assessments, that each
square Of ground be accurately drawn on a
scale of twenty-five feet to the inch, with
the boundaries on street lines ia ink. and
subdivisions in pencil. By this arrange
ment changes can be made from time to
time as the selling of lots or parts of lots
make them necessary. The Assessors can
and should then ascertain (Which is easily
dOne) the value of any one lot in given
square by referring to the most recent sales,
to rental, or any other criteria which may
suggest themselves to the mind of the AS.
SCISSOR. The value of one lot being 6xed,
the others can be readily ascertained by
simple rule Of proportion, with proper
allowance for corner lots. Another book
should accompany the book of diagrams
descriptiye OF the improvements on lots,
such as "Three-story brick store. with slate
roof and iron shutters, built in - year,
and cost - dollars
BY adopting this course it will be neees.
sary to employ force equal to the present
one for several years. But when completed
a comparatively small board would be all
that would be necessary to revise the as
sessments from year to year. The same
books would answer both for city and State.
By making two sets OF rolls, one for the
city and one for fhe State, the expense of
assessing would be materially reduced.
OF all our American cities, none requires
more thorough attention to the subject of
drainage than New Orleans. With an allu.
vial soil, subject to heavy rains in winter
and spring sobbed with water all the year
round, verging on swamp of which it
originally formed a part, thorough system
of drainage is Of vital importance and in
dispensable TO general comfort, cleanliness.
and health. The periodical VisitatiOns of
sickness to which this city for the past half
century has been liable, are, in great
measure, attributable to our miserable sys.
tcm of drainage, Our commerce, our pros
perity as city, have been seriously injured
and retarded by it. Can nothing be sug.
ge6ted by science, nothing accomplished by
skill and energy to remedy the eyiI?
To this subject have devoted much re.
fection. For long series ofyears we have
been cOnteut with halfway measures. the
time has come when we are imperiously
called upon to adopt some complete system
for draining the entire city. Different plans
have been suggested for the purpose, one of
which Is that large draining canal should
be dug as nearly as practicable through the
middle Of. each district extending to the
lake. Experience having proved the ineffi-
cheney 0fshallow and narrow canals, it spro.
posed that these canals should oe from eighty
to hundred feet In width, and nine OF ten
feet in depth, anu substantial levee be
built along the lake shore extending up the
navigation canals, in order to keen out the
waters OF the lake, and the draining ma
chimes be removed to the lake shore, and if
there is anything better than the old drain
ing wheel that it should be employed
The drainage laws at present divide the
city into three districts under three boards
of commissioners, only one Of which at
present Is doing anything of moment to-
ward draining the city. I ailude to the
Board OF commissioners Of the First Drain
ing District, who have prosecuted their
labors with commendabie euergy and who.
when they reach Netairie Ridge with their
draining machine, which they may be ex.
pected TO do in three or four months, will
have accomplished an important work,
Ten years, however, have rassed away,
during which the Boards of Commissioners
Of the two other Draining Districts have
done little or nothing. The eity-to say
nothing Of the swamp that lies between the
city and the lake, the nursing mother Of
the epidennies with which this city has So
long been aslicted- remains undrained, All
our plans, whether OF the city or Of the
State, y promote the health Of the former
By . proper system Of Draining. have. 10 70
this tsme, proFed q failure. Surely time