Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-07-27
LOCAL, IMPROVEMENT.

Local improvement has been so often advocated in our columns. that 1t IS with some degree of doubt of proprie- ty that WIG again approach 1t. But whom opportunity offers We cannot re- frain from speaking, if by speaking anything can be accomplished for the benefit of our town and community. The citizens of Des Arc are not lack ing in public spirit, nor arc they be- hind the people of any other eommu- nifty in lending encouragement to such measures as tend to tho advancement of our local interests. But the great difficulty seems to be want of har- monious action, whenever action is re- quired; from this cause arise the fail ures that characterize the many efforts that are made to improve and build up our town. A school house, or rather the best means to build suitable house for the education of the children of Dcs Are, has been canyassed until every citizen has become almost tired of the theme and yet nothing, abso- lutely nothing, has been done toward the ftlrtherance ofthis laudablc enter
 prize Private subscription as means has been tried, and signal failure has been the result. Our corporate au- thorities have devised plan to sell off a portion of the Public Square for the purpose of building a school house. But this measure is being violently op- posed by those who say they are ill the right; and so ill our present condition it seems almost impossible for us to devise any means for the education of the many children which are growing up in our midst. Not only does this division exist in this one particular, but it is found upon every occasion that presents itself. Let the enterprise be of whatever character it may, divi- sions will arise and two parties will be formcd-this state of affairs cannot long exist and our town prosper. There are improvements which must be made in order to facilitate the growth of our town. We must not only have a good comfortable school house, but we must turn our attention to the opening of roads and building of bridges upon the various thoroughfares that lead to and from our town. A very large portion of the richest country from which Des Are draws life is almost entirely cut of from us by the impossible condi- the year. A large portion of the coun- try northwest of US cut off for want of a bridge across Bayou Des Are. Ef- forts to build this bridge have been made, but with no seeming success, be- cause of the division existing amongst our people; so also has the project of opening the road from Des Arc to Cot ton Plant met with some opposition ; but at this time there is d likelihood of something being done toward bringing ns in communication with this rich territory. We have spoken these things that the folly of a perseverance in this suicidal course may be seen. Although Des Arc has every natural advantage that she possibly could pos sess, these of themselves will not make her town. We need, i'll order to car ry out the great work of building up, a uuited, energetic community of citi- zcus, who will work for any and every measure that has for it's cad the ad- Nauvcment of Dcs Arc and her inter- csts, Let Us then cease to divide our selves, properly consider our condi- ton, learn to let politics and govern mental policy alone, devote our atten- tion to local improvement, and we will not only soon have a school house, but our roads will be repaired, connmuni- cation opened up with the surround ing country, and our town will grow and prosper as il should.