USA > Louisiana > Orleans Parish > New Orleans > Standard history of New Orleans, Louisiana, giving a description of the natural advantages, natural history settlement, Indians, Creoles, municipal and military history, mercantile and commercial interests, banking, transportation, etc. > Part 44
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Following are the lists of the several officers of the mint since its establish- ment :
Superintendents-David Bradford, 1837-1839 ; Joseph N. Kennedy, 1840-49; R. McAlpine, 1850-52; Charles Bienvenu, 1853-57; Logan McKnight, 1858; Will- iam A. Elmore, 1859-61, resigning January 30; from April 18, 1861, to May, 1862, "mint of the Confederate States;" M. F. Bonzano, on May 16, 1862, or- dered to return to New Orleans to take charge of the mint, and in 1874 was assayer in charge; Michael Hahn, July, 1878, to January, 1879; Henry S. Foote, December, 1879, to June, 1880; Martin V. Davis, 1880-82; A. W. Smyth, 1882-85; Gabriel Montahue, 1885-89 ; A. W. Smyth, 1889-93 ; Overton Cade, 1893-98; C. W. Bothby, 1898.
Assayers-Dr. William P. Hart, 1837-52 ; H. Millspaugh, 1853-61 ; Dr. Joseph Albrecht, 1878-83; Dr. B. F. Tatlor, 1883-84; W. C. Wilson, 1884-85; F. F. Claus- sen, 1885-93 ; R. A. Schroeder, 1893-94; A. M. Delavallade, 1894-96; F. F. Claus- sen, 1896-97 ; Dr. W. M. Lynch, 1897.
Melters and Refiners-James Maxwell, 1837-38; John L. Riddell, 1839-48; M. F. Bonzano, 1849-61 and 1878-83; F. F. Claussen, 1883-85 ; L. Magruder, 1885- 91; Dr. J. Cecil Lagare, 1891-93 ; Lewis Guion, 1893 to March 1, 1899 ; H. Dudley Coleman, March 1, 1899.
Coiners-Rufus Tyler, 1837-38; Philo B. Tyler, 1839-47; John Brooks, 1848-
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50 ; A. Devall, 1851-53; A. J. Guirot, 1854-57; Dr. B. F. Taylor, 1858-61; Dr. M. F. Bonzano, 1878-79; Martin V. Davis, 1879-80; Jacob Helfrich, 1880-81; F. K. Jones, 1881-85; General Allen Thomas, 1885-90; A. R. Burkdell, 1890-93; H. Gibbs Morgan, 1893 to March 1, 1899 ; Mayer Cahen, March 1, 1899.
Philo B. Tyler, mentioned above as coiner from 1839 to 1847, was the in- ventor of the Tyler Cotton Press and of the converting machine for coin. John L. Riddell, melter and refiner from 1839 to 1848, was the inventor of the binocular microscope and of the rotary ingot mold. The first gold dollar coined at this mint was on June 11, 1849, at 6 P. M.
The total coinage for the New Orleans mint for the calendar year 1898 was $5,770,000, and for 1899, $14,078,000; eagles (gold), $370,470; standard silver dollars, $12,290,000; half dollars, $862,000; quarters, $661,000; and dimes, $265,000.
POSTOFFICE.
A postoffice was established in New Orleans soon after the acquisition of the Territory of Louisiana by the United States, with Blaise Cenas as postmaster, his commission being dated October 1, 1803. On October 9, 1804, Postmaster Cenas made public the following announcement : "The mails for the future will arrive at New Orleans on Monday at 5 P. M., and will start every Tuesday at 7 A. M., closing at 6 A. M. on the day of departure." On February 22, 1805, the post- master removed his office to the residence of Dr. Zerbau, on Royal street. The mail via Fort Stoddart started for the first time on Saturday, September 21, 1805, and returned to New Orleans for the first time on the following Thursday, Sep- tember 26. In November, 1807, the postmaster, B. Cenas, gave public notice that the mail via Fort Adams would in the future arrive every Saturday at 10 A. M., and would be closed every Monday at 11 o'clock, and that he would deliver on Sunday between 11 A. M. and 1 P. M. letters received by that day's mail, "but not at other times on that day, and to no other person whatever."
