The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-12-06

of the southern section of the
X United States, New Orleans Is
unique among cities OF the
Americas. There is no other like II.
Up-tO-the-minute in its modern civic
improvements, typically American III
its aggressive commercial energy, even
ahead of the times in its city govern
ment and municipal ownership ana
control of public utilities, it is never
theleSs. in some features, one of the
oldest and certainly one of the quaint
est and most foreign of the large cit
les of the United States, says the Bull
letin of the Pan-American Union. In
the southwest quarter, with its mod
ern business houses and fine resi-
dences, the visitor finds himself in a
modern city of the United States; in
ten minutes he may cross Canal street,
stroll into the northeast or Latin
Quarter" and find himself in
quantity medieval city which might he
French or Spanish. In the old French
| Market" section he hears a veritable
babel of tongueS-French, Spanish,
| Yiddish. near-English. and some
| times several of these mixed up
| in "patois' that is dlstinctively New
| OrleanSesque" Even the names of
| the streets reflect something of the
| city's history. Its French origin is re-
vealed in such names as Toulouse, Or
leans, Du Maine, Cont, Bourbon,
Dauphine, Charities, etc, while other
street names such as UnZaga. Galvez,
Miro, Salcedo. Casa CalvO. Baronne,
etc, reveal the fact that at one time
the Spaniards were in possession.
Again Tchoupitoulas street would lead
one TO infer that Indians had also had
a hand in the general admiXture of no.
menclaturc.
Situated about 107 miles above the
mouth of the Mississippi river, whose
system of navigable waterways radi-
ate 1900 miles through the great
middle section of the United States.
and on Lake Ponchartrain, with ac-
cess to Mississippi sound water routes
eastward to Mobile. Ala, and thence
by the Warrior river to the great coal
and iron fields of Alabama, the center
of six canals, and the principal ter
minal of ten trunk lines of railways
operating total of 1928 miles,
New Orleans has become one of the
great industrial centers of the world
Its manufacturing industries have an
output of over S140,O0O,0OO worth of
products annually, while as market
center the city distributes $1,130,O00,'
600 worth of commodities each year, q
tremendous trade that is accounted
for by the fact that New Orleans is
the gateway for the Mississippi valley
the great producing area of the United
States.
State Owns Port Facilities.
In the harbor Of New Orleans is seer
strikingly successful application OF
the doctrine of public ownership ant
operation of public utilities. Sixt!
per cent of the port facilities have
been built or developed by the docl
board. n state institution. In the l.
years this board has had charge il ha!
expended $15.0O0,000 on the wharves
steel sheds, elevators, and warehouse
on the east bank. These, with ter
minals built by the railroads. will Civ,
New Orleans almost eight miles o
docks. capable of accommodating n
! one time so vessels 800 feet long. Al
are served by the Public Belt railroad
another triumph Of public ownership
Assurance of future port expansion
without fear of private prOfiteering i
} given by the fact that the title to tn
water front for Il miles on both side
Of the Mississippi river IS vested il
, the public and under the control o
the dock board. In addition, the boar'
is now building an inner harbor si'