New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-10-22
THE CITY HALL.

A cu1nher Of petitions, signed by over a
Thousand persons. have been fled in the
Mayors office, asking the City Council to
take Immediate action with regard to the
storing Of coal oil. Reference is made to
the late fires in Chicago and elsewhere, and
fears intimated that there is sufficient in
tammable oil stored in the central portion
Of the city to destroy the whole Of the four
original districts. The petitions are signed
by the Most eminent merchants and bank
ers and by the largest property holders. A
more respectable and imposing list of names
was never, perhaps, appended to any simi-
lar document. and the City Council can not
fail to take immediate action on the sub
ject. Dealers in petroleum are much ex-
cited On the subject Of the new ordinance
proposed 10y Colonel Lewis, Administrator
Of Police, and it is understood that a large
number Of them will meet in the Mayors
parior tO-MorrUw morning to discuss the
matter.
Torpedsee.
A nc:ice to the consignees of tie Union
torpedoes lately shipped to this city has
been Issued by the Mayor, warning all hav
ing :he deton.ting missiles in possession TO
remove them beyond the corporate limits,
under penalty of cOnfiscarion.
Department Of Improvements.
All that engineering skill can accomplish,
by means Of scientific grades and levels, has
been done by the City Surveyor to drain the
rear portions Of the First and Fourth Dis
tricts; hut to little purpose has all this labor
and expense been incurred, unless more
powerful machinery he provided to throw
out the water collected in the canals.
The Melpomene draining machine may
be said to be comparatively worthless for
draining that portion Of the city in the
neighborLood Of Fillmore square, for that
locality. during the recent heavy rains, was
entirely submerged for forty-eight hours. or
longer. The re gion through which is dug
the Galvez canal. in the First District, was
also under water, to the depth Of two feet.
during more than week. Numbers Of
poor people having vegetable gardens, on
the products Of which they rely principally
for their support, had them entirely de-
strOyed by the heavy rains of two weeks
age.
draining machines are old and worn out.
They should be. replaced by new ones of
quadcuple power-this being the judgment
Of those competent to speak on the subject.
The poor people who live un the periodically
lots in the rear Of the city pay
taxes Tor having their lots drained and they
have right to be protected from overflow.
Let the city administration see that these
old ard broken down draining machines
"a Z pN LEV Uucs, iuS iouE tlIuCs
their power, and which viii remove the
flood waters caused by rains, as fast as they
fail
Department Of Finance.
The clerks and employees in and about the |
City Hall are complaining loudly. and very |
Justly, Of the depreciation Of the certificates |
,f appropriation. in which they are paid
heir wages and salaries. On such paper
hey have to suffer discount Of about one
fhilt, which reduces their compensation to
such an extent that they can not pay their
,urrent expenses. 1t IS openly asserted that
his state OF affairs has been brought about
~ ring. formed several weeks ago. with
/ deliberate design TO depreciate city secu-
'ities-buy them up in large quantities, and
hen by a bullirg process, known only to
he initiated. sell them out again at a large
,rofit.
Morey should be raised to pay off these
employees a: once, and there is financial
bility enough in the City Hall TO do it.