Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-04-09
Communicated.
The Crosse Tete Question.

pen would he called into requisition to take
part in the present movement, by which we
are either to remain forever in Ibervi1le, OF
to become part and parcel of West Baton
Rouge. But an ARTICLE in the Gazette & Sen
tinel of the goth ult., compels me to say q few
words upon the proeDsed road to Crosse Tete,
which, il to cost $50. 900, or, even to be built
at any ~iul That paper Of SAINT date says
1.-The people eff the Crosse Tete and the
Maringouin, for six months or more in the
year, are prevented from attending court, or
to their own privats business in this town, in
consequence OF an oNer1owed road. A gen.
tleman from the above locality. who arrived
in the town the oslYer day, said that he had
come here upon the cheapest, possible plan
and it cost him four dollars and a hay-nore
than it costs a citizen Of Ibervilles to visit
New Orleans! But I'VE contend that the value
Of a road such as we allude to, to our town
land parish, can scarcely be computed by dol
lars and cents, It is true that a handsome
sum was once spent to make a good road to
that section; the commits toner's suitably APP
propriated the amount and at this day there
would not have been cause for another sum
to build the road higher if Bayou Plaquemine.
had not been backed up to an unprecedented
height by distractions below"
Here is an admission that we have been
neglected by the parish of Iberville and
would remain so, did 'not+ths question Of. an
||nexation cause them to throw otftheir apathy
and n Indifference, and attempt to make some
reparation for their long and wilful neglect.
Were we'residents of any other parish in the
would have been recognized and allowed! IF
thirty-two years of anne Ration to that parish
is not sufficient length Of time to open her
ears to our wants: then. must we come to the
conclusion, that she has ears that will not
hear. (
When, after years IF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
plant after corhplaint-appeal after appeal
was made tothe parochial authorities Of her
vile for relief, and when + was contemplated
to build a railroad to some point, givin, US
a permanent and reliable outlet at all sea-
sons of the year,,t the first appeal was made to
the town Of Plaqutmine for assistance. We
went there, because as says" Bayou Goula',
" the sympathies ofGrosseT'ete are with US
the associations and friendships of it's people
are here,ntand we were firmly of that belief
at the time-and what think you Mr.. Editor,
was the tone of their reply to a request so
reasonable, so just, and which we had a right
to expect? They met us as if we were in
truders having no claims upon their sympa-
thies or affections, and. they said to US in
meaning, # not in actual words: "You have
lands enough to build it-you are rich-your
lands are far more valuable than ours-you |
m less for them, and You can build your
own road without assistance from US ~ This, |
slr,,4lss the treatment we received at their
SO sfr'e ndsH; orr brothers, if you will
and her merchants, toH#whom we had for
many years paid h handsome share Of our
hard-won earnings. They would give Us
nofHinv villa fha2- had ~, Jo,r.r Ia 80. -
there is a chance Of our Escaping from their
clutches, they suddenly come liberal, and
propose to appropriate a. sufficient sum to
build us a road :@antl then ia us to help pay
for it. Generous liberality!
Well sir, wheniwe found that our home
peap)e would not assist us, we went, as any
other body o citiztns would, elsewhere. We |
went to the people: Of West Baton Rouge. up-
on whom we had no claim, and asked them.
3" will you assist us !" To a man thew came
forward, and as ii actrated by one gush of
feeling, they extended a helping hand to
Crosse Tete, and mainly through their exc
tions a railroad was built, giving us e.sy and
rapid access to a shipping point, and Crosse
Tete was no longer isolated from the world.
Where then, should our affections turn ? to
West Baton Rouge or IbervilIea This road
is permanent-its charges moderate-it is all
all times reliable, land it does not require now
days, and weeks, for us to reacfSthe river
with our produce or our families. The Court
House Of West Baton Rouge is situated d.
rectIy at its river :terminus any Of oursciti-
gems having business there, if annexed IS that
parish, will pass free upon the road lives can
return in the evening, after getting throughF
with our business-be at home again by
dark, without any Of the expense of travel
ling to Plaquenire which the Ga7ette e. Seu-
tinel SO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS upon. If the sher-
lit have legal notices to serve upon the peo-
pie OF Crosse Iete, the railroad is the medium
OF his travel if . family meeting is called.
there is mileage for the Recorder by way oil
the river and railroad; if the parties meet. at
Piaquemlne there is the same expense for
them going and returning, and so on. Why.
dear sir, it is a most expensive business
t0Hive on Crosse: 1ete, and be called a mart
of 1berville.
Now, supposing that the sum of enough
to build the road at any price'> be- subscrib-
ed, will we not have to pay our share, of the
expenses? If btilt. will we not be taxed
annually to keep it in repair, if it can be kent
so Have we DOT paid taxes for years for
roads in other parts of the parish without cor
responding benefit, and if this be built. will
moi. other portions of the parish claim like
for better roads, and must they not be
There Is no honesty in this sudden
ebuliton of liberality. At least so far as the
Crosse Tete people are interested.
To build a goo'l and practicable road from
Crosse Tete would cost an immense sum Of
money in the first place: secondly, cal, it be
done at all? There is a.swamp, or piece Of
marshy land, that is during heavy rains, or
high waterin the river, causing the Bayou
PIaqnemine to overflow, for six or seven
IN the year. with a depth of from two
to three and a half feet of water. Is it pos
',bte to build aa embankment Upon which
The road would have to run, for a distance If
seven miles? Certainly, it would be said
anything is possible; but what would II cost
md would such all embankment or Ieyee. be
le rnlftad 70 stana z Ik1.a.ll :.