New Orleans Republican., 1868-05-07

Of The KIississip2i in lis natural
@ proess1 % ia order q ts1SsTg ss5GSgp q ,se SES soE
purposes, ard which If resorted to on an
extensive scale VIII be attended with a
heavy expense. ne Is also more or
less liable to be impregnated with
impurities aowing into It from the city.
In order that all portions of the city
g head of at least forty feet above the level
Of the river, and machinery of a very
powerful character be employed to raise It
to that elevation, and receiving reservoir
or reservoirs be constructed, holding water
enough to supply half million OF inhahi-
taIts The objections now stated have led
some OF our citizens and men OF science to
search for other sources for the supply OF
water for this city, and the waters of the
Tangipahoa as well as the Tchefuncta have
been suggested as likely to furnish an ELI
gible aud adequate supply.
A letter from II. D. B. Norris, ESQ.,, dated
" Salem, Faquier county, Virginia, August
9, 1861 and which was recently published
in the New Orleans REPUBLICAN,, states the
results of his inquiries relative to the feas.
ibflity, approximate cost, ETC., Of the intro
duction Of water from the Tangipahoa river
at Amite into New Orleans. Que of these
sources of supply may be obtained at
distance Of thirty-fve, the other of twenty
hve miles from the city by constructing o
causeway and aQueduct across the lake. .
Inc subject Is one of such grave i'm.
portance, and affects so seriously the vital
interests of New Orleans, that it might be
well, as | have suggested in the case of
draining the city, that before adopting any
plan for the permanent supplying Of the city
with water, we should call in the aid of men
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 NAV
adopt expenditures will be necessary. But
after we have determined on our course, and
our plans are completed and in full opera
tion, the waterworks OF New Orleans should
be selfsustaining institution. Our first
duty will be to organize a Bureau, to whose
supervision, under such rules and regulations
as the city government may, in its wisdom,
ordain, the control of this particular inter-
est Of the city shall be committed, underthe
style and title of ''the Bureau of the New
Orleans WSterwarks.n
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
~ A.
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 III 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 H. Caldwell, and Leonard
Mathews, who were the prime movers
in the great retorm-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 benefactors in
the cause of education, must be added
another venerable gentleman, whose life,
greatly prolonged, has been devoted to
works OF piety and usefulness. but who
shall be nameless as he has not yet passed
on the stage. Long may he continue to
animate, by the lustre Ofhis example, those
who are Just entering upon the lsbora of
toilsOme but noble profession,
1t is a remarkable fact, and one to which
advert with much satisfaction, that such
is the vitality of our school system, ana so
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 yigor and success. As many as
ten thousand pupils regularly attended the
schools, pursuing their studies under the
direction Of as able a corps Of teachers in
AL the departments Of learning AS 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 Geherais
commslding this post and those of our fel-
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 distnterested labors the city is
greatly indebted might be mentioned, were
It not lnvidious to do so.
a 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
th0y 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 juSta.
possession 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 as possible, in the
new career upon which they have entered.
am happy in being able to inform you that
the Indications Of intelligence afffOI dod 6y
pupils of this class in, cur schools are very
encouraging. communication received
from Mr. RoGaTg Runariutpnlpnt of our