Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/335

 NEW ORLEANS 323 square and Douglas square, which are highly cultivated and well kept, trees and lawns con- stitute the only horticultural cultivation these squares exhibit. Most of them are enclosed with iron railings, but some are barely more than in embryo. In Lafayette square a fine white marble statue of Franklin, of life size, executed by Hiram Powers, has been erected. A colossal bronze statue of Henry Clay, by Hart, in Canal street, and that of Jackson in Jackson square, are the only others in the city. All parts are traversed by street railroads, ex- tending in all directions between the river and the ridge, from the upper to the lower line of the city. There are over 20 lines, all of which, with one exception, have one terminus in Canal street. Chief among the public buildings is the custom house, in which are also the United States marshal's office and the post office. It was commenced 27 years ago, and is an ex- tensive and solid structure, covering a whole square, and built of massive blocks of granite, with immense pillars of white marble and heavy iron staircases, and other fittings corresponding- ly substantial. The post office, the fitting up of which has lately been completed, is one of the most elegant and commodious in the country. The St. Charles hotel, covering half a square, surpasses the custom house in elegance of front and of entrance, with its spacious balcony and portico, lofty and handsome Corinthian pil- lars, and large and tasteful rotunda. The city hall, situated in St. Charles street, opposite La- fayette square, is perhaps the most artistic of the public buildings of the city. It is in the Ionic order, principally of marble, with a wide and high flight of steps leading to an elegant portico supported by eight columns. The mint is in the Ionic order, covering about the same area as the city hall, but not so handsome. No coining has been done there since the war, but congress has taken steps to recommence opera- tions. The United States assistant treasurer has his office there. The view presented by the St. Louis cathedral, and the adjacent court build- ings, with Jackson square, the open levee, the river, and the country on the right bank in front of them, and the handsome row of Pont- alba buildings on each of the other sides of the square, which is beautifully adorned with evergreen shrubbery and flowering plants, with the fine equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson by Mills, and with well kept shell walks, is one of the most interesting afforded in New Orleans. There are many fine churches, some yet unfinished, one of which, a Catholic church in Common street, promises to be one of the most substantial and beautiful in the city. The Catholic church of St. John the Baptist, on Dryades street, between Calliope and Clio streets, which was opened in 1872, is a very elegant building. Another new place of wor- ship worthy of note is the synagogue of Re- formed Israelites, called the Temple Sinai, in Carondelet street. Parti-colored bricks and pointing give its walls a light airy appearance, and it has a handsome portico, flanked by two towers capped with tinted cupolas. The Gothic windows are filled with beautifully stained glass. The old Gothic St. Louis cathe- dral, originally built by Don Andres Almo- naster y Roxas, burned, and rebuilt in 1850, has often been described and represented. It has an imposing facade surmounted by a lofty steeple and flanked by two towers, each sur- mounted by a smaller steeple. Among the others worthy of note is the Jesuits' church of the Immaculate Conception with a college attached, in Baronne street, at the corner of Common ; St. Patrick's church, in Camp street ; the first Presbyterian church, in Lafay- ette square ; St. Alphonsus Catholic church, in Constance street ; and Trinity church (Epis- copal), in Jackson street, which has lately been much improved and repaired. There are 33 cemeteries, about one sixth of which are within the inhabited limits of the city ; three are Jew- ish, one is masonic, and one odd fellows'. A number are situated in Canal street, near Me- tairie ridge, and on this ridge adjacent. The old Metairie race course has lately been pur- chased and joined to them, and promises to become one of the most beautiful in the coun- try. Those without the limits of the city are all more or less beautified with magnolia, cy- press, willow, and other trees, and with a variety of flowering plants. The great peculi- arity of these cemeteries is that, from the na- ture of the soil, which is almost semi-fluid at a depth of 2 or 3 ft., all the tombs are above ground. Some of these are very costly and beautiful structures of marble, iron &c. ; but the great majority consist of cells, superim- posed on each other, generally to the height of 7 or 8 ft. Each cell is only large enough to receive the coffin, and is hermetically bricked up at its narrow entrance as soon as the fune- ral rites have been performed. In most in- stances a marble tablet appropriately inscribed is placed over the brickwork by which the vault (or oven as it is called by many) is closed. It is a general custom to visit the cemeteries on All Saints' and All Souls' days (Nov. 1 and 2) every year, and to have the tombs decked with flowers, garlands, immortelles, and other tributes to the" memory of the dead. Near the Battle monument, in St. Bernard parish, a na- tional cemetery, wherein lie remains of deceas- ed soldiers of the Union, has been established. New Orleans has been known ever since its foundation to have suffered much from febrile diseases, and especially from yellow fever. Sauvolle, brother of Iberville and Bienville, founders of the city, died of la fitore; and numbers of colonists and troops died of les maladies de Vete (summer diseases of febrile character). The distinction of these from yel- low fever has been argued, but by no means proved. Apart from yellow fever, however, the healthfulness of New Orleans is not surpassed by that of any large city ; and including all risks, the natives and thoroughly acclimated residents