The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-15

many sections OF the city are constituted OF
the most miserable, ill-venttllated and dilapi-
dated tenements, where humanity WalloWs
I'd filth and dampness.
The Sanitary Association has essayed to
remedy these evils, but they will, we fear, &C
complish little. The removal Of q few cart
loads Of innocent filth Or garbage from the
streets with little feeble flushing Of the
cutters will accomplish nothing. What We
need is, above all things, an abundance Of
pure fresh air pouring constantly, during the
summer season, down every alley and street
OF the city and permeating with invigorating
breezes every house within our borders.
But, says the sanitarian, how is this to be
done2 We propose here to outline scheme
by which this can be accomplished and New
Orleans made, as we have said. the coolest,
healthiest and most delightful city III
America.
Our people are supplied by companies and
machinery with light and water, which are as
free and abundant, and the former as intan-
gible as air. Why, then, may not the people
be supplied In the same manner with constant
breezes and an unfailing supply Of fresh and
healthful ARP
We suggest that stock company with q
million or two millions OF capital be organ
lied to establish system Of wind and fresh
air works for this city. For the purpose ct
cooling the city and supplying 1t with fresh
yoirs should be built at proper points, sup
piled with powerful steam engines and q
double set Of pipes. One set Of the pipes
should be 20 constructed as to draw into the
great reservoir the fresh air from given
altitude. free Of miasma or infection, and
the other set should be 90 constructed that the
air thus gathered into the reservoir could be
forced In q strong, swift stream down our
streets. BY this means, day and night, q
strong breeze Of pure air would permeate
through the city In every direction. Subsidiary
to this second system OF pipes, underground
main pipes should traverse the city like those
Of the water and gas works. with side pipes
entering all houses that desired them. These
side pipes should Ne arranged with valves,
90 that when 1t was desired to have breeze
through the room In which they were located,
the wind could be turned on just as we turn
on our gas and water. 1t Is easy to be seen
how by this means the city could be kept cool
during the summer, fully supplied with fresh
pure air, and all infection and miasma swept
away. No healthier countries exist On the
globe than those regions which lie In the path
of the trade winds, and the air works we pro-
pose would act upon the temperature and sa-
lubrity OF our atmosphere just as the trade
winds do on that OF the lovely lands they
sweep.
The company to make the enterprise more
profitable, could attach draining machines or
manufacturing machinery to these several
engines and thus subserve the double purpose
Of refrigerating and purifying the atmosphere
OF the city and encouraging manufacturers.
We hope that a company with million or
two millions Of dollars will be Immediately
organized to establish air works for the city,
and we have no doubt that the Council Will
concede them all rights and privileges nee
essary to their great work, and not inconsist-
ent with the public good.