The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-06-24


Ninth-To survey and lay out streets to
regulate and make improvements to the
streets, public squares and other public
property, and provide for lighting and
watering the same; to construct wharf
within the corporate limits, and fix the
Wharfage dues thereon; to order and direct
the ditching. filling, opening, widening and
continuing of any of the streets aud if for
the above or otter public purposes the land
of any private person or body corporate is
necessary to be had to purchase the same
at a reasonable price Oh cause the same to
be appropriated, according to the mode and
lor.naites prescribed by existing laws upon
the subject : TO regulate the proportions, and
10 make aud repair all common drains,
public roads, lcyees. cauSeways and bridges.
notwithstanding auy superintendent which
NAV be set up by any corporation or indi-
vduals over such works to determine the
completion and pavements Of the streets to
fix the squavjny and to prevent any en-
croachmcnts upon or the stopping and Oh
structiug Of the streets, public squares.
sidewalks, levecS. public roads or river
banks o( the city Of Monroe, ard to order
any object whatever lnay he its valne, winch
may cucumber the said places or prevent
and embarrass the free use of the same, 10
be removed or sold tnr whom it may concern,
in the same manner and after such adver-
tisemcnt as shall be required by ordinance.
Tentll--To clean the banks OF the Qua
clta river on other streams within the linn
its of the city, and reopen such ancient na.
tu,aI drains as have been obstructed by the
owners of adjacent lands.
Eleyentli-To determine what animals
shall run at large within the corporate linn
its and prohibit others from doing so; to
impound all animals running at large in
violation of the laws or ordinances of the
city; to fix the penalties and fines which
the owners thereof shall pay before the ami
mails so impounded shall be delivered up,
and t. pass laws and ordinances for the sale
of said ar imals after three days notice in
newspaper, or by posting.
TWelith-To abatc nuiSances, suppress
houses Of ill-fame. and to cause the arrest
and punishment Of vagrants.
Thirteenth enact laws and ordinances
and make appropriations for the purpose of
building a workhonse and providing for the
government of the same.
Fourteenth-To cause persons sentenced
to fine and Imprisonment, or either, to be
placed at work upon the streets and other
public works Of said corporation, in the
event of the failure of said persons so SEN
fenced to pay the said fines and costs, until
the same shall be paid by the labor Of said
person or persons so sentenced. as aforesaid,
at one dollar Per day, and to let and hire
out by contract the labor OF the persons so
sentenced, and failing to pay their fines and
costs, under such rules and regulations As
NAV be fixed by ordinance; provided, that
no charge shall be made for the board or
food of any person sentenced to labor in
d. fault Of paying fms and costs by said
corporation Or contractor during the term
for which he mty be sentenced 10 labor !;
and provided, further, that all persons sem
fenced to labor to pay the amount of their
fines and costs shall be treated hnmanely.
Fifteenth-To pass laws and ordinances
imposing fine upon all persons who shall
conduct any business or pursue any occu-
patton for which license is to collected,
whenever such persons shall conduct said
business or pursue said occupation without
previously obtaining such license.
make regulations for preventing and extin
gushing confagratnns to make such regu-
lations for the building ofparty and fire
walls as they may deem necessary for that
purpose md to regulate the service Of per
sons employed in working fire engines.
Seytnteenth-To determine in what part
of the city wooden buildings shall not be
allowed to be erected. and to prevent per-
sons from reconstructing in wood old and
dccaved wooden houses under preteuse Of
repairing the sasne, in those parts of the
city where it is lawful to build only in brick
and stone.
Eighteenth regulate the police Of
theatres, public balls, taverns, places for
shows and exhibitions, places of public en-
tertainment, and saloons and shops for re-
failing liquors, and to order the same to be
closed whenever the public safety and tran
qui|lity shall require it, and to impose such
duties and regulations upon persons keeping
such places as they may deem necessary
and proper. 5-
Nincteenth-To regulate the proper gov
erment Of carts drays, carriages. omnibuses
and other vehicles of every description.
Twentieth - 10 establish market places
and farm out the same.
SEC. 10. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
the Mayor and City Council of Monroe shall
succeed TO and be invested with all the
rights, property and possession of the town
of Monroe, as previously Incorporated.
Sec. il. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the Mayor and four Councilmen, and no less
number shall constitute n quorum to trans
act business but to lay any tax, toll or inn
post, or to fix any license, or to make any
appropriation, it shall require vote OF the
majority of all the Councilmen, and the affir-
native and negative of such vote shall be
recorded on the minutes.
Sec. l2. Be it further enacted, etc, That
the Mayor and the City Council shall in no
case pass any law or ordinance wherein a
fine exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars
and imprisonment for more than sixty days
may be imposed. 49,.
SEC. 13. Be it further enacted, ETC., That
whenever the owner of property in front ot
which sidewalk, banquette or ditch shall
have been ordered TO be made, filled up,
cleaned out or repaired, shall fail to do Sc
in the time required by the laws and ordin-
ances of the corporation, the Mayor and
City Council shall cause it to be done at the
expense of the owner of the property; and
the said corporation shall have a special
privilege on said property to secure the
payment so due, which privilege shall hold
until the corporation be paid in preference
to any other mortgage or claim upon The
property and in case such owner shall be
absent from, OF have no authorized agent
living in the parish of Onachita, or be un-
known, the corporation shall have the right
to proceed in rem against the property in the