New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-08
REPORT OF THE ADMINIATRA.
TOR OF MENTs.


| Hon. B. I. Flanders Mayor:
SHIN compliance with section ten of the
charter Of the city of New orleans, have
the honor 10 present report of the admin
ments during the month of April, together
with remarks upon the actual and respective
condition thereof.
The peculiar nature of the responsibilities
OF this department admitting OF no delay in
assuming control. a temporary organization
was at once entered into, embracing the
three bureaus of streets, of wharves and
landings, and Of city drainage; and in pur-
suance of the authority conferred by reso-
lutiOu No. 3, Administration series, acting
appointments of the officers and clerks
deemed necessary to carry on the depart
ment we're made. This action has since
been ratified by the Council. in enact. G
the ordinance organizing the Department OF
| improvements.
By that organization yearly expenditure
| in salaries of S84 400 is provided for, but
| the organization was made to embrace such
| forces as the prospective enlarge .nent of
| the department would seem to CALI for. The
present annual outlay for this purpose is
S6S 600, and it is designed to exercise,
through the employees, such a supervision
over the general affairs of the city, pertain.
ing to the Department Of improvements,
as will not only result to the advantage of
clal economy.
BUREAU OF STREETS.
The actual condition of the streets of
New Orleans is, in the main, deplorabie.
The difficulty of keeping them clean and in
repair, owing to the shape of the city and
its peculiar topography, is scarcely equaled
in such experience, while the very rapid in
crease Of the populated area, under the
stimulus of expansion impaired b.; the city
railroads during the last few years, increases
the difficulty.
Contracts for cleaning streets and repair
ing portion of the same, are found to
exist for the old corporate limits OF New
Orleans. These contracts Aggregate Sl52,-
200 per annum and will expire from May
to December, 1870. This system appears
to have been entered upon for the purpose
rather of having contractors pay a few
hands that the city was unable to pay, than
to secure the cleanliness aud repair of the
streets. 1t is believed to be wrong in
pr nCiple. and while efforts are being made
to exact a fair quantity of labor from the
contractors, upon the expiration of their
contracts it will be more eXpedlent for the
city to hire the labor direct.
The only existing contract for repairs OF
paved streets is for the Third Ward, st
$4,000 per annum; but by the terms OF their
charter, the street railroad companies are
obligated to keep the streets through which
their roads run in repairs" Conferences
with some of these companies have ELECTED
the admission that they have been rather
aerelict in complying with their agreements,
but they promise to do betterin future. 1t
Is hoped that performance will not fall
short of promise. It is contemplated to
personally inspect, at an early day, the en-
tire route Of each railroad company, for the
purpose of calling their attention to de-
1ects, and requirement that they shall be re-
paired. Three companies, the City,
the New Orleans and Carrollton, and
the Claiborne street, run through
street, using neutral grounds. These com.
panies hesitate to keep the streets in repair,
claiming, Understand. that neutral grounds
are all they are bound to care for. This
question is under consideration.
With respect to that cleanliness that
should originate with the inhabitants, it
may be said that they rarely refrain from
an opportunity to eject trash and rubbish |
upon the streets. The limited force |
at my disposal renders enforcement
of city ordinances by its means i'm
for assistance; the laws are now adapted to |
the case; they are by no means irksome, |
and upon their enforcement by the police |
must depend the cleanliness Of the city in
future.
1t is believed that the people of the city of
New Orleans will be most benefited by such |
liberality in expenditures for repairs to, and
new improvements upon streets as will Sc,
cure an economy based upon just and
percentage of taxation. When a
financial exhibit has been made, upon
which reliable conclusions can be based AS
to the resources and obligations of the city, |
md az to the valuation of the taxable prop
erty, trust to icing warranted in recon.
mending an issue OF forty year street i'm.
provement bonds" as provided in section
twenty-five of the charter, to an amount
sufficient to put the streets of New Orleans
in condition demanded by its population,
and by its social and commercial impor.
lance, without imposing an unreason-
,ble burden upon the taxpayers. l
believe that true economy dictates
1egree of perfection upon streets that would
open up new areas to occupation, and lessen
he expense of keeping old avenues in re-
)air.
There are already three contracts existing
or paving streets, involving expenditures
hat probably can not be met from current
evenues. These are: i
1t. Charles avenue, with Southern
Paving Company, about. ....... $500 600
Rampant street, with Coleman 4 Co. 81 900
4evee street, with Correjolles. ... 1900
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. s4o3 500
Provision for meeting these amounts, in
connection with other improvements, might |
'e, and will probably require to be made
y issue of bonds as above suggested.
leading journal of the city stigmatizes |
he banquettes of New Orleans as worse |
han those OF any respectable sized city in |
he Union. They need thorough repair and
he charter says they ''shall be kept in re-
'air by the owners of the real property |
hereon."
The present means to enforce this man,
ate are to be found in articles 1lO9, ITO
Ill Revised City Laws. They are con
idered not only too imperfect for the sub
ect. but as more calculated to involve the |
ity in expense and litigation than to secure
improved banquettes. AS leisure offers.
hall recommend a change of the ordinances
n the subject.
BUREAU OF wHARvES AND LANDINGS.
Both wharves and landing, are tar below
he desired standard condition for use. |
With the commerce of an empire floating to
ur leyees, poverty and neglect have para
wed landing facilities to a condition Of
ecay that mo1e pertains to a waning CON-
lunity than to the vlgor that will be forced
pom Us. A similar system of supervision
nd control to that of streets has been put
ntO effect for this bureau. Evils and abuses |
re numerous; some of them can be re-
1edied; Others will require the assistance | ,
f the Council. The landing places of the |
everal branches of trade are not altogether
roperly defined. Material and merchandise
re mixed up in a way that jeopardizes the {
sfety of the whole. Stevedores cut up the /
'harves, and gang planks are spirited away 7
0 the city's loss. But the serious grievance !
J the diIapidation OF the timber works and r
ne caving and making of river banks. e
To remedy these latter evils, true economy r
Olnts again to the use OF prospective re- 8