New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-10

of science. and obtain from them their
views as TO the best source of supply, as well
as an estimate of the cost of constructing
the works. For the best and most econo-
mical plan suggested, approved, and ADOPT
ed, a liberal reward should be offered by
the city.
At the outset, whatever plan we may
| adopt, expenditures will be necessary. But
| after we have determined on our course, ana
our plans are completed and IN iull opera,
! ton, the waterworks OF New Orleans should
| be q selfsustaining institution. Our hrst
| duty will be to organize a bureau, to whose
| supervision, under such rulesan regulations
as the city government may, in its wisdom,
| ordain, the control of this particular inter
est of the city shall be committed, under the
| style ana title of "the Bureau OF the New
| Orleans Waterworks.'
| The subject of education, the best
methods of training the rising generation,
of guiding them in the paths of wisdom,
virtue and honor, and of enforcing those
| methods by judicious educational system,
has, for upward of thirty years. enlisted
the liveliest solicitude, and called forth the
| most earnest efforts OF the city authorities
of New Orleans. The result has been, that
| the i'll regulated schools, which were dis
credit to the city forty years ago, have been
| supplanted and succeeded by a system of
schools admirable in its organization, and
which unites the best features of the New
England and Prussian systems. All honor
to such men as Samuel j. Peters, Joshua
Baldwin, James II. Caldwell, and Leonard
Mathews, who were the prime movers
in the great reform-men whose intelli-
| gence, enterprise, and public spirit made
| them influential in their day, and whose
memories will long be dear to the citizens
| of New Orleans To these benefaetoTs in
the cause Of education, must be added
| hi
| greatly prolonged, has been devoted to
works OF piety and usefulness, but who
\ shall be nameless, as he has not yet passed
off the stage. Long may he continue to
animate, by the lustre ofhis example, those
who are just entering upon the labors of a
toilsome but noble profession!
1t is a remarkable fact, and one to which
I advert with much satisfaction, that such
is the vitality of our school system, ana 50
deep the interest taken in it, that during
| the late distressing war, which so seriously
affected our other social interests, the cause
| of popular education in our midst was not
\ suffered to languish, but was prosecuted
| with unusual vigor and success. As many as
ten thousand pupils regularly attended the
| schools, pursuing their studies under the
| direction of as able corps of teachers in
| all the departments of learning rs we have
ever had among us. During that period the
schools were under military supervision, but
there was thoroughly good understanding
| and hearty cooperation of the Generals
commanding this post and those of our tel
| low citizens who took a deep and lively
interest in the welfare of the rising genera
ton. Among the latter, the names of prom
inent individuals. whose energies were never
relaxed in the promotion of the good cause,
and to whose disinterested la0ors the city is
| greatly indebted, might be mentioned, were
| 1t not lnvidious to do so.
new feature in the organization of our
| city school system, is the organization of
| institutions for the education Of our cOlored
| population. | wish to speak in all kindness
of this class of the community, who in
| herited slavery, not freedom from their
ancestors, and who attained freedom before
they were able to appreciate its full value
or to use it to the best advantage. Education
| is essential to their progress, and We have de
termined that they shall have all the advan-
tages of the kind of which they can avail
themselves. Living as we now do in lux.
opposition with them, recognizing them, as
we now do, as members of the common
wealth, it is the first dictate of patriotism
and of Christianity that we should endeavor
in our legislation to promote their moral
and intellectual progress by all the means
in our power, and TO make them as con-
tented, happy, and useful rs possible, in the
new career upon which they have entered.
am happy In being able TO inform you that
the indications of intelligence afforded by
| pupils of this class in our schools are very
| encouraging. By communication received
from Mr. Rogers, Superintendent of our
| Public Schools, dated April l, 1868, learn
| that " the register of colored children at
tending school is three thousand three hun
bred and'seventy-three.n He says 1.-THE at
tendance of this class of pupils is good,
They are well-behaved, and are making
good progress in the elementary principles
of education"
In reply to a letter addressed to Super.
intendent Rogers, requesting him to trans.
init his annual report, the letter from
| which the above citation Is made informs
me that the annual report " is in course of
preparation, aud will be ready, he trusts,
in few days. When it comes in, | may
have some suggestions to make to you.
The City Surveyors annual report, giving
a detailed account of the operations il his
department during the last year and which
forms an accompaniment to this message, is
very satisfactory. The city wharves, am
happy to inform you, are in good condition,
and the levees also. All the public squares
are in good order, except That the iron
fence of the Lafayette square requires re
pairs. The markets, where they called for
attention have all been placed In excellent
condition; the Courthouse, fronting Jack.
son square, has been greatly improved; the
court rooms and clerks office have been
| newly fitted up, and the Supreme Court
room and clerks Office been extensively re.
paired; also the Police Stationhouse. New
Aeors have been laid n the Parish TPTTii55Ii
SIX new cells have been constructed in the
Insane Asylum; and the City Hall and it,
various offices been considerably altered
| and reformed. Anew sch0olhouse has been
erected in the Third District, at the corner
Of Scion and Frenchmen streets; and al.
terations and additions are in process of
being made to engine houses Nos. Is, 20, %,
and "a, adapting them for steam fire engines.
New shell roads have been constructed
in the vicinity of the Agricultural Fair
grounds on Broad street, from Esplanade
street to Laharpe street, and Laharpe from
Broad street to the Gentiily r0ads tsHhe
contractors, (Messrs. John Coleman & Co., J
for paving with square block Esplanade
| street, from Levee to GalyezsstFeet, are pro
| crossing rapidly with the same, have taken
up the round stones, ETC., and repaved with
/ square block since the City Surveyors intro
ductlon into office on the first day OF Septem-
Der, 1861, eight entire squares. Gangs OF
| city laborers,p says this energetic officer.
"have been employed in setting curb and
gutter stones, and matchmaking Clay, St.
Louis, CONT and Canal streets, and COM
pleting the ditching aud opening of the
streets in the rear of the Fourth District,
bounded by Claiborne, Upperline, Broad,
and Melpomene streets, also Cont street
between Hagan avenue and Broad street.
for the purpose of giving the same a
| proper flow of water and thorough drain
age" Many of the streets approaching
the ship wharYes Of the First and Fourth
| DISTRICTS he adds, "have been properly
shelled and graded, thereby creating q
ready access to the shipping for removing
their freights and cargoes." THE construc.
tion Of the double track iron bridge across
the new canal at Magnolia street Is, I" be also