La sentinelle de Thibodaux. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1861-1866, 1865-09-23

The Mayor presented the following
message, which was read and adopted:
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF
THIBoDAUx.
Gentlemen-I invite your attention to
the last report of the Treasurer OF this
corporation, bearing date of May 2, 1864
showing the deplorable condition Of our
finances and the absence OF any available
funds, either for the corporation or Guion
Academy. It will be expected that you
will direct your earliest efforts to devise
ways and means to obtain funds for the
purpose of making such Improvements as
will not admit of delay, and Of preserving
the property belonging tothe corporation
from utter ruin. Owing to the heavy
losses2our citizens have suffered during
the last four years, the present prostration
of business and the heavy list of taxes
now being collected, the expenditures of
the town officers should be reduced to
the lowest limits, and prudence and econ
omy be practiced in each Department.
~ recommend that the salaries of the
Mayor, Clerk, Printer and Treasurer be
reduced at least one-half OF the amount
allowed by existing orders.
/ also suggest that no further attempt
be made to collect the unpaid taxes of
past years !; and that a new assessment
be effected, based upon the present yalua-
ton of property upon which q tax may
be collected for the present year.
Your attention is directed to the condi-
ton of the bridge over Bayou Lafourehe.
Partly destroyed during the late war and
rebuilt by the military authorities, it now
appears to be under the supervision ofno
one, and is rapidly going to destruction.
1t is believed thatb BY proper application to
existing authorities this work will be re-
turned to- the stockholders, preserved
from ruin, and again become, not only an
ornament to the town, but a source OF
| Revenue to the owners of the stocks,
more than one half Of which belongs to.
this Corporation
Tie repairs of our levees will require
your supervision, whilst the wretched
condition Of the banquettes is notorious
to avery one,
You are aware, gentlemen. that we
have no public school. The Guion Acaa-
envy is standing idle and almost a ruin.
I presume-although | have no official
information on that subject-that there
| will soon be a considerable amount Of
school funds in the State Treasury Tor
distribution in the parishes. The allow
ance due this town may enable the
directors to have the Academy opened at
an early day. For four years many OF
the children Of the town have been de-
prived off the means of obtaining any in
structioh and / urge upon you to spare
no effort to have our public school re-
opened, at which those who are now
idling away their time in the streets can
obtain an education, and not lose the
golden opportunity which, once past
never returns.
In short, after the repairing of our
%leyees, 1 earnestly recommend that all
the available resources of the corporation
be directed to the accomplishment of this
object.
The Guion Academy was once-under
it's able and accomplished teachers-an
ornament to Thibodaux, and an institution
Of which every citizen should have been
proud. The thanks of the citizens and
the gratitude of those who will be the re-
c~ipients of the education received therein,
viii be the reward of those who will
resuscitate and restore the Guion Acad-
envy to it's late, usefulness and prosperity.
Hoping that your labors may be crown
ed with success, i promise you my cordial
assistance in every movement that may
promote the welfare of the town and the
prosperity of our fellow-citizens.
il1 ST. GRISAM0RE, Mayor.
The following Committees were ap-
pointed4by the Mayor:
Committee on observation-disclosures D.
Jordan, A. Perrin andJ. IT,. Fleetwood.
Committee Of Finance-R. D. Jordan
j. III. Fleetwood and E. CT. Robiehaux.
Committee of Improyement-H. Hofft-
man. A. Perrin and j. D. Leblanc.
On motion, the meeting adjourned until
! Catnrdau nirht the C2d dau of Santemher