Thomas B. Johnston succeeded B. Cenas as postmaster, his commission being dated April 1, 1810. In August, 1810, the postoffice was removed to Custom House street, between Royal and Chartres strects, to "the house lately occupied by Tully Robinson, attorney-at-law." In September, 1810, the mails began to arrive and depart more frequently, those via Fort Stoddart arriving every Saturday and de- parting the same day ; those via Fort Adams arriving every Tuesday and departing every Friday, and those by way of the Balize boats arriving every Friday and departing every Sunday. By May 1, 1811, the mails began to make such fast time as
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to attract special attention, and to be something to boast of. From Washington they came through in twenty days; from Baltimore, in twenty-one days, and from Philadelphia, in twenty-three days.
In 1852 or 1853 the postoffice was removed to the United States District Court room between Canal and Custom House strects, and in 1860 into the Custom House building, where it still remains. Two stations were established in 1882, one in Algiers, the other in Carrollton, and in 1890 four other stations were added, all being called sub-stations. On October 1, 1895, the sub-station at Algiers was made a full station, and denominated Station A; that at Carrollton was con- verted into Station B; Station C was established at 3314 Magazine street; Station D on Dauphine street, between Louisa and Piety ; and on January 1, 1896, Station E was established on Euterpe street, near Dryades. The special delivery system was put into operation in 1895, and the collection carts, September 1, 1899.
The following statements for the year ending June 30, 1886, and for the year ending December 31, 1898, will serve to show the increase in the business of the postoffice for the last thirteen years :
For the first year named the total receipts were $264,890.14, and the total ex- penditures, $119,355.96, outside of the money order department, the receipts of which amounted to $4,018,277.57, while the total amount paid out on money orders was $2,391,906, and remittances to New York, $1,613,235.04. The number of carriers employed was sixty-four. The total number of pieces of mail matter delivered was 11,596,263, and the number collected was 8,705,454.
For the second year named the gross receipts in the cashier's division were $437,588.44, and the total expenditures, $201,414.46, while the total money order business amounted to $1,985,000.90. The total number of pieces of mail matter handled was 97,669,037, and the total business for the year amounted to $5,- 379,158.
Following is a list of the postmasters at New Orleans since Louisiana was ceded to the United States, together with the dates of their appointment, fur- nished upon request by Joseph L. Bristow, Fourth Assistant Postmaster-General :
Bloise Cenas, October 1, 1804. Thomas B. Johnson, April 1, 1810. George Croghan, November 5, 1824. Antoine Dupuy, March 27, 1826. David C. Kerr, April 23, 1829. William H. Kerr, June 6, 1829.
William McQueen, July 27, 1839. Gabriel Montamat, September 9, 1840.
William Debuys, July 10, 1841.
John B. Dawson, April 18, 1843.
Alexander G. Penn, December 19, 1843. Michael Musson, April 18, 1849.
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William G. Kendall, April 7, 1853.
Robert M. Adams, April 14, 1855.
Arthur S. Nevitt, May 3, 1855.
Robert E. McHatton, March 23, 1857. Samuel F. Marks, February 10, 1858. John L. Riddell, August 16, 1860. John M. G. Parker, February 19, 1863. Robert W. Taliaferro, March 20, 1865. Walter M. Smallwood, July 30, 1868. Charles W. Lowell, April 5, 1869. B. P. Blanchard, December 2, 1870.
Charles W. Ringgold, March 1, 1873.
John M. G. Parker, April 6, 1875.
Algernon S. Badger, July 19, 1878.
William L. McMillen, February 19, 1879.
Washington B. Merchant, March 2, 1883.
Samuel H. Buck, July 23, 1885. George W. Nott, May 19, 1887.
Stephen M. Eaton, August 13, 1890.
Frank A. Daniels, May 9, 1894.
John R. G. Pitkin, September 17, 1898.
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.
Some time in the forties the First Municipality, as the district between Canal street and Esplanade avenue was then called, offered the United States Government its choice of several squares to be conveyed to it in fce simple provided that a custom house adequate to the demands of the growing commerce of the city should be erected thereon. The proposition was accepted November 22, 1847, and the Secre- tary of the Treasury selected "Custom House square" as the most eligible of those offered. This square, which is bounded by Canal, Custom House, Decatur and Peters streets, is the site where formerly stood Fort St. Louis of the colonial days. At that time it fronted directly upon the river, but the constant "making" of the bank upon this side has interposed a stretch of "batture" ground between the site and the stream from which four new blocks have been cut. These, having been sold to private individuals, a number of large stores and business houses now occupy the place where formerly ships lay at anchor. The old Custom House, which was torn down to make room for the new structure, was, according to the first directory of the city, published in 1822, "a spacious, plain brick building, with a coating of white plaster, situated on the levee, where, besides the offices connected with the customs, are the United States District Court room, and offices of the United States Clerk, Marshal and Land" (commissioner, probably).
