New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-06

The mere keeping, in tho most ordinary
repair, such an immense area of streets in
wolves an expenditure disproportionate to
the current resources of the city so long as
the expenses Of other branches Of admins
lration (many beyond cur cOntrOl) remain
On their present footing; yet the streets
must be repaired, or what becomes of our
Commerce-whence are We to derive our
revenuesa Uupaved or imperfectly paved
streets, where the traffic is heavy, are
the costliest membranes the city can
have A hundred and twenty-five thou
sand barrels Of shells ito say nothing
about ballast) have been placed on the
streets this year, and yet the pressure for
better paving has been so great as to be
difficult Of resistance There is no economy
in standing still. True economy is progress
and permanent improvement. Take for
example those streets around the levee
which it is now proposed to pave with square
block stone. 1t will require an annual ex-
penditure of 9l25, 900 for shells, ballast.
material and labor to keep the landing and
the street outlets in passable condition for
commerce. This in ten years would amount
to 81, $50, 900, with nothing to show for it.
The cost to the city of paving these same
streets with square block, as proposed by
the resolution now pending, would be about
100000 in bonds. Had our predecessors
twelve years ago square blocked these
streets, and issued bonds in payment, the
amount saved to the city in it's annual ex-
penditures since would have taken up the
bonds, principal and interest, and left us a
substantial servicable pavement. good for
fifteen years to come, with the surrounding
property improved in value. and able to
bear higher assessment The increase Of
the CITY and it's continued prosperity depend
upon the facilities afforded to it's commerce,
and any retrOgrade or stand.still policy in
this respect will add to the financial en-
harraesments instead Of diminishing them.
During this administration 1879 feet of
new wharves have been constructed, with
an increased batture area estimated worth
$4,000, nine and one half miles Of protec-
tion levees in rear of the city, and seventeen
miles of river levees raised and strengthened
during the present year:
The amount expended by the Department
of improvements for the eleven months of
the present year has been little over
seven hundred and fifty-six thousand dol
lars, including an emergency expenditure
of 500, 900 occasioned by the overflow.
The amount allowed by the budget for the
whole year is $685. 900. An imperfect OK
animation Of IT the corresponding 1g. e5 :; ,sss
there was an outlay for similar purposes OF
s., OO6, 900, and in 1869 of 81 ,030, 600. The
Fifth and Sixth Districts were not then in
cluded within the city limits, and the old
boards of drainage commissioners were rails
ing their own revenues and operating separ-
ntely and distinct from the Council. Yet
with two more districts under it's charge,
and an extended system of drainage in
operation, the present administration, a. far
az the. Department Of Improvements 10
concerned, has effected . saving of nearly
two hundred and fifty Thousand dollars
year over the preceding system. Ont Of tho
expenditures for this year, about $4,000
have been laid out in permanent improve
ments, and S., 900 have been spent in inn
proving drainage machinery.
The department has received, during tho
year, thirty five formal petitions for various
extensive street improvements. Of these,
and ten remain in allegiance. In nearly
every case whore the petition hes been
granted and tho work entered upon, the
city has had no option in the case, the
provisions Of the charter rendering II ~