An Outrage
To the Editor of the N.O. Times – You will greatly oblige me and other citizens by publishing the following:
On returning to my office this morning, at about 12 o’clock, I found lying in the gutter, almost immediately in front of my door, and with its legs on the banquette, a dead mule. I immediately called on the Street Commissioner, who was absent; but one of his representatives promised to have the nuisance removed immediately. At half-past 3 this had not been done, and I again called at the Street Commissioner’s office; found no one there but a boy, who said he would send another order, and had already sent one to the effect this morning at half-past 8. This I know must have been untrue, as I left my office at that hour, when no dead or dying mule was near here. Some of the neighbors who saw the animal die inform me that it was here a little after 11 o’clock. The mule is still in the same place (half-past 6). It smells abominably, and have died of glanders, is not only a nuisance, but a most dangerous source of infection to man and beast. Children are playing around it – they and their parents ignorant of the peril. I consider it my duty to denounce to the public the criminality of the owner, whoever he may be, in allowing a deceased animal to go about the streets, and the willful and grossly culpable negligence of the servants of the people in not attending to their duties.
89 Rampart street, Oct. 30, 1866.