The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-02-23
NEW ORLEANS.
Correspondence of The independent

lHiS Guy uillerS Ill iuauy IeSpeCtS
from other American cities. 1t is en-
inently commercial city, and all
public improvements have reference
to the wants of trade and health. The
ground level is, in the most favored
parts, only a few feet above the water
level of the river and Lake Ponchar-
train, between which it is situated.
A number of the streets are very wide,
of which Canal street Is the pattern.
1t is 200 feet wide, with road-beds on
each side next to the walks, while the
centre is occupied by street car tracks
between long rows of shade trees.
The street cars to all parts of the city
centre here. 1t runs nearly north and
south at right angles with the river
bank, through the centre of the city,
reaching from the river to the ceme-
teries, some % miles, and thence by
steam cars through the swamp to the
bank of the lake, where summer re-
sorts and lighthouses have been
erected on the water's edge. These
shaded broad streets cross each other
at right angles and form elongated
parks in all parts of the city. The
streets and allies in the business parts
are paved with square granite blocks,
and on each side are cutters to carry
off the water-a sort of surface sewer
age system. They are flooded some
three or four times day from the
hydrants, and the accumulations car
ried off to the main dltches and thence
back to the lake, aided by pumping
into an elevated ditch, for the purpose
Of securing rapid current out of the
city.
The buildings for business are more
massive than elegant, solely designed
for use, and no effort at ornament such
as will be seen in Chicago. The resi-
dences are plain and substantial, with
no effort to show off to the eye. The
idea is gathered by all things that here
ell the extra capital aud energy of the
people is devoted to business, and that
shoddy aristoeracy has no place among
the wealthy. A close observation Of
the habits aud style of the people on
the most frequented walks will con-
firm this theory. Milwaukee, Wis
consin. although but half the size,
contains double the number of shoddy
houses and shoddy people.
The levee, for some four or five
miles fronting the city, is crowded
daily with river and ocean steamers
and sailing vessels, from all parts Of
the world, discharging and receiving
cargoes. Thousands of men are con-
stantly employed in moving freight.
Steam elevators are employed to trans
fer the corn and wheat from the st.
Louis barges to the vessels that con-
vey II to Europe. Great piles Of rail-
rond iron for the Texas Pacific road
are unloading from New York and
Liverpool steamers. Oranges, bana-
mas, cocoa nuts, spices, mahogany
woods, ETC., arrive on the gulf steam
ers, aud are distributed by cars and
boats to where the market demands.
Cotton bales barricade the levee for
miles, and the roar and clatter OF
transfers mingle with the shrill car
whistle and hOarse cough Of the mOn-
ster steamers, and bewilder the idle
looker-on.
We turn away wearied Of the noise
Of business and take street car to the
cemeteries. Owing to the small ele-
walton OF the ground above water,
those who can afford IL are buried
above ground, In elevated tombs,
huilt Of brick, granite or marble, some
feet wide, 10 feet long and six feet
high, varying Ia size according 10 the
numLer Of persons tn be buried therein.
Family or society tombs often reach
size Of 20 to 80 feet square and 10 to Is
feet high. Some OF them are very
highly ornamented with statuary and
carvings. Occasionally monumental
columns rise from these tombs sur
mounted by the marble bust of the
person buried therein. One notable
memorial tomb Is Of granite, In honor
Of the dead of the Washington Artii-
lerv, on the base of which are In
scrtbed 1873 names of victims aud 90
battles of the rebellian IN which they
participated. A large number of ele-
giant monuments have heen erected to
various persons and organisations of
the confederate army; among the most
impnslng Is that t. Gen. Lee, ou st.
Charles street. The column u II mar
bic, some 70 feet high, with ~ lnoldo /,
woodlng stolrwny - the top - vatoh