New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-01-11
A GAMBLING CITY.
THE COST OF A VISIT TO NEW-ORLEAys.
TIE GREAT FAIR HANPERED-GESEDAL BURxb
AND his ASSISTANTS SEE BRILLIANT SUCCESS


AND his ASSISTANTS SEE BRILLIANT SUCCESS
COST OF A VISIT
tFROM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF rIIE TRIBUNE.
NEw-ORLEANs, JAM 1.-The custom OF making
New Years calls is not observed tO the extent
here as in New-York; but the day is generally re-
garled half holiday However holidays in
New-Orleans. like Sundays. do not differ very much
from other days There is no Sunday closing of
liquor shops, of theatres gambling houses, ten
cent museums etc. while good many places Of
business, such az railroad ticket and scaipers''
Offices of which there are about 1O0 fruit stores,
etc, do thriving business on Sundays
The publicity with which gambling carried on
is of the peculiar characteristics OF the city.
There seventy-fve gambling houses within
block of the intersection of st. Charles and Canal
sts.. and they thrive all over the. city. Many Of
these are large, gilded dens conducted with the
same Openness any legitimate business City
officials and policemen can be seen IN these Illegal
resorts at almost any hour Of the day night. The
laws against gambling about jas strict as in
New-York but they are dead letter On the con-
trary one source Of the city is from what is
called the Gamblers Fund Each gambling house
is required TO pay much month to the Mayor.
according to an extra legal arrangement maintained
by common consent. Failure to pay is followed by
an enforcement of the law closing the house Of the
refractory proprietor At least such is the theory
which the fund is conducted. It.is supposed to
be applied to the maintenance of the ahnshOuse
But there is public accounting, aud IN the hands
of ring of corrupt politicians it is easy to guess
what that means. Proprietors of gambling houses
generally have political influence and doubtless
many of them pay nothing for the privilege Of run
ming their dens of vice night and day, Sundays in
cluded Outsiders are not allowed to come here aud
share in the profits
The spirit of gambling rules the city In tho
windows of cigar shops, news stands and such
places are displayed for sale the tickets of the
Louisiana Lottery Company, for selling which largo
commissions are paid. On DAYS when drawing
takes place she newspapers have an extra sale, and
much excitement is sIowh among the poorer people
who can least aiford to be stripped of their small
earnings. This lottery company has fine bailling
here, bu. the chief proprietors live in luxury in
| New-York and elsewhere They are said to con-
tribute $4,000 year TO an asylum which is ali
they pay for the privilege of enticing the people OF
the country to throw away hundreds of thouands
| of dollars annually. The city runs its finances on
| the lottery SYSTEM Its bonds are distributed into
series, which are placed in a Wheel and the lucky
numbers draw prizes every three months.
1t is seffevIdent that city which permits OF these
things is badly governed. In that respect New
Orleans could hardly be worse OIL 1t has dirty
streets high taxes All enormous debt and the other
consequences of ring rnle. The principal streets
have not been rcpavel since before the War Tho
| levees are described By The TiRes-Dlm as
bolt 1mless mud and ii says that business is
most seriously retarded on that account. Driving
to the Exposition grounds is almost al mpossi-
biIity, and aShitars have had TO pay tea soaisrs
small LOAD to get goods osrtAl fas. <zszaA 6d
city. Tue newspapers and the "refornasrs7 err
out against this conditien Of affairs but w'shout
result. Alderman Sligsr, speaking to the Common
Council the other night, sald
Gen,eul,n not here by the people to SEQ
how could spen their money tut to now far
get Tor it, We have lee6 IN Office since last Nay, aud as
yet nave nohns to show rs tue result 81 our lab9rs
roadways disgrace. an not only is the Trade OF our
s bat .ais c sSs S ~ s ,sso Gn
which even the Dghtest vehicles cannot be driven.
The presence OF the thousands Of people who
come to visit the Exposition will probably be q
good thing for the city; a. it will help to put new
life in it, beside leaving here great OF money.
If the people of New-Orieans alone concerned
in the Exposition many exhibitors would be in
clined to go home The people here
slowly and do not appreciate the Exposition.
Il is largely the child OF tho brain of Director Gen.
eral Burke who has grown graYer and has lost flesh
under the burden imposed upon him. He en-
tertaned to-day the various State Commissioners
and in response to an address expressed the great
est confidence in the .eutire of the EXPOSE
r..
applications Tor space for exhibits which coald not
b. received at present for lack Of ieon. Every
inch of space in tho sixty acres of buildings has
been assigned. The failure TO get the Art Hall
completed before due To the contractor. Tho
paintings gathered from Europe aud America to
I'LL it have been here for some time.
The management has been somewhat hampered
for lack of money! and the rch men OF
this South have not done their share IL supplying
the funds The largest cotton planter IN the
South. said to be worth several mlliio rs, and q
resi- lent of this city, has subscribed so far only.
PLANTER in Texas a very wealthy man, refused even
to prepare an exhibit from his plantation further
than sending without expense t. himself some
cotton to compete for premiums. Tie bulk OF tho
money raised here came from transportation COM
panies whose stock Is principally held by Northern
here the 5000, 900 needed at the present time,
good part of which is due from exhibitors for
advances made IN their freight bills. A n Ivenent
has been made to yet the banks to advance tho
money. Ii is said that OF the banks. the prnei-
pal stockholders of which reside in Now England.
object To supplying any money because the Expo
sition is kept open on Sunday.
There are more inquiries about the expense or
coming TO the Exposition than on any other subject:
SO which is exclusive Of the $20 for sleepng-car
fare. In Cincinnati round trip tickets can be had
T Iir and Nashville roads Nearly ali the people
who come here from the North either come by way
of which a% Ss Fsae sDS ID By tho
way of the Atlantic Coat Line. or we 'elss.
Round trio tickets are not sold that way but TIE
scalpers either in New-Yo or ewtlrieans are
accommodating the travel. General Burke said Ito
other day that the railroad companies have prom
sed further to reduce fares VIXEN the Exposition Is
in good order At the present time the lowest sum
needed for a ten days visit here will be about as
follows: Railroad and sleeping, car fares sGo;
sS,O: admsslon to Exposition, 30; neldentals,
such rs street-car fares. etc, $40; total, Sl2z.
Board might bo obtained at boarding houses ZOE
less money but person is not certain 20 nnd rens
away such a place. 10 requires good deai y.
hunting to get good room for less tnan ~ aay
without board. Such places will be more a'iheus
to ind a. the city fills With visitors oo,
As to the city itself while dirty. mere y goSSa