New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-09
BOYS HOUSE OF REFUGE

SIIce lue DuIulHS VI JoItioll VI tIic
Boys House of Refuge two or more propo-
sitions have been made to locate this in
stitution out on the Metairie ridge. 1t has
been proposed, and the proposition was,
we are informed, seriously entertained at
one time, to rent the Girod Asylum tenn
porarily for boys house of refuge. We
do not know what rent the city was to pay
for this property, but it would have been
something handsome-at least several hum
bred thousand dollars a year. And then
it would have cost the city three or four
thousand dollars to have erected the nee
essary buildingsI for workshops, etc.
Besides this, the inconvenience of the
place at so great a distance from the city
would have rendered it necessary to keep
a number of teams to communicate with
the city and transact the business of the
institution. If the baking was continued,
the bread for other institutions would have
to be brought to the city, and the -four
used in the bakery would have to be hauled
out to the institution. But these, perhaps,
are minor objections, compared to other
and greater ones. The greatest objection
to making the Girod Asylum boys house
of refuge is its location. 1t is decided
~, at this time, the most unhealthy
location that could be selected for an in
stitution wherein large number of boys
are to be confined. 1t is q well known
fact tina. people who live out on the ridge
and in the neighborhOcd O, the Girod
Asylum are more OF less subjected 20 chills
and fever, and this must continue to be
the case until the swamps back Of TIE
ridge are thoroughly drained Then again,
what would become Of the Boys House of
Refuge, once established there, il case of
an overflow from the lake or city? Heavy
rains often cause that portion Of the city
to be inundated, and sad experience
teaches Us that sometimes more than
annual oyerfows from the lake keep this
portion Of our city under water for weeks
Economy, health, convenience should
teach our City Administrators the Girod
Asylum is not the place to establish the
Boys House of Refuge. And the equal
objections may be urged against the plan
to purchase Oakland Park. One hundred
and fifteen thousand dollars for that prop
erty, PAYABLE in bonds of the city of New
Orleans III ten years, bearing interest at
the rate OF eight per cent per annum, the
interea, payable annually, would make
this dear piece of property if it was well
adapted to the uses for which the city is
asked to purchase it. But being totally
unadaptel, for such purposes, nothing but
folly and extravaganza will prompt our
City Council to pass the ordinance recently
submitted by Administrator Lewis for that
purpose.
The best thing that can be done is to re- |
build that portion of the House of Refuge
recently burned on the property belong
ing to the city. One-half of the buildings
that compose the Boys House of Refuge |
are still standing there, and it will not cost |
more than $1,000 to replace those that |
were burned. There is no other expense
to be encountered. The Refuge can be |
kept here free of rent and without running |
the city in debt. Besides, it has proved to
be healthy location. Economy, health,
everything is in favor of keep
ng the Refuge where it has been so many
years If there had been d sensible view
aiken OF the subject the burnt buildings
would be now nearly replaced by new
ones, and the Refuge once more in work
ng order. 1t will be sensible to do this
low, much more sensible than to think of
'enting Or buying property On the Metairie
idge f5r & Boys House of Refuge.