Year: 1876




Editor Democrat The public squares
of large cities have been not inaptly
torfnsd their lungs. But to be- thus
-usyfut 10 the people who live in cities,
public squares must be ornamental, or
ut least they must not be offensive TO
the eye. When public squares are gen
teeiiy kept they attract, and then their
value ID felt. when they are neglected
and offend the eye they repel, and
their value II lost. II beautiful lawn
and we'll shapen trees attract one hun
dred poor mothers, with their little
ones, for three afternoons In week.
the health Of mothers and little ones
are benefited thereby, needy but most
extent preserved and made more
content, and the city at large Is well re-
paid for what IL has expended. Even In
our impoverished condition, the few
thousands OF dollars that would be re-
quired tC pat and keep our public
squares In genteel and attractive con-
dlti0n would never be begrudged by the
people. On the contrary, We are sure
that no expenditure would be more
warmly indorsed by the whole commu-
nifty. As 1t is. our squares stand as
prominent landmarks OF a want OF pub
lie taste, and IN offence to the eyes OF
both citizens and strangers.


These remarks are induced by con-
templating not only the general wreck
Of these squares all over our city, but
more especially the condition OF and
the work now being done on Coliseum
Place. This ought TO be one Of the most
attractive spots in New Orleans. and
property ail around 1t ought to be
always most desirable. It Is centrally
located, and Is Of peculiar yet not unde-
II txt< - IN of rsd
fore us, It Is q goat and COW pasture, q
loa1ng place for the low, the idle and
the dissolute; the bear grass Is taking
possession Of 1t, It's iron fence is gone In
whole sections Of one hundred feet or
more, and the hideous posts and rails
on the canal are rotting and leaning In
every direction.


Instead OF following the later and
certainly far more tasteful plan now
adopted In other large cities. and
sweeping away every vestige Of fence,
there are workmen preparing more
hideous wooden posts and rails to put
on the side Of the canal, and Tor what,
no sane man can possibly divine. For
that place TO look It's best. there should
be no fence at all on tho canal-cer
tainly nothing more than a few very
low and neat posts on the street merely
to guard against a vehicle possibly pass
ing over The edge Though the proper
arrangement Of the stone curbing would
effect all and more than the posts
could); then the eye would pass across
forcibly arrested to contemplate it's
greater ugliness. The iron fence always
was = barrier and an eyesore, and now
IL destruction II SO advanced that 1t
loudly calls for removal.


AgAin, we look on In amazement At
tho process Of enlargement OF the ditch
now going on. Instead OF enlargfng the
capacity Of the lower half OF Melpomene
canal (the main stream) and giving
greater power TO the draining wheel.
the canal or ditch on Camp street Is be-
., la76@-this sewer lies before us living
rebtike TO the engineering capacity OF
him who planned and ordered. the
work. We have taken the trouble to
walk along the bank Of this sewer to-
day, and verify what we previously be-
lieved Ia theory. that the digging being
done was simply Transforming the ditch
into lake at every heavy rain. SO far
from enlarging this ditch ut all, real en-
cheering skill should have been
brought TO bear on contracting It, and
work is done below. The money, then,
that has been and Is being shamefully
expended on this place to maintain It's
hideOusness and its utter uselessness to
the people, could transform 1t into a
place Of beauty and, therefore, Of Joy.


And there IL Lafayette Square, right
IN the centre OF our city and in front Of
our elegant City Hall there It is, walled
In with Iron bars going TO ruin through
oxidation, with gates torn from their
hinges and posts tumbling down, with
bear grass knee high, and with the
base Of the statue torn to pieces by
rOWdies and blackguards.


Gentlemen Of the Council, tell US not
th4t there ID economy In all this. On
the contrary, such unseemly spots are
detrimental te surrounding property,
and therefore to the whole city; and
they speak volumes to the world o!
lsnguishing civilization. Turn over
b new Leaf, gentlemen. Be assured
that In continuing this condition OF
things you are taking In at the spigot
which you let out at the bung." Tear
away the miBerable fences which have
always been IN eyesore and slur upon
refined taste, sell the old iron, kill out
the bear grass, trim the trees, shave the
lawns, furnish plenty Of benches. drive
out the rowdies, and make tho public
squares attractive. We will guarantee
that whom the work Is done. the public
your favor, and you will go out OF Office
With the thanks Of the people.


Csntemnial lee Machine.
We have already had occasion TO write
about this wonderful machine, built at |
tha wall known eatablishment Of Messrs |