The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-19
WEDNESDAY, December Sd, 1878

tomorrow at 10 OclOck a. NJ.
WEDNESDAY, December Sd, 1878.
The Police Jury met pursuant to adjournment
Present John Roy, Presidents; Homer DurlO,
ThcOdule FOntenOt, 7. S. FOntenOt and TheO. c.
Chacher6.
The following petitions which have been in
| discussion for the last three months We're, on
motion of Mr.. The0dUle F0ntenot, read and or
dered spread upon the minutes:
To the Hon. the President and members OF the
! Police Jury Of the Parish of st. Landry
The undersigned, residents of that portion Of
the parish of st. Landry. lying west of the bayou
T1che and included within a line passing through
the town Of OpelOusas extending due east to
said bayou and due west to a point five miles
from OpelOuSaS, and thence running due south
to the northern limits Of the parish of Lafayette,
respectfully represent
That they are engaged in agricultural pursuits
and have at heart any law which will promote
the interests of the tillers OF the soil without re-
gardto color or previous condition.
That experience and observation have con-
WINGED them that much good to this class OF your
fellOw-citiZcns would be the result of n law
which would prohibit hogs from rowing within
the aforesaid described territory.
Among the many advantages OF such a law, it
will suffice to point out the following, tO-Wtt:
LIST. A decrease of expenses in fencing OF at
least 0ne-third.
I'd. The cultivation of a large extent of lands
now idle and non productive on account OF the
cost OF fencing,
Sd. The saving of a large amount of corn and
potatoes annually destroyed in the fields by the
hogs.
4th. Less vexation, annoyance and better feel
ings amongst neighhOrs.
5th. The raising of finer hogs, and in greater
number in lots kept for their special benefit and
enclosed with q small portion of the fence saved
from that around the cultivated fields.
9Th. A marked reduction i'll criminal prOsecu-
lions and the costs entailed by them.
They hope that Il due regard to the interests
Of a pursuit on which depend the prosperity OF
the country will induce your Hon. Body to en-
act q law cmbOdying the wishes herein above
expressed. Respectfully submitted.
Signed by two hundred and fifty citizens;
To the Hon. the President and members of the
Police Jury of the Parish of st. Landry
The undersigned residents of a certain portion
of the parish of st. Landry, whose limits have
already been described to your Honorable body
by a petition directed thereuntO as lying west OF
the bayou Tache and Included within u line pass
ing through the town of OpelOusas, and thence
running due south to the northern limit of the
parish Of Lafayette, respectfully beg
That your Honorable body give no heed to the
prayer of certain citizens that hogs should be
restrained within certain limits, because:
1st. Such restraint would be lnlmical to the
liberty of the citizen,
I'd. It would be deadly hostile to the interests
of the moor farmer and the cOlOred labOTer in az
much as these persons, especially those of the
latter class would, to each cabin, nave to build {
pen and the building of pens would necessltatt
tho purchase Of piepx, which they cannot anord
Sd. Because the reasons advanced for the res
traint Of hogs would, III their application, be at
tended with more Inconvenience than advantage
besides being mostly Daseless. II FENCES anr
SA"Eo nv CLAAAAIHSOLSNp ~ ~ $NNO NNSS NN
equally imperilled by beef freedom; therefore
bGeves assWell as hogs should be restrained, ant
> stock raising altogether hampered II the reasons
for this law prevail.
4th. The law already protects the citize!
+ against the inconvenience named, by givint
every man recOmpensef for damage done by tn
l stock of another.
,5th. The feelings with which neighbOrs regar(
L each other should be ruled by christianity Qnt
, civilization, and not be made to depend Qpol
> the amount of restraint exercised oyer hogs, o
L the amount of Freedom granted them,
9Th. In the opinion of your petitioners, Their
p will not result, as has been alleged, any redu'
| ton in criminal prosecutions. RA1rrause.i if hog
! can be stolen CUnnln~ AZ large. they can. for
= stronger reason, be stolen when penned in order
. 18th. Your petitioners pray that, If your Honor
able body be unwilling to grant their prayer, Il
-, at least, submit this matter to the vote of tn
{ people within the limits named.
Signed by one hundred and sevGnty-tive citizens
To the President and members of the Polio
t jury of st. Landry Parish, La!
/ We the Undersigned residents Of this portion
a of the parish, whiehts included under and woul
Z be restricted by that proposed hog law, do col
i slider and believe that if said law should be im
posed upon us it would. at the same time impOs
= a very and unnecessary expense upon us, which
as Il matter of course, should be avoided, esnt
Z cially In these caterpillar tlrpes, =,
Gun fences are so constructed that We canno
t conveniently change them, as We would have t
a tear down the lower part and leave only sutf
y y cient on top to secure our crops from the large
Z stock. as is proposed In tile drafting Of the LAY
ICIGlICA W u saw Ing CAHIuSCSs l1CIC1NECP SOu
petitioners do hereby respectfully request YOU
n in your wise council, not to extend the said lay
Z further south than the Catalpa grove, by q lin
due west to Grand COte2u.
= Respectfully submitted.
Signed by seventy-fiyc citizens.
On motion of Mr.. 7. S. Fontenot, resolved. tina
a the prayer of the petitioners in the first petitiO
= be granted prohibiting hogs from running Q
Z large in the aforesaid described territory.
MI. Chachere moved to amend Mr.. Fontenat
4 motion by running on the north line Of Opelot
g sas, thence running south to the Dixon plact
> and thence to Chretien's point, so as to includ
e the Richard settlement and thence to the bridg
: across bayou Carancr0 near the Guidry settlt
q mcnt. and that said resolution does not 90 int
9 effect until January, 1875.
) MI. Fontenot accepted the amendment of NJ
Chaehep5y ....
{ Messrs. The0dnle F~ontenot. Chaehere and 7
g.. Fontenot, votes yea. Mr. Durlo votes nay.
Il PARISH OF ST. LANDRY, Nov. &c, 1873.
i To the Hon. President and members OF the Polio
y Jury of the Parish of st. Landry:
The undersigned, Oyerseer of the road frOI
v Bayou BRuf to Mrs. Rltledge's lOwerline, wOul
respectfully represent that, that portion Of h
road between the front OF his place and Bayu
Waxia runs through low land, very difficult
t drain and would respectfully request that 1t b
V changed to the north bank of Dry Bayou, whe1
/ good drainage can be securad and a good rOa
= mNde at less expense than the old road can b
u put in good condition, and the change would NJ
1a1an II nv INnnGa. IN Snp nnpiGh The 1Jn6n