The herald., 1917-11-01
LETTERS FROM THE
:: PEOPLE ::

AlgharS. La, October -, 1871.
DR.. c. V. Kraft. Editor The Herald:
Dear Sir-In your issue ot October
II. on page one. You printed a BETTER
from : 4 Gross. in which he makes
criticisms OF certain things in con-
uertiou with the administration OF
the city OF New Orleans that | desire
20 answer, in Justice OF what is right.
Mr. Gross says in his letter, first.
that "Algiers gets nothing more than
few political Jobs and lets the big
things 20 elsewhere. II the many
political positions that been secured
for our side of the river were taken
away from AIgiers II would mean
quite deficit in the Algiers' monthly
payroll and many men would be look
ing for work We have more than
our quota Of politi, al positions in Al
giers. for the fact that Mayor Behr-
man has righttully favored his dis
trirt by giving Algiers people posi-.
lions instead OF having the positions
filled in other wards by city people.
The writer of the letter also makes
reference TO unjust and excessive cost
of ferry transportation. In answer
thereto we desire To state that Mayor
Behrman. the City Council nor the
Supreme Court OF the United States
cannot change the price of ferry
transportation as is presently estah-
lished through a franchise sold by
the city of New Orleans more than
twelve years ago.
In regard TO the paving of streets.
the writer OF the letter stated that
il has been several years since a
street was paved in Algiers. We de
sire To call the attention of the pub
lie to the fact that many OF the petit
tions in the city of New Orleans ask
ing for paving of streets have re
Quested that these petitions and con.
tracts be held M on account of the
excessive cost of material for doing
the work Only a short time ago
Commissioer I.afayo publicly called
attention to the fact that it is better
to defer the paving Of streests on ac-
count of the excessive cost to the
property holders until such time AZ
the price Of material is reduced so as
| to give a poor man chance in
making his payment for these i'm
| pTOyemcnts.
! IL is not for the City Council. or
Mayor or any other set of officers to
say when and what streets should be
paved. This is matter that is di-
rectly up to the property holders to
! say when. where and how their
street should be paved.
Algiers has about eleven miles of
paved streets and the repair of these
streets have been kept up much bet
ter than they are in the city. If all
the streets in the city proper were in
as good condition as those N Algiers
there would be a general rejoicing.
The letter also stated the compul'
sorry ratprOOfing was forced upon
many poor We must also call Mr..
Gross affection to the fact that even
though il was forced upon the poor
il was also forced upon the rich, and
the city government had nothing 10
do with ratprOOting, as this was or
dered by the United States govern
ment, under whose supervision the
entire matter has been conducted.
Mr.. Gross also seems to charge up
to the city administration the fact
that the Public Belt switching nui-
sance has been permitted to continue
for years. If there Is any grievance
along this line, il should not be taken
up with the city administration. The
proper place for complaints here
would be before the Public Belt Rail
road which is an organization Of its
own.
: will thank you very much for
publishing this letter, as | am one
of your subscribers
= Very truly yours.
A SUBSCRIBER.