New Orleans 



Turning from the West to the South, we find New Orleans, although staggering 

 under a load of debt caused by the war and the carpetbaggers' regime, accomplishing 

 through noble endeavor a movement toward the City Beautiful. An extract from a 

 letter from Mr. William Woodward will give the spirit and the facts of this southern 

 city's energy. 



"I am proud that we have fallen into line of improvement at last. Of first importance is 

 the rapid advancement of the work on the drainage, sewage and improved water-supply 

 systems, for which some fifteen millions are already provided. The Legislature has recently 

 authorized a bond issue of two millions to improve the wharves. The Central Commission 

 of Parks and Avenues has begun active work and has secured the passage by the City Council 

 of an ordinance dedicating a parkway, connecting the two principal parks, Audubon Park 

 and City Park, following what is roughly the string across the bow of the crescent formed 

 by the city along the curving bank of the Mississippi River. This wide parkway will furnish 

 splendid sites for public institutions." 



Mr. Woodward's last sentence is not intended to apply to the Fairmount Park 

 Parkway, but it does so accurately. 



Mr. Allison Owen writes : 



"The Park avenues and squares are cared for out of public funds given to individual 

 commissions composed of from five to twenty-five citizens, who receive money from the public 

 treasury and expend it as they see fit, making periodical reports. A little over a year ago 

 the writer suggested the advisability of forming a central body, composed of two delegates 

 from each of these various park and avenue commissions ; the Central Commission was the 

 result. Through it several other commissions have been formed. The whole subject of munici- 

 pal improvements is a very difficult one in New Orleans, on account of the very small amount 

 of money that it is possible to secure from the public treasury with which to do the work. 

 Many of our best avenues are maintained entirely with funds privately subscribed by public-spirited 

 citizens. The present generation has fallen heir to an enormous city debt which was started 

 during the opulent period preceding the Civil War and very largely increased by the carpet- 

 bag administration during reconstruction days. One-half of our present total revenue annually 

 goes against this debt. The growth of the city during the last four or five years promises such 

 an increase in population and taxable values that we are sanguine enough to believe that means 

 will be found to extend and complete our present system ; also to undertake very large and 

 comprehensive improvements in the way of drives, parkways, playgrounds, etc., through the 

 district which is at present unoccupied north of the city, if necessary throwing aside the 

 severity of the gridiron street plan which some former city engineer has put on paper, but 

 which up to the present has no other existence." 



For further information, apply to William Woodward, Tulane University, or Allison Owen, 

 Central Commission of Parks and Avenues, New Orleans, La. 



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