The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-05-07
PTRLIC ROADS,

ton are DeluS IdptuLJ b1NSA ~
settlers, who are constantly put
ting up new fences, which in many
cases seriously interrupts travel, by
crossing the public roads, We nope
that the Police Jeries of the re-
spective parishes will take the mat
ter in hand, and remedy the evil by
some wholesome legislation.
No other portion Of the State is
so we'll adapted as Western Louisi-
ana to the establishment Of public
roads, at regular intervals, for here
the lands have all been laid off into
townships and sections, and as
many Of the surveyors stakes are
yet standing, it would be an easy
matter to locate public roads upon
each section line, thus making a
thoroughfaro every mile, from east
to west and from north to south.
1t is true. with u present limit,
ed population. We do not need roads
every mile, but the prospects are
that as soon as the railroad
reaches this point, and the ShreTc-
port branch is built through st,
Landry, that a large immigration
will overwhelm us, buying up small
tracts Q. land, and we should pre-
pare for the future.
Therefore, cur Police Juries
should Immediately pass Ordinan-
ces, requiring all land owners,
when erecting fences on section or
township lines, to leave at least
thirty feet for public roads, which
will thus be sixty feet in width, by
taking a strip off of both sides,
When the same party owns land
Oh both sides Of the section line,
and now has it enclosed, it would
be advisable to leave them pndis-
turbed, except that it be so ar
ranged that they will be compelled
to open them to the public, when
ever it is to the interest Of the COM
munity that the road be eStab-
lished but after the passage of the
ordinance, all slORld be required
to strictly observe it, by leaving
the requisite space, when erecting
fences.
This plan is pursed in all the
new States in the Northwest, and
the result is that all fields are
square, the roads all run straight,
and every land owner, even the
most humble farmer, has an outlet
to market, and is not fenced in, as :
so often occurs here. ,
Now, that our country is SILL
comparatively new, these regula- /
tons could be enforced without
hardship or serious Inconvenience
to any one, and We hope that no
time will be lost in inaugurating
this reform.
Another great advantage to be
derived will be the fact that when
any work is done on the public road,
it Will be of a permanent character,
and not lost, as now frequently
happens, by some land owner fenc-
ing in the very portion of the road !
worked. ;
We feel particularly proud of ;
The little parish of Lafayette, and
although the smallest in the State, {
We are sure she is destined, at no J
distant day, to be the most popu- ]
Gus for her size, as she is already J
noted for possessing more than !
average ability In the persons OF :
many of her sons. Therefore, let j
Lafayette take the lead in the good !
work Of laying off public roads, \
which will cost nothing, ana we :
ire sure u neighbors of Vermil- J
on, Iberia, st. Martin, st. Landry, J
Jaleasieu aud Cameron, will speed j,
ly follow our example, when all G
Dads will necessarily meet each J
'ther, on the parish lines, giving j
,reat thoroughfares throughout J
he country, which we will all ere j
Dng be proud of. 7
Tax REsIsTANCE.-The editor of the D
Tatchitoches Times. who was a Senator l.
the MoEnery Legislature, has this to G
ay about tax resistance: =,
4 i. i = = #H~ =