New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-12-08
Public Drinking Fountain.

Public Drinking Fountain.
| Canal street will shortly be Ornamented
| with public drinking fountain, OF an
unique and original design, which will add
greatly to the attractions Of that very at
| tractive street.
Public drinking fountains are of no recent
| origin, but have existed in some form or
other before authentic history began the
| record Of human events; doubtless long be-
| fore the time when Rebecca relieved the
| Mesopotamia, or Jacob defended the
! Madianitish maidens at the we'll near La
| bans tents. Fountains have descended
| from the ancient down to the modern time,
and have partaken of the spirit of modern
| improvement. Few modern cities, indeed,
aims of more or less beauty and utility.
But, if we may judge from the drawings
and designs we have had an opportunity of
examining, New Orleans will be graced
with fountain which is to surpass them
all.
construction, in its unique features, at
least, originated with Mr.. j. O. Belknap,
formerly of Mobile, but now a resident of
New Orleans.
| Mr.. Belknap, having matured his idea OF
the fountain, adoAted for the structure in
tended to shelter Va design which he had
procured by the courtesy of Mr.. Milten-
berger from Messrs. Wood e. Co, of Phila-
delphia. This design he. submitted to Mr..
Bell, the City Surveyor, and that gentle
man made draft. with some improvements
suggested, adapting it more completely to
the purpose intended, and the result is the
plan of the beautiful structure within
which the fountain will be sheltered. The
sanction of the city authorities for the loca-
ton of the fountain was then obtained, and
the work commenced.
| Mr.. George CrOnan, the enterprising and
public-spirited iron founder, has the work
now in progress; and this of itself is suffi
cient assurance that the splendid design
put into his hands will be carried out with
completeness and excellence of workman
ship not to be surpassed. The structure
which is to protect the fountain will be oc-
tagonal in shape, fifteen feet in diameter.
There will be eight columns, one at each
angle Of the base, rising ten feet, and sur
mounted by q panel of beautiful scroll
work, on which the dome-shaped roof is to
rest. A gilt ball will surmount the apex
| of the roof, from which a rod will rise. sus-
tanning a vane in the form of yacht. The
height of the structure, from the ground to
the top of the vane, will be twenty-seven
feet three inches. Theelower part Of the
structure will be protected by fence of
scroll work; and as it is not intended that
1 spectators shall have access to the interior,
the space above the fence will be also pro-
teeted by strong plate glass. about seven
width, which latter is the space between
each column.
The whole Of the structure, with the ex-
ception of the plate glass and the mosaic
| floor, will be of iron, and the style pure
| Mores1ue.
The fountain itself will consist OF three
basins, one above another, the under one
being about seven feet in diameter and the
upper one about four feet, giving the foun-
tain a pyramidal shape. From the centre
of the upper basin the main stream will rise,
sustaining small globe, and falling grace
| fully into the reservoir.
| 1t will be a popularity of this fountain
that it will never overflow, as the rods that
support the basins being hollow, will act as
ducts to carry off the water. Each of the
basins will contain figures of ships or aquatic
! birds floating on the surface of the water,
and these will swim around, propelled by
some concealed machinery. Two faucets
on the outside of the structure. with erna-
mented vases. will supply passengers with
the means OF assuaging thirst, and this,
itself, would be valuable benefit. The in
terror of the panel surmounting thecolumns
will be used as an advertising medium, as
it will be lined with signs and business adj
vertisements of the subscribers TO the
| structure. The style and size OF the signs
will be such as to add to the richness Of the
design.
| The fountain will be located in the centre
OF Canal street, midway between Camp and
| Magazine streets, and it is expected thatit
will be completed during the month of
January.
| This fountain will be, without dispute,
not only a thing of ornament and utility to
the city, but highly creditable to the en-
terprise and public spirit of all who have
| contributed to its erection; 20 Mr.. Belknap
as the inventor of the improvements: to Mr..
Miltenberger for the design he furnished !;
to Mr. Bell for the working plans, and
especially to Mr.. Cronan, who, in his desire
to inaugurate what will be, most likely, but
the precursor of similar structures in other
parts of the city, has undertaken the work
at about one-third less than remuneratinr
price.
There is young apple merchant of Bos-
ton, not yet eleven years of age, who is lay
ing a good foundation for the future. He
employs five other boys younger than him