New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-20
PUBLIC CONVEYANCES.


have become incorporated with US, New Or
leans may be emphatically styled "city
of magnificent distances" This extern
sion of its limits promotes travel, and the
facilities of locomotiou should be proper
tionately increased. Pedestrianism IN this
tropical region is by no means popular
and even the prospect OF full purse hnds
no rival competitor in this latitude with
Weston. Very few care to exercise On
"shank's mare" that most ancient equine,
if they can employ any other motive
power. Not only does the heat Of the
weather by its enervating influence pre-
clude excessive walking, but, with the ex-
ception of few of our main avenues, the
streets are in wretched condition, while
the banquettes and foot-paths, except in
the most central portion, are rough and
irregular in dry, and full of ruts and mud
holes in wet weather.
The city cars, it is true, are an easy and
convenient mode Of travelling, and within
the last four years he number Of routes
has been greatly enlarged, but as yet they
are confined to the principal thorough
fares, and if one wishes to diverge from
these he must either foot it or hire car
riage, and at a price SO exorbitant as 10 be
entirely beyond modest income. Private
conveyances, were they to be obtained at
reasonable rates, would be much more
sought, and are far preferable TO care, not
only on account of time and place, but as
regards e1clusiveness and independence
SO agreeable to every person of taste; but
the rates charged place them far beyond
the reach of the majority of our popula-
ton. For the meanest of all vehicles, the
cumbrous, unwieldly cab, the greedy price
per hour makes mans pocket book
squeal. 1t is to be hoped that the day of
cabs will soon be over. They afford
slender protection from sun or rain, are
of uneasy motion, and excessively
awkward in appearance. In other cities
they are entirely out of date, and
belong to the days of our grandfathers,
whose poor old limbs got many rheu-
matte twinge in them. The light, COM
modious and springy Rockaway for fami-
lies, the pony phaetons or landeau, open
at the top for ladies en- riste, and the four
inland drag $50 popular now at the Cen
trail Park in New York city,, for social
party of gentlemen, are excellent styles,
and ought to be more common. The cabs
should go in funeral procession with the
high, stepped old-time omnibuses and
heavy hackneys, to their graves.
But whatever the style Of public vehicle,
whether the buggy or the ponderous
coach, no matter how inferior or superior,
the prices of all vehicles, even, keep up to
the highest notch, and persons of moderate
means can seldom, and the poor never,
afford to hire private conveyance. 1t
costs as much to keep a horse, and the
wages of grooms are quite as high in Ha-
vana as here, yet in that equatorial city
every one rides in his own or a hired
vGlante, at an expense trifiDg compared to
the rates with US. In Savannah, town
far less prosperous than New Orleans,
one can obtain comfortable equipage
and ride all over the city and around its
limits for very small sum, while per-
son with but one article Of baggage has
been charged, in this city, seven dollars
to be taken in cab from the levee, at the
French Market, up to the corner of Camp
and Delord streets. Strangers universally
complain of our high carriage rates, which
exceed those Of any other ely.
Gold has fallen. and with it all articles
of produce. 1t costs less than it did to
keep horse and servants, wages are
diminishing, SO that the proprietors Of
stables and carriage emporiums are amply
able to reduce their rates to moderate
terms. In this business, as in many other
branches of trade, there is a monopoly;
but while in other departments improve
ments are quickly adopted, there is an
adherence with US to old-f4shioned styles
and monstrous charges in street convey
ances. If some enterprising Individual
would inaugurate an opposition to the
present antique forms and high rates it
would be a good thing, for nothing evinces
the growth and wealth Of a city
so much as the completeness of the num-
Der, beauty and cheapness of its public
and private modes Of locomotion.
The energetic manner in which Admin
istrator West has commenced operations
in his department, inspires US with the
hope that we are soon to have smooth,
well paved streets, and clean by-ways and
alleys also, which latter have been so
shockingly neglected that some Of them
are perfect nuisances.
With neat, well kept pass-ways, and gut
tiers filed with fresh running water, we
shall be healthier and happier communi-
tv. A new era in the mode and price OF
street vehicles will therefore be most ap-
propriate.
PERRY FULLERISM IN THE PUBLIC
SCHOOLS.
When the jolly Perry Fuller was snugly
domiciled in the Customhouse, several
L I, \ T-yTr IN