The Slaughterhouse Cases

The Water Works was cited by everyone arguing over the slaughterhouses. The intake pipes were down river from the Jefferson City (uptown) slaughterhouses and landings. Waste and offal from hundreds of animals was dumped into the river every day. The intake pipes were often clogged by sucking in these materials from the river.

These images from Sanborn Insurance Maps are from 1885 and 1896. The Water Works had been there during the period in question.  Please note: the orientation of the images is different in the two years.

This is the 1885 reservoir image. Click to expand.   

                                                                This is the 1885 pumping station. Click to expand.

This is the 1896 reservoir image. Click to expand.                                                           This is the 1896 pumping station. Click to expand.

These pages from Sanborn Insurance Maps are from the Library of Congress.

You may see the 1885 reservoir page here. You may see the 1896 reservoir page here.

You may see the 1885 pumping station page here. You may see the 1896 pumping station here.

Here is a photograph of the Stand Pipe at the Water Works. Here is a photograph of the reservoir. Both items are from The Historic new Orleans Collection.

Today, the blocks that contained the city's main reservoir and its pumping station are covered by warehouses. The four large intake pipes that ran underground to the river between Orange Street and Richard Street, are gone and forgotten.

This image is taken from Google. Click here to go to the map.