New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-05-26
DRAINING THE CITY--0UR ONLY HOPE OF
SALVATION FROM THE PEsTILENOE,

canals, poor and inefficient in the begin
ming, have now become practically useless
In their present condition the canals are a
curse to New Orleans. Those having
charge of the city drainage are like the
fellow who had a house with leaky roof,
and said that when it rained he couldn't
mend it, and when it was fair weather
there was no use Of doing it. When the
canals are full the water runs of its own
accord when they are empty there is
nothing to be done. This at least is their
practice. Hence the draining machines
stand still nearly all the time. The canals
have been allowed to fill up, so that in
their present condition both machines and
canals are OF but little account.
When the proper time comes we shall
thoroughly discuss this whole drainage sys-
TEN, and unless those now having charge
of the matter display some efficiency, will
advocate an entire and summary change
not only of methed but also Of men. In
an article in our editorial columns few
days ago on The Location of New Or
leans" we said that an easier problem was
never presented than the perfect drainage
of New Orleans. There is not another city
in the country possessed of such admirable
facilities for the purpose. No sewers are
required. Everything is above ground.
The city is built upon natural and even
slope. The perfect drainage of New Or
leans is simply a. matter of few canals
and powerful steam pumps. All that is
wanted is to have two streams Of water
running down the cutters by every street
leading back from the leyee. As the sur
face of the levee is higher than the streets
during several months the year, the water
has then only to be let in. When the river
is low the water should be raised a few
feet for that purpose. Then let this river
water, after it has thoroughly washed and
purified and cooled the streets of
the city, be collected into draining
canals which would not disgrace
an ordinary sugar plantation, and
aiterward be raised by powerful steam
pumps into main canal or sewer, with
sufficient fall to carry it far out into the lake
or into the river below New Orleans. Or
the drainage water might be lifted into the
two great canals connecting the city with
the lake, and the latter be kept pure by
constant flow of fresh water from the river.
But what is to be done with the Rlthy |
draining canals, the intoierable cess-pools |
in the rear of the city? Some old fogies
say it is too late to clean them out; that
the disturbance Of so much filth would
endanger the health of the city They said
precisely the same thing to General Butler
in 1862 But he took the responsibility of
cleaning them out so late as in the month
of June. He set two thousand men at
work in the bitches and saved the health
of New Orleans.
But if the draining canals can not be
cleaned out this at least can be done; Re-
move the worst Instructions, set up TIVE
portable steam pumps, one near the New
Basin canal, the other near the Carondelet
canal so as to raise the drainage into these
outlets, and then turn in the fresh water
from the river. When the Mississippi falls
raise the water out of the river and keep
he streams running at the rate Of ten mil
ion of gallons per day. These machines
can be set mp in two weeks at a cost of Eve
thousand dollars each, and would sell for
about as much in the autumn. In this way
we can have cool streams Of health-giving
water running through our streets during
The sickly months, and the canals can be
Kept nearly clean In this way we can
bridge over the siekly months.
Fellow citizens, unless we do something
de pesttiiisno5 may speedily De upon Us. If
you do not believe us ride back to tae
Claiborne and Gslvez canals and see, or
rather Smell" for yourselves. You will
ind some Of the draining canals covered
with green slime, not one but many inches
thick, and SO terribly offensive that people
can scarcely live in the vicinity.
Something must be done, and done at
once. Who win come forward to save the
lives Of eur wives and children? is there
not enough energy and intelligence in this
great city to make even an effort to save
Us from the pestilenee? Fellow citizens,
we forewarn you. Ifnothing is dene and
thousands Of our people again perish from
your neglect you can not say that no one
sounded the alarm
Whose business is II to see that this all
important matter be attended to at once
Ordinary citizens can not do it they have
lot the authority. It Is obviously the
Of the city government. In former
imes Il was said that nothing better than
his shameful Indifference and neglect
oald be expected. Now we have diff
srent state Of things. Shall the same i'm
'utatiOn be left Neglect under such ter
ihle circumstancesis bat little better than
t IL