The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-07-17

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improved, In the mean time, however, We
insist that the present members and officers
Of our little parish legislature, shall have
at least the justice Of the criminal-the trial
first, the hanging afterwards.
Our Public Roads.
Nothing is more indicative of the civil
cation of a country, than the condition of
its public roads. This branch of public
improvement kept pace with the advance of
the Roman Eagles in the conquest Of the
world. Whenever a distant province was
added, by conquest, to the Roman Empire,
it was connected with the CAPITAL by a great,
broad, permanent highway. Such was the
massiveness and solidity of these structures,
that to this day, the modern traveller often
finds himself borne over a road, which,
more than two thousand years ago, revcrber-
atea to the tramp of the conque:ins Legions
of the Empire. In a semi civilized region,
among the ancient Aztecs, at the time Of
the Conquest by Cortes, permanent roads
we're found constructed between the G~lf of
Mexico and the city of Montezuma. So
we'll were these highways graded. worked
and bridged, that, by a system Of runners,
the Monarch's table vas supplied with. fish,
taken the day previous, from the waters Of
the Gull, a distance Of two hundred miles.
Pizarro and his companions found in Peru,
at the period of the Conquest, highways,
whose massive and solid masonry attracted
the wonder and admiration of the Spanish
invaders. Suspension bridges, constructed
Of light, bat safe and durable materials,
were thrown over chasms i, the mountains
Of unfathomable depth. Such was the ex-
pan>ion of these gaps, and the lofty, height
of these gessamer crossings, that even the
bravest cavaliers of Spain at first feared to
pass orcr them. Remains of these high
ways and suspension bridges, are to this
day visible in both Mexico and Peru, and
Stlll SuuScEFc tAc SoIsSHieiCSs ~ shS liasSI~
er amidst the more recent improvements of
modern engineering and civilization .sT
In south western Louisiana, aud particu-
larly in St., Landry, we have 10 public
roads worth the name. Nature has done
SO much, that art is required to do but littl".
The gently undulating surface Of our coun-
try, and the admiAture Of sand in the soil,
render our roads passaLle at all seasons,
except during the rai'y months of winter
But this is no reason why our public high
ways should not be kept smooth and dry
during the entire season.. Itwould add to
our convenience, improve our internal trade,
and render the country more a%lluring TO the
numerous vis:ters now in search Of pleasant
dwellings. In short, it would be a new
sign of advanced civilization. II would
present such an evidence Of prosperity, as
the traveller and the immigrant now look for
in vain. It is true that a great deal cannot
be accomplished, under our present system
Of road laws, which were intended by the
Legislature for a different condition Of
things, when the planter was required, for
a certain number Of days, to put his avail
able free to work. Until these laws are
changed. no great results can DO accomplish
ed 1t should be made the duty Of every
adult male resident, to work o. given time
on the pubic roads, under adequate penal
ties, made easy to recover. It should be
made the duty Of every citizen, at least
once in three years, to accept the appoint
ment, if rendered to him, Of road-overseer,
under such penalty as would purchase the
services Of a substitute. Every facility
should be granted by law, for the Collection
Of forfeisures, and the enforcs ment of the
work We are Indifferent as to details !;
but some such plan Of legislation * imse.
riously required. While however, it wall
require legislative action, to accomplish
what we desire, we think tAat something
IN the mean time, may be done by the
Polio, E Jury, particularly in the way of
appointments Of competent road 'oversecrs.
Try is gentlemen 3 It can do no harm, and
may aid something i'll relieving Us Of the
standing csesnrsure Of bad and neglected
roads, odl .z]3r.1.s yLLe-1tienr Vi diner
d. GusBoA1s ron SPAIN BUlLrp1s Ma. Al. NEW
YoRK.-The INewr York. Star sass. that
there are thirty gunboats' building in New
York, for the service Of the Spanish Gov
ernrae,tuit. They are all to ~" finished
within six months, and some q them before
that time Each boat is to be I7Otffeet
long and '22 feet beam. The draft Of water
when finished win be Ave. feet. They will
be propelled by steam. The speed will be
twelve miles per hour The building Of
THU, iron fleet IS employing, d great many
hands in New York, and the work, is pro-
crossing toEthe satisfaction ofstthei So auish
Commission Are they for Cuba? rs hGe
ri Gun TELBeRApHIc NEws.-We call atten-
ton to our brief items Of news, By telegraph.
We We intend hereafter to compile. from the
steiegraphic dispatches to the associated
press'of New Orleans, such general items
Of news, 1asswilr keep our readers Informed
Of current events. There will be az, appro-
pirate heading to each. item so that the
eye may, ut q glance, detect the subject Of
the particular, telegram. In order that
there may be no interruption il, this
.appersueof events, we shall commence on
the first page OF our next number, where
LIZ A-.E-r ~ III -Y aar 49,.