New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-07-12


The proceedings lately instituted by the
city against the railroad companies to cause
them to remove certain obstruc tons across
st. Joseph, North Market, South Market
and Delord streets, have elicited the follow
ing communication from Major E. A. Burke,
the capable freight agent Of the Jackson
railroad. 1t will be perceived that Mr..
Burke, on behalf of the company, proposes
to immediately open and keep open st.
Joseph and North Market streets, but asks,
on the ground of public convenience as well
as in behalf of the interests Of the company
that they be permitted for time to keep
their cotton yards as at present at South
Market and Delord streets. We learn, fur
thermore, that if the city finds it absolutely
necessary to restrict the freight room now
occupied by this company on the ievee, an
immediate return to the Magnolia street
depot will be necessary. Since the
city first moved in the matter very many
of the property holders in the vicinity
of St. Mary Market have signed a petition
to the Council to permit the railroad com
pany to'enjoy such privileges as it may be
possible for the city to grant without abso-
lutte inconvenience to travel. 1t will be OBJ
served that the company does not set up
any right to obstruct any street, but asks
as privilege in the name of its consignees
that all the yard room that can be spared
NAV beconceded to it. 1t is probable some
sort Of an understanding which will be mu-
tually satisfactory will yet be had between
the city and this company. and we hope
the Mobile read will also be able to make
some terms which will not involve that
company in unnecessary expense. Whle
we hope to see these great avenues OF trade
and travel fostered and encouraged, we are
fully aware of the impracticability and dan
ger of permitting them to set up right to
obstruct the public streets:
New ORLEANS, July 9, 1874.
To the Honorable Mayor and Administrators OF
the city OF New Orleans:
GENrLEMEN-Ih have the honor to submit
the following statement of facts concerning
the obstruction of streets by this compaLy,
with a view to correct erroneous impress
sions. and to solicit such action on the part
of your honorable body as the interests OF
commerce may astify.
We have been accused of infringing upon
the rights of property holders IN the neigh,
borhood of st. Joseph, Delord, North and
South Market sire cts, and designing per-
sons have sought to create the impression
that we have arbitrarily assumed the right
to close public highways OF the city.
If we have appeared amenable to this
charge, a brief reference to the circum-
stances under which we occupied the prop
critics in that ne,ghborhood will doubtless
remove the suspicion OF improper design.
When this company acquired property
near the levee its freight business was
transacted at the depots of the company,
near Magnolia street, about one mile re-
moved from the business centres and cotton
presses OF the city, and the 10000 tons OF
freight received and forwarded yearly by
this company had to be transported by
drayage the above distance. The streets
leading to those depots were generally in
an execrable condition, causing vexatlOus
DELAYS in the transit of freight; heavy dray-
age charges, which operated as direct
burden upon the commerce OF the city pass
ing over this line. In addition to this bur-
den upon commerce, heavy expense was
imposed upon the city in order to keep the
different avenues in a passable condition.
In order to facilitate the business of our
patrons, and relieve them of these obnox-
ious charges (althOugK possessed OF ample
nroperties for our business near Magnolia
street,, we procured the levee properties,
and there, at great expense, established
our depots, locating them where they are
accessible to the commercial centres ana
cotton presses, through streets already
paved with square block, which require but
a slight expenditure by the city to keep IN
repair.
The only complaints at the time were the
drayage interests, and they soon discover
ed that their interests were equally benefit
ed, by the saving in wear and tear upon
their stock, and by reason of the fact that
the increased number Of loads they we're
enabled to haul. more than compensated
for the decrease in the price of drayage
The streets INSTRUCTED by our improve
ments had no existence in point OF fact, ex-
cept upon the maps; they had never been
used for the purposes of commerce, and
were impossible for the reason that they
we re covered with ponds of water, varying
from two to six feet in depth; therefore, we
have placed no barriers to their use greater
than those in existence when we occupied
them.
At an expense of over $50, 900 we have
filed the ponds and morasses with earth,
gravel and shell, and have used the yard
formed thereby solely in the interests OF
commerce for the discharge and delivery OF
cotton consigned to this city. The space
thus utilized is still inadequate to accom-
modate the receipts of the staple drawn to
this station by the extended connections OF
our lines.
Your honorable body have seen fit to de-
cree the removal Of all Instructions to the
four streets above named, and without
questioning the wisdom of this decree, we
have proceeded to comply with its require
ments. We have assumed no ownership
over these highways. and have not sought
to infringe upon the rights of our neigh bors,
but occupied the grounds under the impress.
sion that no objection could or would be
urged thereto, until such time as the inter-
ests of commerce might require them to be
opened. If in your judgment that time has
now arrived, we are not disposed to offer
any captiOus obstacles to your action, but
respectfully beg leave to submit for your
consideration the hardship which will inure
to this company, and the. injury to the trade
and commerce Of our city, to be caused by
of its authorities.
We have promptly removed the ebstruc,
tions on St. Joseph and North Market
streets, which limits our already inadequate
facilities for handling the cotton receipts
but still enables US to transact our business
at the levee depots. If, however, South
Market and Delord streets are required to
be opened at this time, the usefulness OF
our warehouse for forwarding freight, and
our cotton yard. will be destroyed, render
ing it impossible for us to transact the
freight business of the company for the
approaching season at the levee depOts.
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