New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-29
Advertisements.
MUNICIPAL REFORMS
The City Debt--How It was Created
and How It Must be Met.
Address Delivered by General Leonard
Sewell,
Before tho Southern Republican AEeO.
citation, Wednesday Evening,
January 26, 1876.

appear before you tonight to deliver
discourse on the financial condition OF tn
city of New Orleans. Introductory. to m.
remarks ON the conduct of city affairs an
tempted to look back upon the origin o
this interesting city, the numerically pre-
ponderating population of which consists o
the punctiuiOus Spaniard, the vivaciOus
impufsive Frenchman, and the phlegmatit
Saxon all combined in one nationality.
Taking the city all IN all, it is architect
1rally picturesque and unique, the climate
is enjoyable, society select, and Its tan
daughters beautiful and refined.
In 1852, nearly two centuries back, La
Sale, in the name Of France, took posses
sion Of this tract Of country, but it was no:
until 1857 that q successful effort was made
to colonize it. A company under the com
mand of Iberville Lemoine landed on the
coast at a place which they called Bay St
Louie, and subsequently established the
headquarters of the Louisiana colony al
Biloxi, viii n had until then been an Indian
settlement.
Sauvolle Lemoine and Bienville Lemoine,
brothers of Ibervllle, were appointed sever
silly the first Governor and Lieutenant Gov
ernor Of the Louisiana colony. These
pioneers have left their imprints in our
midst, for We find their names, as well az
others not mentioned here, commemorated
in our local history as landmarks in various
parishes and districts of the country.
In 17l7, when the Western Company was
organized in France, the entire population
of this colony did not exceed ZOO persons. To
this company Louis XIV. granted a charter
securing to them for q period of twenty-five
years al commercial privileges, and the right
Of selecting their own Governors and COM
mandipg officers. About this time Bienville,
for the seat of government, proceeded to
select q favorable site, and in accordance
with the ideas prevalent at that time, great
cities must be placed inland 60 as to be out
Of the reach Of foreign enemy, he chose
for his purpose the spot where this city now
stands.
1t is to be lameuted that the situation Of
our city, not being at the debouchu!e OF the
river, entails upon our commerce all the
disadvantages Of costly pilotage, heavy
towage charges, additional insurance risks,
and now, to cap the climax. q doubtful jetty
experiment to contend against.
In 1872, when New Orleans became the
seat of government, it consisted Of about
seventy or eighty log huts, and contained
not more than 200 inhabicants, being quar-
ter OF the population of the entire colony.
Spain part of the province Of Louisiana, in
GLIDING the city Of New Orleans, with all
lite municipal rights; but it was not until
l769 that the Spanish government became
possessed of Louisiana, which was handed
over to the Spanish commander, O'Reilly.
At this time the habitations in the city had
increased to over 400, with a population of
over 5000, while the population Of the whole
During lapse Of thirty years Louisiana
was governed successfully by eeven Span
ish Governors, commencing with O'Reilly
in l769. to Salced0 in 1900, in which wear
Spain, bv treaty, ceded Louisiana back to
France. In the early part OF the year 1903
France took possession OF the province, but
retained it only for few months, for we
find it was given mp to the United States,
who took formal possession OF LOUISIANA IN
December, 1903. :,
The rapid growth of the agricultural and
commercial interests of the country may be
dated from that period; for in the space OF
seventy years the city of New Orleans mas
been secured from inundatien by an e1pen-
siye system of grand levees, the habitations
have improved from log huts and quaint
Moorish buildings to palatial residences:
and the city has extended to miles OF
streetr, while the few Thousand inhabitants
have increased to upwards OF 2OO, 200.
II lie. however, q notable fact that the
progress of the rural districts has not kept
pace with the advance of the city. The
Agricultural interests were formerly de-
pendent on peculiar class OF laoor, winch
with other causes needless 10 MeAIoA no1o,
have combined to prevent the increase OF
the population in the rural districts. Hence,
it ie that while New Orleans has 10y, UOO
inhabitants. the entire epulation OF the
State does not reach SOC, 600; if you deduct
from this number the population OF the
towns and people engaged IN trade, you
will find how small portion OF the popula,
ton is devoted to agricultural pursuits, and
how much has yet to be done before the
resources of the State are fully developed.
In 1886 the city was divided into three
corporations each having . Council, re-
corder and other municipal officers-above
these was q Mayor and General Council OF
the Whole city-but where the legislative
powers of the three municipal Councns
ended and those of the General Council be.
gan was . question of some difficulty, and
gave rise to continual distrusts and confu'
sion. The disorders arising therefrom dc,
precisted the value of their bonds and
other promises to pay, and caused thinking
and we'll disposed men to see the necessity
Of rescuing the three corporations from the
confusion into which they had fallen. merg
ing them into one city government ana con
soIidating the various debts. Inns plan,
however, was not carried into enecs uh'l
the year 1852.