The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1873-10-11

We have been informed by persons who have
been over the Bagrys Landing road from this
place, very lately, that the bridges across the
Bayous Marie Croquant and Taehe have been
completed and are now being used. There
was, however, great mistake made in the
building of the bridge over the Teche, near
Barry's Landing. It should have been draw
bridge. The Teehe, up to Barrys, is naviga-
BILE stream; fatboats with cotton come up to
Barry's every season during high water; and
the bridge as it is now will prove an obstrue-
tion to navigation. It Is to be apprehended
that the first boat whose progress is impeded
by this bridge, will cut down portion of it.
This would be misfortune for the public, one
that could and should have been guarded
against by constructing draw. We don't
know who the parties are who contracted for
the building of this bridge. nor by whom the
Police Jury was represented in the matter;
but we suppose that it was represented either
by commissioners or by the Road Superinten-
dent. BE this as it may, this error in cons
truetion should be attended to and corrected
before the high water season comes on. We
don't know whether the error is that of the
contractors, or of those who gave out the con-
tract, but it should be attended to at once.
We are informed and believe that a good
road from here to Barry's Landing can be
made, The worst place on the road now is at
Kings Bridge. This requires prompt atten-
tion, now that the dry season has set in.
broad and high levee here, of about $50 or 200
yards, thrown up with Judgment, would rem
der this part of the road practicable at all
times and for years to come. Why the over
seer of the road did not give more of his atten-
ton, and more of the time and labor of the
road hands, to this important work, this year,
we cannot understand sand we are not alone
in this inability to comprehend his neglect of
this part of the road Beyond Kings Bridge,
through Prairie Basse, and up to the Bayou
Marie Croquant, the road has been ploughed
up and left in fhat condition. In its present
condition it cannot be used. Should the win
ter set in before this ploughed earth is thrown
up by scrapers or hoes, it will be impossible to
travel over the road this winter. There are q
number of small bridges to be built along the
road. towards the building Of which no step
has been taken. In some places, bitches have
been cut across the read, the lumber for max
ing bridges over them procured and hauled TO
sthe spot, but nothing more done-to the pre-
iudice of the public.
Some of the work en- the road has been well
done-better than we ever saw on this road
but, unfortunately, it has not been all done in
the right places, where it was most needed.
We hope that this subject will receive its pro-
per share of attention from the authorities.
The power to compel the proper performance
of this much needed public improvement lies
somewhere-it is easy TO ascertain where-and
we, with the whole public interested, say, let
it be used, and that promptly. Let there be
no shirking of duty, no fiinehiug. Let no pri-
yate interests stand in the way of the salts
fying of the public necessities