Yours truly,
G. Vaux.
State of Louisiana. Mayoralty of New Orleans,
City Hall, 3d day of Jan’y, 1857.
Mr. H. R. Helper,
New-York:
Dear Sir:—
In answer to your note of the 24th December, I beg to refer you to the enclosed abstract for the value of real estate and slaves according to the last assessment.
There has heretofore been no assessment of personal property—there having been no tax authorized until this year. The assessment is now being made and will probably add about $5,000,000 to the assessment as stated in the abstract.
There has been no census since the U. S. census of 1850, except an informal census, made in 1852, for the purpose of dividing the city into wards anew.
The estimated population now is about 150 to 175,000 inhabitants—permanent population—including the floating population at this season, it would probably reach not less than 210,000 inhabitants. The U. S. census was taken in the summer months, and is very incorrect as to the absolute population of New Orleans.
Very respectfully,
Your obed’t serv’t,
J. B. Walton,
Secretary.
By reference to the abstract of which Mr. Walton speaks, we find that the value of real and personal property is summed up as follows:—
| Real Estate, | $67,460,115 | |
| Slaves, | 5,183,580 | |
| Capital, | 18,544,300 | |
| Total, | $91,188,195 |