The corner-stone of the new building was laid by Henry Clay in 1847, and on October 23d, 1848, work was begun, the plan of A. T. Wood having been adopted. This plan called for a large granite building in the Egyptian style, to cost $800,000. It was proposed to construct in the center of the edifice a large hall to be devoted to the business of the customs, the remainder of the building to be used as a general bonded warehouse. In furtherance of this plan it was determined to make
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the building very strong and thoroughly fire-proof. The walls of the vaulted rooms were made of great thickness, and only iron and brick were used in the construc- tion of the floors, there being perhaps less wood used in the whole structure than in any building of its size in the world. The nature of the soil upon which this enormous mass of brick and stone was to be superimposed rendered it necessary that the greatest care be taken with the foundations. The huge cypress logs which formed their base were laid at the depth of 17 feet, and it being forcseen that there would still be a gradual subsidence of the massive structure, the walls were bound together by strong iron bands, in order to insure its settling evenly. These bands remained in place over thirty years, but notwithstanding all the precautions, the walls sunk at one corner fully two feet, and it was found necessary to substitute an iron cornice for the stone one contemplated by the original plan. The work was carried on with greater or less expedition, according to the means at disposal, until the beginning of the Civil War, when, for a time, it was entirely suspended. It was resumed soon after the close of the war, and continued at intervals up to November 1st, 1884, when, the appropriations being discontinued, the work ceased. Up to the date mentioned above, the total cost had been $4,212,368.50, and it is estimated that nearly a million more will be required to bring it to completion.
The building, which is constructed of Quincy (Mass.) granite, is 81 feet high, with a frontage on Canal street of 340 feet, and a depth of 297 and 309 feet, respectively, on Decatur and Peters streets. Entering by the great door on Canal street, and ascending to the principal floor, the visitor finds himself in a wide vestibule roofed with thick glass skylights, which are supported by iron columns. From this he passes into a hall extending around the whole building, and giving access to all the offices. In the center of the building, and encircled by this cor- ridor is the famous "Marble Hall," one of the finest rooms in the world, and perhaps the very finest room devoted to business. While not so large as St. George's Hall of Liverpool, it surpasses it in point of material, only marble and iron en- tering into its construction. This room is a parallelogram, measuring 128 feet in length by 84 in breadth, with a height of fifty-four feet from floor to glass dome or roof. An iron frame painted white and gold forms the setting for the great . plates of heavy ground glass, which are ornamented with an elegant Grecian border in blue. Fourteen lofty columns are so placed as to give the central part of the room a space of 45x65 feet, for the use of the general public, the officers and clerks being accommodated outside. The columns are of the Corinthian order, with Attic bases, the lower portion of the shafts plain and polished, the capitals varied
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to allow of designs indicative of the purpose to which the room is dedicated. At the top of each is a basso-relievo of Juno and another of Mercury, together with designs of cotton and tobacco plants. These are so arranged that each faces its opposite on every column, and by looking at four capitals from any position, all the designs are comprehended at a glance. Each one of these beautiful fluted shafts of pure white marble is said to have cost $8,000. The floor is of black and white marble tiles, each one two feet square, laid in a pattern, with border of black extending from column to column. Sixteen plates of glass one inch thick, cast on a hammered surface and ground smooth to break the rays of light, are set in the floor to give light to the room below. Each plate is the center of a star, hand- somely inlaid with black marble. At one end of the room is a life size basso- relievo of Bienville, the only monument of the founder the city possesses, and one of Jackson, the two separated by the coat of arms of Louisiana, the pelican feeding her young. The hall is heated by steam, the steam coils being suspended in the floor from the arches, and shielded by hexagon pedestals with marble tops.
At the white marble counters around the hall sit the officers of the customs. Here vessels from all parts of the world are entered and cleared, duties collected, and all business transacted relating to the commerce of New Orleans.
On the left of the main entrance are the U. S. Courts, the Marshal's office, and that of the Clerk; and at the end of the right-hand corrider, the Sub-Treasury office.
