New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-24
Communicated.
REMOVE THE UNSI0HTLY RUIN.

Among the many fine avenues whicl
} oeautlfy Our city, no one possesses such al
extent. or presents SO magnificent an ap
pearance, as that which adorns the lowe
portion. and of which the inhabitants of tn
Third District are SO justly proud. Long
broad and beautiful, it sweeps with majestic
effect from the waters Of our noble lake
through the green country place and quie
village, past the marsh TO the meadow
f1ecked with the feecy flock and Illuminating
herd, onward still in its beautiful course
past hamlet and villa, into the heart of the
busy town, till it buries itself in the bosom
of the glad Father of Waters.
No wonder that residents on this stree,
should be so desrouS to see it improved,
and SO impatient for the removal OF what
ever mars its appearance. An effort is now
| being made to prevail upon the Council o.
Administrators to order the destruction of the
| unsishtly and useless old ruin OF what was
once the freight depot of the Pontchartrain
| railroad. This damp and dlDgy structure
| stands at the foot of Elysian Fields street.
1t is built go as to cover the entire middle of
the avenue, occupying both the grassy por-
| ton, or the "green," and also space of
twelve or thirteen feet on each side of the
''green," originally reserved for sidewalks.
Thus it deprives the city of useful public
pathway, completely shuts out the view of
the river and shipping, and converts what
would otherwise be an attractive picture,
into one from which the eye turns in
disgust. Were it situated in more favored
part of the city, at the foot of Canal or
Jackson streets, the demand for its removal
would be speedily attended to. Indeed the
general expression of visitors from the up
per portion of the city, is one Of wonder
that grant so Injurious to the beauty Of the
avenue, and so damaging to the adjacent
property, could ever nave been made. So
long as the building WAS used in accordance
with the object for which it WAS erected; so
long as it served as freight depot, some
property owners around it were persuaded
to believe that the custom of those who re-
sorted to it would requite them for the in
convenience it subjected them to. But now
that the depot has been removed to the up
per portion of the city, and that the build
ing is no longer of any use, it Is contended
that the grant virtually ceases; that the side
walks which it usurps revert to the city, and
the public calls upon the city fathers to
order its demolition. On one side it ex.
cIudes the light and hides from public
notice number Of feed and grocery stores;
on the other, it affords a screen to row OF
infamous dens, packed with prostitutes and
other outcasts from society. Nor has the
patience of the public been assisted by the
bearing of the monopolists who control the
roaG. Ignoring the fact that they are al
lowed to lay their track only uDon same
terms that similar companies enjoy, they
appear to have assumed the actual owner
ship OF the entire middle of the street, and
have asserted their right to build stables in
front of residences. So far is this assump-
ton maintained by fact, that there is store
on the southnrn side Of the depot which the
company rents for a certain amount per
month. And this is the only apparent ben
eft which this great public eyesore yields
to the wealthy millionaire.
In view, then. OF the facts that the build
ing is unnecessary-theo object for which it
was granted having ceased to exist-thst it
occupies property which ought to be used
for public sidewalks, that it Injuries the
interests of good citizens and favors those of
bad ones, and finally, that it depreciates the
neighboring property. spoils the finest street
in the city and is a general public nuisance,
the community earnestly request the Admin
istrators Of the city 10 compel its removal.
THIRD DISTRICT.