New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-21

,eded To listen daily to appeals made
by individuals and delegated representa-
tives, that taxes have been and are being
paid. and that the return is not what they
nave a right to expect. To continuously
deny applications for improvements, without
being able to convince the applicant that the
small expenditure asked for in his case
would be augmented by others to a serious
aggregate unless an unwarranted exception
was made in his favor.
Against all such evils and their attendant
complaints and appeals the present admin
istratiOn can have hut one sustaining assur-
ance. They are not of our making, ana II
their remedy involves greater financial re-
sources than we are immediately possessed
of. the maintenance OF the Guys credit ia
the foundation Of relief in the future, and
the evils must he endured meanwhile.
STREETS.
An examination Just concluded by the
CITY Surveyor disclOses the existence Of over
six hundred miles of paved, shelled and un-
paved streets within the present corporate
limits To give the details of repairs made
during the past month throughout such an
extended area would be tedious. They in
yolve large expenditure, with out little
prospect of reduction until extensive perma-
nent improvements become possible. The
Ihoroughfares Immediately connected with
the wharves require most labor and ma
1erial. and though a spell of fine weather,
and a limited business being done, has
allowed them to become fairly passable,
they are not in condition to sustain an
inclement season, and the prospective heavy
winters business.
Included in the aggregate of streets above,
are about thirty-fve miles Of shelled streets
and roads, used for purposes of both bust
ness and pleasure. These had mostly all
fallen into disrepair, and the nature of their
construction is such as to require the con-
tinuous application of fresh material. Ten
thousand barrels of shells have been used
upon them during the past month, and they
are now temporarily in very fair order.
Bv constant vigilance and renewals, street
bridges are kept safe. The canal bridges,
under the city's charge, have all been re-
paired, and are being painted for preserva-
ton, process that has not been applied the
past six years.
The rains Of the past month were not af-
torded OPPORTUNITY to promote cleanliness:
For this purpose there was too great fall
at one time and not enough subsequently.
The river has declined to a stage preventing
the use of culverts, and the only recourse
has been a limited supply from the Water
works, where repairs were making.
comparison of the condition OF the streets OF
New Orleans with those Of other cities Wis
tied on your recent tour to the North and
West, we can not congratulate ourselves
that ours are clean. Streets are kept clean
more by sustaining from throwing garbage
and filth into them than by the process OF
taking filth out of them. People who wish
cleanliness must abstain from promoting the
contrary condition, and now in the very
crisis of the city's health, when 1t is yet
doubtful whether we shall be exempted from
an epidemic, the cooperation OF the people
themselves toward cleanliness, as well as the
untiring vigilance Of the authorities, NUM-
cipal and police, are necessary.
Repairs to banGuettes and the construc-
ton of new ones are progressing The Su-
perintendent of the Bureau OF Streets re-
ports three hundred and forty-six sidewalks
repaired during the past month.
wHARvEs AND LANDINGS.
In contemplation of repairs of general
character, not much has been done by this
bureau during the past month. The land
ings are pretty well cleared of distractions,
but the great work of preparation for the
fall business has not yet been entered upon.
The delay is much to be regretted, but
should it result in the adoption of plans i'm
proved by mature deliberatiOn, the interests
Of the city and of commerce will be bene-
tted. Before the report of this department
for the current month shall have been sub
United. trust that the Administrators will
have given tangible evidence that they APP
preciate the necessity of providing facilities
for the very large business promising to be
done upon our landings the coming season.
DRAINAGE.
The operations in this bureau during the
past three months, have unquestionably
contributed materially to the present excel
lent sanitary condition of the city. The
main work of cleaning canals has almost
been completed and after this is done, we
must rely upon such Indifferent means as
the present drainage system affords. to re-
lieve the city of waste water.
GENERAL SUMMARY.
The foregoing remarks are an assur-
ance that the expenditures Of this depart
ment continue to be confined to meeting
current necessities, without engaging in any
extended system Of improvements. The
following statement of outlay is respectfully
submitted
Department Proper