The other offices on the second floor are the Land Office, the Surveyor Gen- eral's Office, and the Signal Service Station. General Butler, when he took pos- session of the city in 1862, established his headquarters in the Custom House, and occupied the suite of rooms on the Decatur side as his office. The upper portion of the building, then in an unfinished condition, was used as a military prison, and in the room beneath the Sub-Treasury office, at the foot of the dark staircase, Mumford, the man who was hung for tearing down the United States flag from the mint, was confined while awaiting his trial.
On the ground floor, the Decatur street side of the building is occupied by the postoffice. The corridor of this office is 247 feet long. On the ground floor are also the Appraiser's store, the office of the Inspector of Boilers and Steamboats, and other offices.
THE CITY HALL.
The City Hall, situated six blocks above Canal street, opposite Lafayette square, was built in 1850 by Gallier. The model selected was the celebrated Temple
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of Minerva of the Athenian Acropolis. The front of the building is of white marble, and is adorned with a noble portico of Ionic columns, upon the frieze of which is a bas-relief of Justice, flanked on cither hand by figures bearing emblems of the commerce of the Mississippi Valley. A flight of granite steps leads to the pavement of the portico, where a wide doorway gives access to a hall, paved with black and white marble, and extending the whole length of the edifice. On either side are the various offices of the City Government. On the left, near the entrance, is the Mayor's parlor and office, in the first of which hang portraits of Washing- ton, Jackson, and several of the former Mayors. On the right is .the library, a large apartment containing an extensive collection of books, which are free to all who desire to read. The room is ornamented by a number of busts, among them that of Samuel J. Peters, the founder of the library, and under whose administration the City Hall was planned and built. Mr. Peters was, indeed, one of the most remarkable men who has at any time taken part in the public and commercial affairs of the city. Coming as a young man from Canada, his birthplace, he began his career as clerk in a store, but his ability rapidly advanced him to the position of head of the largest wholesale grocery in the South. Mercantile affairs, however, did not afford sufficient scope for his intellectual activity, and he soon began to interest himself in municipal matters. As member of the Council of the Second Municipality he took the lead in every measure of importance, becoming in time the autocrat of its destinies, which he controlled with admirable vigor and ability. He organized the police on a new plan, created a fire department, intro- duced a system of public schools modeled upon the best New England system, besides establishing the library already alluded to, building the City Hall, raising the credit of the Municipality, and accomplishing a number of other improve- ments. In addition to all these public services which were rendered without rc- muneration, Mr. Peters was president of a large and flourishing bank, director in many other corporations, and for a short time Collector of Customs for the Federal Government. Yet at his death, he left barely enough property to afford his children a good education, while his partner, who was unknown beyond the commercial circle in which he moved, who never performed any public service, or promoted any public enterprise, left a princely estate.
Some historic interest attaches to the City Hall in connection with events of the war. Several regiments received their colors from its granite steps in the exciting days of 1861, and it was here that Admiral Bailey came on that eventful April day in 1862 to demand the surrender of the city. When Rex makes his
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annual entrance on the day preceding Mardi Gras, it is his custom to pay a visit: to the Mayor in his parlor, where he is presented with the keys of the city.
TULANE HALL.
This building, formerly the Mechanic's Institute, was erected to serve as an institute and library. The original building was destroyed by fire shortly before the war, but was replaced within a year or so. The present edifice has an historic- interest from the use to which it was put after the war and during the reconstruc- tion period. Upon the formation of a State Government under the protection of" the Union forces, it was made the State Capitol, and continued to serve in this capacity until 1866, when the famous "July Riots" occurred. It was in its as- sembly hall that the members of the old convention of 1864, who had met without the authority of either the former president or the Governor of the State, for the- purpose of capturing the control of the Statc, then, with the exception of the Gov- ernorship, in the possession of the Democrats, entrenched themselves against the " Sheriff of the parish and his posse of policemen, who had been ordered to disperse them. It was this hall, too, which, in 1872, the U. S. Marshal and his company of Federal soldiers, acting under the "midnight order" of Judge Durell, of the U. S. Circuit Court, seized and held against the members of the Democratic Leg- islature, in order to prevent the counting of the election returns; an action which, with its resulting complications, had the effect of fastening upon the State a Gov- ernor not of the people's choice, who was maintained in his seat by United States bayonets.
