The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-31
A FAMOUS INSTITUTION.
What 1t is, Where 1t is, and How Con-
Quoted,

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 1S.-lSpecial to THE OMAHA
BEE MANY thousands scattered over this great
country, from its extreme eastern to western,
northern to southern boundaries, are waiting and
watching to-day to learn if the wheel of fortune
may not bring to them that grand capital prize of
100000, which is little less than onefourth of the
immense sum this day distributed by the Louisiana
State Lottery Company.
Circumstances SO order that make the Louis
lana State Lottery the basis of my first communi-
cation from this city believing that it will prove
interesting to your readers picturing one of the
institutions of the State of Louisiana, which is the
main support of that celebrated Charity hospital,
that welcomes the poor and friendess stranger as
readily as the needy one at home and cares Tor all
alike
When your correspondent received instructions
to proceed southwark, New Orleans being the OBJ
jective point, he remembered that this being his
first visit to the Crescent City it would be well TO
arm himself with letters of introduction TO some of
the most prominent and distinguished of her citi-
zens. He particularly favored by being
brought into contact with the Hon. G. w. Mott,
postmaster; Col. Page Baker, managing editor of
the Times-Democrat Mr.. P. b. Fazende, of the
well-known banking house of Fazende & Seixas,
as well as other leading citizens and during short
formal conversation the principal points OF inter
est-toa stranger-were suggested by Mr.. Fazende,
saying he would at once order his carriage and
drive me through the city. As we neared the cor
ner of ST. Charles and Union streets my escort sald
pointing to a handsome, substantial looking struc-
ture. three stories high There is the home of the
Louisiana State Lottery Company, and by the
way tomorrow is the appointed day for the mann
moth drawing, in which over S2,OOO0o0 is to be
distributed and the first capital prize is s6OO,OOO
You should attend the drawing by all means, and
on no account fail to visit the company's offices"
Then it was / learned what an intense interest was
taken by the people of all grades in society, not
only in the city of New Orleans, but throughout
the State and surrounding States in this wonderful
institution, which, as may not be generally known
to the readers of THE BEE is not only the only
legalized in this country, deriving its original
charter from the State legislature in 1868, but in
1879 by act of the State constitutional convention,
was incorporated as part of the constitution
formed by that body and this act Endorsed by an
almost unanimous vote Of the people of the State,
and the people of New Orleans and Louisiana have
never had reason to regret that action.
From 1868 to the time of the adoption of the new
constitution. the company contributed over S5O0OO
in support of the public schools and since that time
(ls9) have set aside yearly fund of $4,000 for the
use of the charity hospital heretofore mentioned,
besides its than prncely support of all other
institutions, charitable and otherwise, in the city
and State. In fact Mr Fazende told me that good
and charitable deeds were not confined to the COM
pany as whole, but individual members are fore
most in contributing literally from their private
means, for the encouragement and success of
schemes that conduce to the interest and welfare of
the city and State. The officers and directors OF the
company among the most popular, respected
and leading citizens, and the commissioners, who
alone superintend and manage the drawings, are
those old Generals of the Confederaey, loved and
revered by the South, Generals Jubal A. Early and
G. L. Beauregard. These two gentlemen have no
interest whatever in the company, General
Early told your correspondent in conversation
after the drawing to-day; and the company have
neither voice nor vote in the manner or manage
ment Of the drawing proper. Thus is provided q
perfect safeguard-if such were for the time being
necessaryfor the patrons the lottery thoroughly
diYorcing the management of the company from
the management of the drawing.
And now few words as to the details Of the COM
pany's management.
Armed with letter of introduction, your cor
respondent visited the offices ST. Charles street
and was courteously received by DR.. NJ. A Dau-
phin, the president, who requested his general
manager to escort me through the several depart
ments and explain The methods of conducting their
vast business.
The building is handsome three-story granite
front structure, built and owned by the company,
and devoted exclusively to their own uses. The
sight the appearance of large banking house. 1t
| WAS crowded with people eagerly waiting their
turn to purchase what each individually hoped
would prove the lucky number that would draw
the capital prize OF 100000 In the several depart
ments there perhaps over one hundred clerks
employed and one peculiar yet necessary feature
OF the assignment of them is, that they in pairs
at desks, SO arranged that they face each other
this is for the purpose of acting as check on the
mutual errors of each other.
Here in one apartment to large force of clerks
is assigned the duty of opening and stripping the
letters received by every mail; one set opens Them
another set verifes the contents with the letter,
another set asserts them according to the nature
and value of the enelOsurei to another set is
fined the of such letters call for special
numbers, or enclose money for some future well
as present drawing, which must be laid aside for
the present. to be taken up and attended 10 after
the regular mail that involve no outside methods -
has had attention. Another set fill orders for the
tickets, which are verified and so KID" by
| another set Another set records alphabetically
the name and address of every sender of letter,
land if an ordinary currency enclosure registered
letter, money order postal note, express package
draft,) in book especially for each correspond
! ing remittance, with date, MONTH etc. Another
set addresses the envelopes to each patron cor
respondent and another verites these directed en-
Yelopes with the recorded list referred to above.
Yet another set sees that the oTderis properly filed
as required by the letter of request and that the
ticket tickets paid for with the return letter
of acknowledgement before being placed in the en-
velope for mailing In fact, TO state it at once in
brief the letter received unopened passes through
some fifteen or sixteen different sets of cerks-eaeh
paired to verify each others work before the letter
! of acknowledgement containing the ticket is finally
! placed III the envelope and mailed
1t appears TO be complex system at first sight
in reality it is simple, but thorough and perfect in
| its working. There is possible chance, appar-
entity, for error of any kind.
! Another department that presents busy appear
ance is the milling and folding department of the
prize list. Here force of clerks is engaged adj
dressing envelopes, from the recorded list of cor
respondents for before the the day after
the drawing, to every patron is mailed a list of the
prize numbers. System, thorough system, i'll every
| detail is the shibboleth of the management, and
were it not SO 1t would be utterly impossible to
manage the enormous business that must be trans
acted day by day in the building To facilitate the
work. and prevent any loss of time, as well as to
maintain discipline and secure the employees from
| possible outside temptation, the company at their
| own expense furnish a rstclAss lunch to all their
clerks at stated intervals during the day-one hall
only a time repairing TO the restaurant dining
room fitted up in the of the main office the
first floor. They allowed from twenty minutes
to half hour, when they return TO their several