The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-02
WEDNESDAY, December

WEDNESDAY, December Sd, 1873.
The Police Jury met pursuant to adjournment
Present: John Roy, President; Homer Durlo,
TheOdule Fontenot, 7. s. FOntenot and TheO. G.
ChacheFe.
The following petitions which have been in
discussion for the last three months We're, on
motion OF Mr.. The Ndule FontenOt, read ami or
dered spre I'd upon the minutes:
To the Hon. the President and member 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
Tache and included within a line passing through
the town of 0pelOusas extending due east to
said bayou and due west to a point I'VE miles
from 0pelousas, 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-
gard to color or previous condition.
That experience and observation have con
vinced them that much good to this class OF your
feiIOw-citiZens wGuid be the result OF q law
which would prohibit hogs from rowing within
the aforesaid described territory.
Among the many advantages OF such a law, 1t
will suffice to point out the following, to-wlt.:
1st. A decrease OF expenses In fencing of at
2d. The cultivation of a large extent of lands
now idle and non productive on account OF the
cost of fencing. TX
sd. The saving Of u large amount of corn and
potatoes annually destroyed in the fields by the
hogs.
4th. Less vexation, annoyance and better feel
ings amongst neighbors.
: 5th. Thu raising of finer hogs, and III greater
number in lots kept for their special benefit and
enclosed with a small portion Of the fence saved
from that around the cultivated fields.
9Th. A marked reduction in criminal pro5ecu-
tons and the costs entailed by them.
They hope that u due regard to the interests
Of q pursuit on which depend the prosperity OF
the country will induce your Hon. Body TO en-
act q law embodying 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 t0,yOur Honorable body
by a petition directed thereunto as lying west OF
the bayou T6che and inellded within a 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:
LIST. Such restraint would be ini1nical to the
cd. It would be deadly hostile to tho interests
OF the poor farmer and the Golored laborer in as
much as these persons, especially those OF the
latter class would, to each cabin, havet to build q
pen and the building of pens would necessitate
the purchase of picux, which they cannot AFFORD.
Sd. Because the reasons advanced for the res
traint Of hogs would, In their application, ne at
tended with more Inconvenience than advantage
besides being mostly baseless. Ii fences and
crops are endangered by hog freedom, they are
equally imperilled by beef freedom; therefore,
beeves as wen as hogs should be restrained, and
stock raising altogether hampered II the reasons
for this law prevail,
4th. The law already protects the Gitizel
against the Inconvenience named, by giving
every MAJ feeofapense for damage done by the
stock of another.
5th. The feelings with which neighbors regard
each other should be ruled by christianity and
civilization, and not be made to depend upon
Sha oJtaTtnf nf restraint avpPPiSnn over hogs. or
the mount of freedom granted them.
9th. In the opinion OF your petitioners, there
will not result, as has been alleged, any redue-
ton in riminal prosecutions, Because, III hOgs
can he stolen running at large, they can, for a
stronger reason, be stolen when pennedi i'll order.
It'll. Your petitioners pray that, il your Honor
at least, submit this matter to the vote of the
people within the limits named.
Signed by one hundred and seventy-five citizens.
To the President and members Of the Police
Jury of st. Landry Parish, La.'
we the undersigned residents of this portion
OF the parish. whfchis included under and would
be restricted by that proposed hog law, do con-
slider and i,elieve that Ii said law should be i'm
posed upon us 1t would, at the same time impose
a very and unnecessary expense upon rs, which,
as a matter OF course, should be avoided, esne-
ciaIly in these caterpillar tunes.
Dur fences arc so constructed that we cannot
eonyaniefi ly change them, as We would have TO
tear down the lower part and leave only suffi-
Gent On top 10 secure cur crops from tho larger
stock. as is propose. In tile drafting of the law
referred to Is saving expenses, therefore, yeur
yetitioners do hereby respectfully request you,
IA your wise council, not to extend the said law
further south than the Catalpa grove, by . line
due west to Grand Coteau.
Respectfully submitted.
Signed by seyenty-are citizens.
On motion of Mr. 4. 8. Fontenot, resolved. that
the prayer of the petitioners in the first petition
be granted prohibiting hGgs from running at
large in The aforesaid described territory.
MA. Chachcre moved TO amend Mr.. Fontenpts
motion by running on tho north line OF OpelolI-
sas, thence running south to the Dixon place,
and thence to Chf6tienss point, so as to include
the Ricilarl settlement, and thence to the bridge
across bayou UARan0FQ near the Gnidry settle
ment. and that said resolution does not 60 into
e~fectnntil January. 1875.
Mr.. Fontenot accepted the amendment Of Ar.
Messrs. Theodule Fonteuot. Clraehere and II.
s.. Featenot, votes yea Mr. Dufie rotes may.
PARISH or 81. LANDRY, Nov. &c, 1879.
To the Hon. President and members OF the Police
Jury Of the Parish of st. Landry:
The undersigned. Drersesa OF the rnfd from
Bayon Buauf to Mrs. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., Would
respectfully represent that. thai portion OF lis
road between the front of his place and Bayou
Waxia runs through low land. very difficult 10
drain; and would respectfully request that 1t be
changed 10 the north bank of Dry Bayou, where
good drainage can be Reeur9d and a good road
made at iess aKpfnse than the old road can be
put In good rOnditiQa, and the change Would not
saHSe shF expsEas 10 Frs parrish ThG auasT