The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-22


extingutshing fires aud adopt q paid
department under the charge Of the
Board Of Underwriters at a certain
saving to the city OF Mt least -......... 10000 |
Reduce the enormous appropriation for
criminal Justice from $4,000 to
Transfer the Insane Asylum to the Lou
isiRna Retreat or some other instltu-
tiop Of IKE character BY contract, - mn
The Boys House OF Refuge. should be
run BY q board OF commissioners to
be appointed by the Governor. and
should be. made self-sustalning,
The city marker inspectors should be
by the Crescent oy Police o saving 10000
ID $4,000. saving ............-......... 1000
His o flee expenses from 5000 TO $4,000.
saving 1900
Red uee the administrators from $4,000 to :.
$1,000 saving l2,uou
Reduce the expenses Of the Surveyors
Office to $4,000, saving ................. $4,000
Reduce the salaries Of the employees in
the various departments at least 10000
Total Observation-Disclosures l6s 100
The above reduction, in our opinion. could
be made without the public interest suffering,
and would enable the city to simply keep
within the budget, but we regret to say that
we do not believe it possible to reduce taxa
tion on the reduced assessment below Ia per
cent.
In pointing out, rs we have done, the re-
forms and retrenchments that should DO made
In the city government, your committee are
much embarrassed to determine the method
Of accomplishing the desired reform or OF
goiug into the details OF corporate govern
meni through theorganic law that this Con
yention ID now charged with making for the
people Of the State AS this corporation de-
rived her existence through the legislative
branch of the government, Webelleve that the
| relief to the people must come through the
same source, and therefore we can only offer
al ordinance, leaving the details to the next
| Legislature.
DRAINAGE OF THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS.
This subject Is claiming attention at the
| hands Of sanitarians, and Is undoubtedly one
of the most important questions affecting
the health and future prosperity Of our city,
| Like many other needed measures, this
one has been the victim OF the. gross mis-
| management and corruption Of Repub-
lican era, and 1t is we'll to bear IN mind that
| the people OF this city have already paid the
price which should have secured TO them
| perfect system Of drainage and sewerage.
On reference to the City Hall records it Is
seen that the city paid over S2,OOO,OOo for this
purpose within period OF five years under
The requirements Of an act Of the Legisla-
t1re passed in the interest Of the Mexican
Gulf Ship Canal Company, and still we have
no drainage, the plan proposed being entirely
too expensive and beyond the ability OF the
city to continue it. AS to the best system
Of drainage for the city, your committee
are entirely unable to express an opinion,
believing that it ls a subject only to be deter
4 mined BY able and experienced engineers; but
from what we have read on the subject, and
especially the views expressed 80 fully and
i scientifically by the commission appointed in
1868, and known as the Bragg Commission,
we are OF opinion that the plan therein pro,
posed Of sewerage for the front portion OF
the city, and surface drainage into the canals
and thence into the lake, for this roar portion
Of the city, Is the proper one; but the great
difficulty to contend with at present ~ adopt
~, xtay, rf iYHfr ID
!, total pecuniary Inability OF the city to carry
Therefore we would suggest that as the
:, CITY Is too poor to undertake an expensive
system OF works, it would be better 60 aval
herself of the canals now in existence by
adopting the suggestions heretofore made
: by distinguished engineers, who reccOmmeDC
! the removal OF the draining machines to the
lake, or the erection OF suitable machines
there for the purpose Of throwing the drain
age water into the lake. The cost Is not be-
yond the combined ability Of our city ad
ministration and the auxiliary associa
. tion,1 and the benefits are Immediate II
t the reduction of the water level In the canals
/ and vast increase of reservoir capacity. A
: present these canals are full almost to Thu
TOD, and whenever an excessive rainfall visits
: US they are overlooked, bringing distress AM
loss to the poor who lnhaDit the dlstt1ets SUP
soil with q moisture which promotes malaria
0 All this In our opinion is caused by the loca
t ton Of the drainage machines In such clos
proximity to the city rs to afford inadequat
/ reservoir capacity.
8 With q reduction OF the water level in tn
q canals. it would be possible to increase tn
' fall OF cutters leading to them, and this sam
& lowering Of the water line would bring int
!; cultivation all that land lying between tn
9 city and the lake.
J, The beneficial effect OF bringing this Ian
Q under cultivation would be a thousand-folt
t It would result in opening the way to tn
i poor Of New Orleans who are willing to Wor
to procure cheap homes near the city.
T. 1t would cause the swamp to be dralne
: and remove the decaying vegetation-tha
g which promotes malaria
d The authorities or owners OF land coul
then clear away the trees and obstruction
Il between New Orleans and the lake, thereb
Y permitting this city to enjoy the cool and %
J, iightful breeze from the waters OF the lake.,
il Your committee regret that they cannot az
II wise any way Of arriving at this most neces
It sary improvement through the organic Law
o it being a matter that entirely belongs to th
If corporation OF the city of New Orleans an
i her people, and can, in our opinion. only (
d achieved by special tax being levied for tt
;, purpose. subject to the ratification OF Il
6 property holders, whose property would mo-
i than double in value and the health OF u
It city be greatly improved. .....
d Respectfully submitted,
z VIM a. BELL, Chairman.