The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1866-07-21
Communicated.
The Peoples Money Squandered +!


Col. Harrison and his sureties, for no
other apparent reason, than that they
paid too much for Red Chute ferry this
year-or in other words, they have
not realized their golden dreams of the
which they expected to have
realized from the lease of said ferry
The facts of the case are these, as
| understand them: In the month of
January last, when that ferry was to be
leased, it was thought to be a very val
liable investment, and at the first offer
ing, it brought about $250O-Col. Har-
rison having bid at that offering more
than $2000-but the parties to whom it
was knocked off, failed to make the
bond required, and to give satisfactory
sureties, when the ferry was immedi-
ately re-offered; and at this second Of
fering was adjudicated to Col Harrison
at the small sum of fifteen hundred and
fifty dollars, in consequence of Mr..
j. W. Mcdonald and other bidders hay
ing left town, under the impression,
that the ferry had been adjudieated to
the first bidders, to whom it had been
knocked off. Col. Harrison must have
known at the time he leased said
ferry what would be the probable
amount of revenue arising from said
ferry for the year, as his brother had
had it for several years previous, and
Col. Fl. must have known at the same
time that Red River was subject to
overflow, and consequently must have
rented it with reference to that fact
otherwise it would have brought more
money. Now under these circum-
stances, is there any justice, reason or
equity in such a proceeding and par
ticularly, at time like the present,
when we are mourning debt of eleven
thousand dollars for the erection of a
new Jail, and when our current expen-
ses are heavier than ever before, in
consequence of the many petty
offences and grave crimes committed
by freedmen in our parish and when
by the devastation of the recent over
flow, and ravages of war. our people
have lost SO much of that fortune that
once enabled them to pay taxes SO
easily! Col. Harrison and his sureties
are doubtless very clever persons, and
in common with the other good people
of this parish, have suffered greatly
from common causes. But the con-
tract, which they entered into with the
parish of Bossier, was entered into
after the ravages of the recent unfor-
tunate struggle was past, and said con-
tract was not dependent on any event
or contingency that might not have
been forseen--for it is fact most noto-
rious. that Red River is subject to
overfow-and Col. H. must have known
at the time of executing his obligation,
that the very calamity which did be-
fall him, was thing to have been ex-
pected.
The people have a right to know
what Col. Harrison or his sureties have
done, that has benefited the parish SO
much, or in what particular they have
suffered SO seriously, as to cause the
Police Jury to make such munifcent
donations-for if this donation has been
made in consequence, or in considera-
ton of distinguished services rendered
by Col. II. or his surities'to the parish
of Bossier--or from misfortunes not
suffered in common or reasonably to
have been expected, then gentlemen,
let US know wherein-for we do know
that the good people of this parish are
not ungrateful, and it will give them
pleasure, in mass, to confer honor upon
whom honor is due; or to render relief
to whom the same is due-but if this
bounty has been given as mere gratui-
ty, because of the overflow, and be-
cause Col. Fl. did not find the Ell Dora
do which he expected in that lease,
then gentlemen, we insist, that with
equal justice, you might relieve Now
ell from the payment Of the pitiful sum
of seventy-five dollars, which he prom
ised to pay for Bodceau ferry-for the
facts in his case are about as strong as
in the case. in which you gave relief.
And do not stop with him, and all
other ferrymen who have lost by reason
of the recent overhow, but with the
same lavish hand, come forward and
make up to each unfortunate planter,
the difference between what he will
make and what he would have made
had the overflow not have come. Then