New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-14
rHE PARK ooluGssIo1ERs.

Board OF AOmulSIoeoAo ~OA SAAS P"AP
of establishing the "New Orleans Park,
| in pursuance of the act approved Marcel
16, 1870, is being cheerfnlly paid by thu
people. The policy of making grand
central, peoples common, comprising
many acres, and improved to the utmost
reach ofart, upon the principle that ex'
penditure is investment of the highest
pecuniary advantage, we have already
urged at length, and propose now only te
express some objections to the law, with
view to further legislation in respect
to it.
The style, "New Orleans Park we
consider as not name, or its equivalent.
The public parks Of all cities bear such
distinctive style without legislation, as
the Boston Common" or New York
Central Park" The latter would, doubt
less, have been styled "City Park "
but for the veneration in which the old
"City Park" at the junction of Broad
way and Chatham street, was held,
which forbade its subsection to change.
Hence we think the new park should
have a name, as it has not, and either
Getty" or Central" would be acceptable
to the public.
Next, we can not approve the provision
which requires the services of five COM
missioners" without compensation. The
objections are obvious. The most proper
men for such duties may be unable to
accept the trust. If wealthy, they may
lack the incentive to serve; if poor, the
means Hence, the Governor is greatly
restricted in his selections by such
provision. It is his first duty to provide
such men as can not be led to subvert
the public dignity and welfare to schemes
of private profit. The whole community
should avail him in the difficult exercise
of this duty. Had the new city govern
ment been organized under administra-
tors without pay, the error would have
been no more signal or apparent. This
analogy is made significant by section
four, which recites the ''powers Of the
board:
Sec. A. Be it further enacted, etc, That the
said board shall have the full and exclusive
power to govern, manage and direct the
said park; to lay out and regulate the
same; to pass ordinances for the regulation
and government thereof to appoint such
engineers, surveyors, clerks, and other OFF,
GERS, except the police force, as may be
necessary; to prescribe and define their re-
spective duties and authority; the amount
Of their compensation; and generally, all
things in regard to said park; they shall
possess all the power and authority now by
law conferred or possessed by the Council of
the city in respect of the public squares and
places in said city.
And besides, preliminary to these pow
ers, are imposed the tedious and respon-
sible duties of purchasing or expropri-
ating the lands between ''Metairie road
and the Lake." where the act locates the
new park, as well as in their subsequent
administration, the enactment and en-
forcement Of necessary ordinances. So
that it becomes plainly apparent that the
new Commissioners, exercising, as they
will, an important share Of the city gov
eminent, involving the judicious expendi-
ture of large revenues, as well as the ju-
dicious selection of many hundreds Of
qualified persons to be employed in the
great work, are as much entitled to be
paid as the City Administrators.
In the ensuing section, it is made mis-
demeanor for any Commissioner to be or
become interested Gin any work or con-
tract" It would thus seem that the legis-
lator means to secure by penalty the ex-
emption from fraud and wrong which it
could best secure by providing against any
for these. The fear of pun
shment rarely prevents wrong, and pen
alties never beget remedies or cure.
Another provision, contained in section
nine, and permitting the city Of New Or
cans to establish and maintain within
aid park, one reservoir for the City
strikes at the only plan Of
'uch park on the magnificent scale indis-
called for by our great CONNER
'ial metropolis, under the glorious and as
Iured promise of her future-all Of which
We have before discussed. Let the Legis-
allure, by supplemental act abolish this
and in lieu Of it, extend the
he powers of the Commissioners to the
application of measures fof another kim
lred and homogeneous improvement, on
scale not less grand, and which may
likewise be made Of enormous pc
uniary advantage to the public treas
Try. We mean supplying the park, and
nth it, the city at large with water from
be crystal streams of pine woods in our
icinity, the Tchefuncta, Chapapella, Mutt
lbany or any most accessible! We do
ot propose now to dwell on the feasibili-
y or multifold advantages of this great
Enterprise. When New York abandoned
er pumps at the street corners, and pro-
eeded at cost of many millions to cut
queducts and lay pipes through miles
# rock, bringing the spring water of the
beautiful Croton river into all her streets |
nd dwellings, she became a mightier
nd Weather metropolis We should |
lot need example to follow in the perform
nee OF great deeds, but when at hand,
ct them not go unregarded.
We have thus briefly adverted to some
If the leading objections to the legislation
the new park as it now stands,
With no view to its amendment. Our