New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-24
GThe fTniIed States MINI

| terday, requesting Jne IieSlQcnt anu Con
gress of the United States to rertoIe the use
and property Of the branch mint in this
city to the city Of New Orleans, and which
was refenged to the Committee on Federal
branches Of the General Assembly at an
early day. This is matter that claims the
attention of our Mayor and city Admins
traitors, and should receive their attention
; without delay.
On the slevsnth day OF Nay, 1885. :he COT
Council of New Orleans:
F.! Res0lccd, That 4he use Of the sGrare of
| ground now inclosed and known as jackson
| square, situated in the city of New Orleans,
! and bounded as follows, Sc wit: by Espla-
! made, Garrison and Levee streets, and the
| Public road, be ceded to the United States
| for the express and only purpose of erect
| ing thereon a branch mint Of the United
| States, together with the necessary append
| ages; and that the Mayor DO and he is
hereby authorized to convey by hOtariaI
| act to Martin Gordon, Esq, the commits
| sioner appointed By authority O! tho said
United States, 90 superintend the erection
and building of said mint, the use and ocsu-
patton of said square toS the purposes afore-
said.
BE 5; further. veSoiuef That should il
hereafter be deemed necessary by the gov
ernment OF the United States to remove the
mint contemplated to be established as
aforesaid. or cease to occupy it for such pur-
poses. then the said act to be null and void
in conformity with this arraD cement the
Mint was 1u. in operation in buildings
erected for the purpose, and used up to the
beginning OF Che war. st IS row nearly
eight years since the close Of the WAY, and
the general government has manifested no
disposition 10 again use this property for
the purpose for which j. was originally
donated. It has, then. undoubtedly re-
Terted back to the possession of the city of
New Orleans. and only a compliance with
certain forms is required to place j. in the
possession of our city authorities.
Mr. fngrahan submitted another resoiu-
ton looking 60 the obtaining of this prop
erty Tor use as State House. Whether
this will be desirable location for this pui-
pose is question open for discussion.
Should this proposition prevail, however,
and the old Mint building finally become
the State House, then it will certainly have
the merit Of being located on heroic ground
Where the Mint building stands today,
hundred years ago frowned Fort ST. Charles
upon the venturesome shippers as they
crept around the point up 20 their moorings
at the siveg's bank by the little fortified
city of Orleans. Many men of daunrless
valOr had governed this little settlement,
with the unbounded territory beyond it,
under their respective majesties of France
and Spain; but perhaps none more restless
and sleepless than the little, Kat, mercurial
hidaigo who gave his name to that valuable
avenue of trade which he donated to this
city without costing it q .lollar-canal
freublOus times came upon him when ne
the control Of this people in 1892,
owing to the hetel ogeneous character of the
people whom he governed. their openly !
avoweI sympathies for the lands of their |
and the unsettled condition of |
affairs just az that juncturs anon. most OF |
the greet powers Of Europe. Not the least
oi She causes of his perpleNity vas she
steadily increasing p,pul ,tiua OF Americans
whG came here bringing their notions OF |
politics and religion with them, which no
lions were apt t0 Ge somewhat az variance |
with those prescribed Gos the government
Of Chi. Spanish colony.
Prudence, therefore, dictated 30 Cas0aSe-
et the propriety OF placing the city in an
attitude of defense. He recon. .tructe: and
rebuilt the line OF works env vrouing the city,
which had tumbled to decay under the ad-
OF his predecessors. The moat
outside the line of works was widened and
1eepened. 1t was made forty !eet wide
hree feet OF water, Fort San Carlos,
where the Mint stands now, and Fort st.
Louis, about where stands the Custom
house, were placed in a condition of do
enss. The furmer is described as being q
eguiar pentagon, with parapet eig hteen
eet thick, coated with BRICK, with covered
way, and with barracks for the accommo-
latiOu Of $50 men, aud powder magazine.
The armament OF this fort and its neil. Dor
vas Compose! OF dozen twelye and
$780, e'''A-HSiS' ~ bhO llii GO 81 stP ~
he resr Ss .he city stood t.ls so-called
forts :rrsundy. s.. jose.a and st. Ferdi-
laad.
sLsse :aIs. tor:e had oe covered @syo
nd 'E.t. NJ: seSetted. b.t were mainly
:eu. t'eSai wl'I sgitses sn3 palisades,
nj mounted .gh. :uns Th"r sc'e 10
a;ed respectively at VIA. are n1~ the cor
ley of Canal and Rampar: streets. Congo
quare and Hanpc,. and Esplana ade streets.
Ten years ists,, and =. gce.. change had
ONE o.eS The .piri. 0f ;hei: dreams. Ihc
ctise little Spaniard haI .li..ppf sssd.
Claiborne was the american Governor. and |
Yankee trader. sarned wilkins, was mayor.
| City Council occupied the seats OF the
N len! Cabildo. and Genera; WIikinsoa's
cl9iers !Osngs! around che cowI shen off
nty an's slept -: night il. .l.e ..arrac.. "t
It. Charles sna ~. Louie. The G:ty Com
ii lost nc time in o. derins .he earth for:iG !
ations o! Earcndelet to be sazed and the
loats filed up. The AMERICAN. couldn't
reaths well inside Of Notifications. and
hen the stagnant waters of the moats were
nhealthy. The parapet behind the town
ecame Rampant street, and civilization
prea9 go sapidlS aP aud Sov& iSiS she I