The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-01

Commerce Al, ant ageous Natural
sItua,,on-A Great Railroad Centre and
the second Fort OF the United states.
New ORLEANS, Feb 81 Those who
would see he New Orleans Of history and
more or less romance, the old New Orleans,
the city Of charaCt eristics which made
Il distinctive and of an individuality apart
among all American communities, must
not delay their visit 10y many years
II IL really not more than six or seven
years since New Orleans began to feel the
impulse of the new life which is working
such mighty changes throughout all the
Southern States. Yet the transformation
already wrought here il surprising
Slow for n time to max" itself felt. the new
life blood with all its Quickening power Is
now tingling through the old Creole dame
venerable veins and awakening her to
activities and rapidly of progress which
are fast setting the pace even for those
other hu ky cities Of the South which wer"
resurrected and in the ficld dozen years
or more before she began To move.
To say nothing Of the old Creole features,
those who delay many years their visit
will not even find Now Orleans southern
ago lost those characteristics commonly
associated in the mind with cities of the
Southern States New Orleans is shedding
the same Charact ori-tics AZ the present
moment a. rapidly as ever did Atlanta
I'm the most active Of her years Of transition.
Atlanta in appearance, in her commercial
and indust rial atmosphere, Is already a
Western city. New Orleans is fast becom-
ing one.
II fattars Atantans to tell them that
their city is like Chicago. that the impression
made 10y Atlanta upon stranger seeing
the place for the first time takes the form
OF a distinct reminder Of Chicago. Yet
Il is only to tell them the truth 10 tell that
The old-timers in New Orleans, the old
residents even. have envied their city
for the very characte ristcs which made
her different from other cities, are not as
vet quite prepared to be pleased in wholly
unqualified way by a similar comparison.
They will admit that vast and rapid
change Is in progress here, that the city
is taking on the atmosphere Of hustling
city OF the West-they will admit all this,
and they admit it with a sigh
Nor do the visions OF wealth and future
metropolitan greatness, which go with the
fact, altogether console them They know
that New Orleans is destined TO be a great
city, one of the greatest seaport cities in all
America when the lsthmian Canal il thrown
open and the Gulf of Mexico becomes an
other Mediterranean, swarming with ship
ping; they know that even now the city is
In an era of prosperity and is growing at
q rate unparalleled in her past that from
q population 81 only about 2i0,O0O she has in
creased to 10000 or $4,000 within a little
over ten years; that, as matter OF fact
the great bulk of this increase has come
within eight years that by the time the
census OF 1910 is taken New Orleans will
have well turned the 400, 900 mark and will
be close upon the heels Of those American
cities which are in the group Of half mil
Hon inhabitants or more.
They know all this. these old Creoles they
know il and are glad if il and taxi a large
pride in il and yet rs they are hustled along
on the crest Of the rising tide ey cannot
help turning their eyes little sadly back
ward to the old landmarks ~ swiftly melt
ing away in the mist Of the pas, miS,s
OF the past or the dun smoke Of factory
chimneys whichever you choose.
There are two groups Of people here
those who are rushing on the car Of prog
ItSS WIN a Nalppp NV anu AllOr' WHO
are resigncdy riding in ii trying to get
gEmpses of bygo days between jolts
There il room for a iittl sympathy with
those thus relar.tl -, ly borne onward There
was that in the old New Orleans. the old
hight hearted. pleasure-loving somewhat
dishevelled and wofully dirty New Orleans
OF yore. To take deep root in the affections
Of those whose memories go back into the
~
generous hospitality, the PHEASANT delb-
crate life. the social relations which took
time for all TIA little anen.t.s4 and cpur,
Sic. Of living there wa- much ia tina, which
vas pretti-r than the abrupt. curt. eibowing
showing Ways Of hustle ~ there il "A kindly
tolerance for those who mildly lament the
day. tina, are gone ~. long as their lamen-
tstions d" not interfere with business
TIE CHASGt ~ ana CITi
Business her" il absorbing everything
- u H. everywhere IN ia" south soon il
vill oysrrun and change much, II not all
IN the physical asprct. a. we'll a. ia. social
of the Crescent City, which ia former time.
Distinguished the place from all other
American communities Ia. rising tide of
business that 10 even nov T,IaTIny through
Canal street h. b"ating asains, th. bound-
sries ~ that old pimufrspu" French quarter
With lie oyorhangins Laionnl,s, iis hnu-es
tlird sith thr myStritrr and tragedies
End pp.tiy love rtoris- ~ the I,asl Busi.
ns.s is air'a.iy hattrring 80 ihr Ratrs at
tlls old citadel ~ r.plrdum
IL ~lll Supn have them dpAu and A..
seunlns ard smashing t,r"ush the anoisni
lsro~ sinsts ~" ssD srfaI.r ga 10
Tsa.iy un in Nee Ollrals Il b. crowd.
hsupto the ,"r, bpidsis ~ ~. uli fnarh
TJ
firy ~ h. Transformed inu, I,islit. n.
L,ns iH'u Nassau -lhs,is. ii.u.s u..i
ins bsupiln", b,uiia,u. itu,al LauI 20
y sulouss h"u,uls 'nnu and uLal n,a
, sh si"T las aliradJ tad,t Ihs, aI.
" ,hs "li"ap tanrul"ni risss
'snAi s'ifri 10 sihi ti.r d,ks. 90, lr,.
y ls""h 'h"n and tilr iauult.u..s 80 Of
a s,s'"" ls'y"ru 49, co.. siaag ~ ala.
a shhs th' DO sifnaab t-.s,nnins Ca tail
%" NHhl" 90" a.if'i Ii,slnrs uan,
- ib'it"'s n fuai 'riais stsa.ailai,u,,. .t,d
L. 40