The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-18
REGULAR SESSION.
Cry HALL. NEW ORLEANS,
L. 1910

The board met in regular session pursuant to
adjournment.
President Kearny in the chair and Messrs.
Rose, Athens, Walker, Camp, sturcken, Morphy,
Pandely, Wynne and Farrell
The reading Of the minutes Of last meeting was
on motion dispensed with. l "
Thelfollowing message from the mayor was re.
ceived. and together with the joint communication
of the superintendent of the Water Works and the
chief engineer Of the Fire Department, referred to
the committee on Water Works:
STATE OF LOUISIANA. J
MAYoRALrY OF NEW ORLEANS,
City Hall, March IT, 1869. J
To the Hon. Common Cornell:
Ge7.teme1a-Herewith is transmitted an imDor.
tsnt communication from the chief engineer of the
Fire Department and general superintendent Of
the Water Works, Suggesting thata commission De
appointed to devise a remedy tor the present nn-
satisfactory arrangements for supplying water for
the extinguisbing VI ires.
Roth he cbiefengineer and superintendent. as
will be seen, suggest remedy. and are satisfied
that 'af,eT full and free conference The dliieu-
ties' now IN the way OF furnishing the needtnl
supply Of water on the occasion of fres, ''can be
arranged or removed In very simple and mex
pensve manner" by the establishment Of fire els
terms and the use of "fre plugs OF larger capacity
and Of a recent and improved pattern"
The communication transmitted Is of so much
importance 10 Tue people III large, anu tue T6cOul
mediation therein contained so opportune. that l
uust some speedy action will be taken by the
Common Council in relation thereto.
Respectfully, ETC.,
JOHN r. CONWAY, Mayor.
OFFICE CRY WATER WoRKs,
New Orleans, March IL, 1869.
Hon. John r. Conway, Mayor Of New oIlesns:
Sir-Ihe undersigned. chief engineer of the
fire department and general superintendent of
the Water Works. beg TO call your attention and
that Of the Common Council, to the present very
unsatisfactory arrangements for supplying water
for the extDguishiDg OF fires, and 10 suggest some
action as a remedy.
The present habit of the fire department is to
run the water into the street cutters first and
draw it from them into the engines. This me-
cessarily results in some delay before supply is
obtained. and in the meantime property Of great
value may be lost.
The fire plugs or hydrants of this city. though
exceeding in number those of other cities for the
same extent of territory, are smaller each in ca.
pacIty, having been constructed originally for the
hand engine.
In other cities. when the powerful steam en-
CINE, requiring much larger supply OF water to
each one, was introduced. the old hre plugs were
replaced by others OF greater capacity. Not so
in New Orleans. Hence the habit Of first
emptyirg our water into the streets.
In cities where this matter is well and efficiently
regulated they have fire plugs of much larger Ca
pacliy than ours, and OF a recent and improved
pattern, and in some places fire cisterns are cou-
structed at intervals where large supply sufficient
for several engines, may be had at at a moments
norice.
We find, too that the practice only obtains in
New Orleans of allowing an unlimited number Of
street scavengers and others the of keys
10 the fire plugs, which Keeps them constantly
out of order and renders it impossible to exercise
control over them
After full and free conference, we are salts
fed all these difficulties can be arranged OF re-
moved in very simple and inexpensive manner.
But to bring the matter before yon 10 shape,
backed by authority, we respectfully suggest the
appointment of commission to examine and re-
port TO the best plan after they shall have seen
experiments with the improved fire plug and
cisterns.
We would suggest member from the commit
tee on fire departmentand one from committee on
water works, of the Common Council, amember of
the Board Of Commissioners of the Water Works,
q member Of the Board of Under writer's and tue
president OF the Firemen's Charitable Association,
with whom the undersigned might be associated
for facts, data and practical information, as a
commission to whom the matter might be refer
red, and we feel confident few hours conference
and few experiments viii lead to apractcsl So
luton of the whole difficulty.
We are, cir. very respectfully,
Your obi. svts.,
THos 0'CoNSoR,
Chief Engineer Fire Dept,
BRAxroE BRAGG,
Supt. City Water Works.
Ine ued6uIoIb ItpOft lOf tno Wcch cuuink
March 9, 1869, showing receipts sl3,7l6 80, ex
penditures s22645s So, balance on hand s2l6,
AIS n, was referred TO the finance committee.
The treasurers report for the week ending
March Is, 1869, showing receipts 5000 "a. ex
penoitures sl5,2ls IS, balance on hand 5000,
229 Sc, was referred to the finance committee.
The following communication from the street
commissioner was received, and on motion re-
ferred to the committee on streets and landings
El STREET COMMISSIONERS OFFICE, }
Room No. z, City Hall,
New Orleans, March l6, 1862.
To the Honorable Boald Of Assistant Aldermen: %
Gentenen-I have the honor to inform yor
that according to the amended charter of the New
Orleans Gas Light Company. it is their duty to lay
down main gas pipes, free OF charge, necessary
for lighting the levee or river front OF the city
whenever required 10 do so by the Common Coun
Gil but in all other localities OF the city they are
not obligated to lay down their mains under ar
order without extra compensation.
They now desire me respectfully TO inform you
honorable body that they are ready TO lay theil
mans on the levee line, from Piety street to Pc
land, as soon syou may pass the usual ordinance
As reason for not having complied with the
following resolutions passed at various times, they
saw they have no mains at the localities, viz
Where street, between Bayou Road and Ursu
Robertson street, between Bayou Road and
Ursullne street.
Tbalia street, between Camp and Prytania.
Polymnia between Apollo and Bscchus.
Also St. Bernard Market, but where they viii
have main very soon
laval myself Of this occasion TO respectfully cal
vopr attention to ordinance No. 1858, Ito place 8
gas lamp on Magnolia street, between Poydra'
and Lafayetter where there are three already
at the regolsr distances.
80 would also mention, that as the First Baptist
Church, which lately fronted on Second street
bas now been turned round 80 as to front on Mag
azine street, and they have private gas lamp OF
Second street which they now desire to leave fol
the use of the city, on condition that the city vii
Mace one in lieu thereof Magazine street, which
thew respectfully petition you 70 grant them.
With reference 10 the resolution OF Alderman
WINNIE. in reference TO the repairing Of Dauphir
street by the City Railroad Company, have the
honor TO report that orders had been previousl.
issued to them and they are now working diigentl,
on it.. u4S .-u
/ am. gentlemen. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant.
JOSEPH MURPHY,
Street Commissioner.
The following communication from the citl
attorney was referred TO the fnance committee