This building is now the property of the Tulane University, and the home of the State Library. Its "hall" is used as a lecture-room, and as an assembly room for the dances and entertainments given by the students of the University during the winter.
WASHINGTON ARTILLERY HALL.
The Washington Artillery Armory stands on St. Charles street, near the- corner of Girod. The second floor is divided into two immense rooms, each 81x170 feet, and was formerly known as "Exposition Hall." The hall proper, fronting on St. Charles street, is handsomely frescoed, and embellished with a stately colonnade of fluted columns in white and gold on either side. On the night of Mardi Gras the ball of his Majesty Rex is held in this hall, the rear room being transformed into a throne room. The double apartment thrown into one gives .. commodious accommodation to fairs, bazaars, and exhibitions requiring space. The- front hall is also used as a concert room, and for the annual balls of various societies ..
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THE COTTON EXCHANGE.
In 1871 the cotton merchants of New Orleans formed among themselves an association for the purpose of regulating the cotton trade of the city by means of systematic rules for sampling, purchasing and delivering, as well as for the ad- justment of disputes by arbitration. The original membership of one hundred rapidly swelled to three times that number, and the usefulness of the organization was so clearly demonstrated, that it was determined to erect a more commodious building for its accommodation than the one first selected. A site was chosen at the corner of Carondelet and Gravier streets, and under the superintendence of Mr. Thomas D. Miller the present elegant structure was put up. The material used is a cream-colored stone, and the style is that of the Italian Renaissance with elaborate ornamentation of bas-relief and carving. Wolters, of Louisville, fur- nished the plan, and the building was delivered to the association, complete in every detail, at a cost of $380,000 including the ground.
The Exchange room proper is situated on the ground floor, and extends from Carondelet street back to Varieties alley, a distance of 100 feet, with a width of fifty feet. The Renaissance style prevails throughout the interior, which affords a fine illustration of the school of Lienard. The ceiling and walls are lavishly embellished with frescos in gold, crimson, violet and other rare shades. Above the Carondelet street entrance arc three medallions in gold, and back of these, surrounding an ornate centerpiece, are four paintings, representing De Soto's first view of the Mississippi; South Pass and the jetties, with steamers passing; La Salle taking possession of Louisiana, and a cotton-field, with cotton ready for picking, all of which are bordered with medallions of exquisite tracery. On the walls are panels of griffins' heads with borders of intricate design, and a profusion of fruit and flowers, wreaths and festoons, rich friezes, in which gold predominates. The ceiling is supported by four double columns of perfect proportion, resting on pedestals, and adorned with rosettes of a rich pattern. Near the Varieties alley entrance is an ornamental fountain, from the basin of which rises a bronze Triton, holding a conch shell to his lips.
Around the walls are set slabs of slate of extraordinary size, quarried ex- pressly for the purpose, upon, which which are noted the market quotations and the movements of cotton. A recess separated from the main room by an ornamental screen, is fitted up in handsome style as a counting room for the officers of the institution.
The building is four stories high, and an elevator near the rear transports
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visitors to the upper story, where a stairway of easy ascent leads to the roof. This is enclosed by a handsome iron railing, so that parties can walk about without fear of falling, and from it can be obtained such a view of the city and its environs as can hardly be had from any other accessible building. In clear weather Lake Ponchartrain can be distinctly seen, and the windings of the Mississippi traced for miles above and below the city. On this roof are hung the bells which strike the hours, half hours and quarters.
THE SUGAR EXCHANGE.
The Sugar Exchange Hall proper is of magnificent proportions, being 110x60 feet, with a height of 54 fcet from floor to skylight. It is lighted on three sides by immense plate glass windows, 13 feet wide and 24 feet high, and from above by the skylight already alluded to, which is 23 feet square. The wing building is 120x33 feet, and is two stories high. On the first floor are a public vestibule, a telegraph office, offices of the Exchange, board room, lavatory and closets. On the second floor, a library 12x19, a reading room and museum 77x20, two com- mittee roms, lavatory, etc. The ventilation is through the cornice of the skylight, and the acoustics are perfect. The entrances to the hall are covered by porches, and a Schillinger pavement is laid on three sides and in the yard at the rear. A small triangular islet, set aside by the council as a public park, under charge of . commissioners appointed from the members of the Sugar Exchange, is planted with trees and ornamental shrubs, the surface sodded, walks laid, and the whole surrounded with a high dressed curb, with a Schillinger banquette on Bienville street.
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