Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1881-03-23
New Orleans Parks.

i
fond of gayety and nmusemcnts To great
or extent than any other city in the Union
by reason ofthepreponderance ofthe French
element, il is rather remarkable that M
other city has had 80 few places to which
the dcoplc might resort for ftn and frolic
With the exception of the ball rooms
! theatres. one or two public squares. Til,
city has not had until year ago any
/ thing like the parks and gardens of the
/ northern aud western cities. Whether il
was thought that u beer garden with a
, barrel organ, or host of drinking saloons
were sufficient for the needs Of thr popHla
ton or whether poverty stoocd in the way
for private enterprise Ia adorn aud bcanti.
~ grounds within whose limits the people
might find rest and enjoyment after the
labor of the week.
The old Spanish Fort. six miles or more
from Canal street on the bank. Of Lake
Pontchartrain, is a lovely spot. perfect
I
saw it last winter before any work had
been done on il VI any Importance. Then
it was drcnry and dilapdated in appear.
ancc; now, under the skillfnl management
Of the schwarts Brothers, all the drcar-
ness is gone. In order to make their rail
road pay they have spent thousands of dol
lars on these grounds. In an enclosed pool
there is happy family Of aligators, sever
al fountains play in the sun az electric light,
IA it may be, day Ut night. maze of
-hruhbrry puzzles and amuscs the children.
pleasure boats of every description ply on
the waters of the canal and Lake, rc-tau.
rant, aud beer saloons greet the visitor ON
every hand, long walks conduct one Ia
bathing houses in the lake spacious
building is crowned 10y a tower from which
Numerous and there are attractions of spc-
special beauty. All this is seen 10 The best
advantage when. on Sundays and the even
ings Of The week. The hot and tired citizen
seeks here rest and the cooling breeze from
the lake. We are told that the new lake
end is equally attractive, Int rs We did
not visit this resort We cannot speak ct it
It IN particular. 1t j. fact, however,
worth mention, that all these improve
m"ntS have been made 10y private enter
prise, not for benevolent purpose. bur in
order to make two railroads rrmunrra-
tive. That they Ito pay cannot hr doubted
The trains, consisting of six or seven ears
that will carry perhaps fifty, make fire.
qurnt trips through the day in the summer
aud arc literally packed with people. The
outlay by the companies is enormous. vet
the return il in tho excess.
There is, however, n city park in New
Orleans TINT il In condition uf general
dilapidatiou, and ~ used occasionally for
picmics. II could be- made ~ beautiful
M anything on the continent, hut rs the
city is virtually bankrupt the people must
alton and amusement 50 needed in great
city. True, the city papers are confirm
ally agitating the question, hut without
visible effect
In the near future, though. this may all
be changed. All seem To think that the
city will soon begin to grow. and within a
quarter uf Il century will rauh >"rond only
To New York. Nothing will prove IT, pro-.
prrity :" nnrh ~ the creation If public
parks for the people.
Th"S editors and publishers who look
with di~favnr upon the llca Of state
Press Association could not have retained
their prcindiccs If they had witnessed the
meeting i'll New Orleans With more than
forty journalists present. some of them
females, there was no lack of harmony.
All seemed Ia lie in earnest. and full de-
trrmined To leave nothing undonc that
would secure better understanding of
the common interest and higher apprrci-
alton of ~" aims Of journalism.
The question of rates so great huga-
boo 10 many, was arranged ia n proper
manner \ minimum price was fixed be-
low which none are Ia go in their charges.
simply this aud nothing more Should the
next meeting prove H. agreeable ~ this
and tn" members retain their rarncstness.
W. prophecy Il splendid future for journal
ism IN Lcuisiana-a material advance