The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-05-30
can dispense to them. while among all the
Northern Democracy there is not to be found
even one Esau to keep them company? We
cannot believe this to be possible.
CITY DRAINAGE.

This subject Is claiming attention at the
hands of sanitarians, and Is undoubtedly one
of the most important questions affecting the
health and future Of our city.
Like many other needed measures, this one
has been the victim OF the gross mismanage-
ment and corruption Of Republican era, and
1t Is quite as well to bear In mind. when o dis
position Is evinced to criticise our people for
apparent neglect, that they have already paid
the price which should have secured them a
perfect system OF drainage and sewerage.
By reference to the City Hall records 1t will
be found that the city paid over $2,ooO,ooo for
this purpose within a period OF five years,
under the requirements Of an act Of the
Legislature passed in the interests OF the
Mississippi and Mexican Gulf Canal Com
pany. BY the terms of the act this company
received the sum Of one dollar per cubic yard
for excavation and protection levee. 1t is
scarcely necessary to call attention to the
fact that such work is now being done by the
Land Reolamati Company for less than ten
cents per cubic yard Allowing for differ
ence Ia the character of the lands excavated
and for the work of leveling, twenty-five cents
per cubic yard would have been full price.
Now that this work has been done, and as
the city is too poor to undertake an expensive
system Or works. would 1t not be possible to
avail ourselves of the full benefit Of the ca
nails now in existence, by adopting the sug-
pestions heretofore made by distinguished
civil engineers, who recommend the removal
of the draining machines to the lake, or the
erection Of suitable machines there for the
purpose of throwing the drainage water Into
the lake? The cost Is not beyond the COM
bined ability of our city administration and
the Auxiliary Association, and the benefits
ara Immediate In the reduction of the water
level in the canals and vast increase Il res
ervoir capacity.
At present these canals are full almost 70
the top, and whenever an excessive rainfall
visits us they are Overlooked, bringing dis
tress and loss to the poor who inhabt the
districts subject to inundation and at all
times filling the soil with q moisture which
promotes malaria. All this is caused by the
location of the draining machines In such
close proximity to the city as to afford made
uuate reservoir capacity.
With reduction Of the water level In the
canals it would be possible to increase the
fall of the cutters leading into them, and this
same lowering of the water line would bring
into cultivation all of that land lying between
the city and the lake.
The beneficial effect Of bringing this land
into cultivation would be thousandfold. It
would result III opening the way for the poor
of New Orleans who are willing to work, to
secure cheap homes near the city they love
It will cause the swamp to be drained, and re-
move the decaying vegetation which pro-
notes malaria. The authorities or owners Of
lands could then clear away the trees and OBJ
structions between New Orleans and the lake
thereby permitting our city to enjoy the cool,
delightful breeze from the waters Of Lake
Pontchartrain.