The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-12

House Of Refuge, s549 u.s." are in fragrant viola
ton and antagonism with the contract ordinance
before mentioned. How fmsy pretext this
assertion rests upon will be readily per-
ceived when ii Is stated that these several
amounts represent the aggregate cost OF q
large number Of small articles, flour among the
number, purchased during montn-snas owing
supplied, these articles cannot be purchased in
large quantities or in regular spportionments.
but have to be bought from time to time in small
lots as needed, net one o. these lots exceeding
readily perceived that the ordinance was never
intended to apply to purchases OF such small lots,
az the expense Of advertising and employing ex-
merits for she inspection of variety of small articles
which have to be bought from time to time would
| augment the cost in ratio entirely dispropor-
/ tionate to the value OF the purchases. The
| present has been the immemorial praetice-in-
| deed none other is practicable in an economical
| point of view, and it Is indeed strange that the
| Administrator of improvements should, after
nearly years conformity to the practice by the
sanction of his vote in approving suoh bills and
ordering their payment, at this late day take
occasion to find fault with proceeding in which
he has been participator without objection. l.
should be further stated that the articles here
entered as purchased for the House OF Refuge
include what is supplied to the Home Of the Aged
and Infirm. Insane Asylum, formerly to the soup
house, and the Workhouse, and if the total
| amount for each month were divided among
| these institutions the whole monthly amount of
each institution would fall within the five hun
| dred dollar clause OF the ordinance
80 we'll known are all of these facts to the
| members OF the Council, as indeed they are to
any one who has interest enough to inquire, that
| it has been source OF increasing wonder, as we
| have closely examined the paper presented by
| the Administrator of improvements, that he
| could have betrayed an ignorance or assume
want Of knowledge of the facts which we have had
occasion to set forth herein. We're not his sig
l k..A h. .tx1
should be inclined to believe it an emanation from
| some one whose sources Of information were
either exceedingly limited or else whose disposi-
ton led him purposely to neglect his opportuni-
ferent matters discussed. Purely in self-de-
fense as public servants, we have sought
| to correct errors OF fact prejudicial to
to our official reputation and in
| fair, without rsorimination whers perhaps an
erring colleague has aid himself open to severe
animadversion. Amenable to just criticism at all
| times, as all public servants are, while we well
| come demonstration OF our error in the past, ii
| any there be, as prompting the surest path for
| our improvement in the future, we yet have
claimed here the privilege Of setting ourselves
right before that public opinion to which no good
| citizen can claim superelOus indifference. We
lament the course of our colleague, which has
| created the necessity Of this paper, while we
believe ourselves justified in showing the error
Of his way, and the injustice OF. charging to
did mind must admit sprang from sense Of
| enlightened duty TO the citys interest and will
| enure to its benefit, although unfortunately. per-
hsps, they may curtsil in q large degree the
| power and patronage of the Department of I'm
provements.
Respectfully submitted,
| J. @. DENIS,
Administrator OF Finance.
| CHAS. OAVANAC,
| Administrator of Commerce.
ROBT. e. DIAMOND,
| Administrator Of Police
| J. G.. BROWN,
Administrator OF Public Accounts
concur in the above.
| ED. PILsBURY, Mayor.
| DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,
| City Hall, New Orleans, Sept 10, 1877
j. A. d'Hemecourt, Esq. City Surveyor
| Si-In a recent communication to the City
| Council the honorable Administrator OF Improve
ments, speaking Of the condition OF the wharves,
| says: " The contractors, thus encouraged, per-
mitted nearly the whole summer to pass without
doing the work necessary to be done at this time,
| and we are now, on the approach OF the business
season, with line of wharves completely wrecked,
| the landing, ETC., entirely out OF repair, while
merchants and others are constantly petitioning
for come action looking to their speedy repara-
ton, so az to meet the wants OF commerce."
In order that the Council and the commercial
public may be fully acquainted with what has
been done, and what is now and will be the con
dition Of the wharves for the winters business,
would respectfully ask statement OF the work
performed and the condition and the facilities
Tor receiving and accommodating the shipping at
this port this winter, in as brief and concise q
form as practicable, and at your earliest conve-
niencs. Very respectfully.
Administrator of Commerce.
sNRvEYoR's OFFICE,
| New Orleans, Sept. 10, 1877 !
Hon. Uhas. Cavanac, Administrator Of Com
| merce:
| Dear Sir-Ih answer to your eommu nieation OF
this date relative to the condition of the wharves.
landings ETC., have the honor to state that dur
ing the first OF June to the twenty. fifth of Au-
gust last, the lessee of the wharves has been at
work putting in good order and extending into the
river the shipping wharves of the First District,
to wit: Wharves Nos. 49, IT, 1S, 10, 90, 81, %, a.
2S, 80, 81, 81, 80, 81, 35, 36 and 81 containing
three hundred and fifteen squares OF new work
for extension, and over one thousand squares in
reconstruction and repair He has besides filled
up the batture at Canal street ferry.
At whsrves Nos. 16 II. Is, 20. q and a. con-
taining eight thousand two hundred and fifty
cubic yards Of filing.
this district are all in good ORDER with the excep
ton of two portions from Lafayette to Julia
street, which the lessee ID now rebuilding and
filling with river sand.
The Red river packet and steamship landing
required an extension Of over fifty feet into the
river lover 400 squares), and for the last four
weeks the lessee has at work been extending the
same and rebuilding part of the old work in the
rear; and | expect that at the end Of the week
this work shall be completed.
The levees in this district have always been
kept in good order and condition by the lessee,
and no complaint has ever reached this depart.
ment regarding the same.
IN THE SECOND DISTRICT
the steamboat and steamship wharves have al
ways been kept in good order and condition by the
lessee, who is now at work repairing the apron of
the steamboat wharf, and has lately repaired the
front OF the steamship wharf. The levee has also al
ways been kept in good order and condition by the
lessee. The lessee has besides built new wharves
below and above the Canal street ferry, meas
uring ffty-seven superficial squares. He hal
dredged the batture which had formed in front
d gh OF d, Saasr SIX BELOW
water mark.