The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-06-24
COMMUNICATION.
ALEXANDRIA,
June %, 1874.(

MAY I be allowed, through the col
umns of your journal, to put pro-
blem or two to the intelligent public,
the solution Of which may explain
matter which, to me, is hard to be
understood? I am satisfied that an
answer will tend to the general infor-
nation of the community.
A few weeks ago we understood
that Public School house or houses
were to be built in this Town. Ma
terial was being gathered-lumber,
shingles, ETC., and we were gladt
see the anticipated improvement, and
proud to hear of the time when pub
lie Tenders would be called for, (as
| is generally done in all public build
ings, and the work given to the low
est bidder, who would then enter into
contract with the Board of School
Directors. We had a right to expect
this, for the Public Schools are sup
ported by honest taxpayers, several
of whom are excellent mechanics, and
were anxiously awaiting an opportu-
nifty of sending in their tenders, and
anticipating fair bid, when 10! and
behold, the entire work was clandes-
timely given to private party,
member of the Board, without any
publicity at all, as though there were
no other master builders in town or
, country, or as though this intelligent
community is obliged to succumb
q and submit to every outrage that this
so-called School Board is pleased to
0 perpetrate.
wonder, Mr.. Editor, where this
wholesale wrong will end? Not sat-
isfed with the Public School Funds,
: which were lavishly spent to the
n amount of several hundred dollars,
r. to further their political ends in the
r. last campaign, they have commenced
re- right early to engage their great en-
,e gineer Of the Republican party in Ra-
re- pides. Their captain thinks, no
j. doubt, that the ship will go down if
l. this particular engineer is not on
or board, or she will inevitably run on
G. ground if this pilot is not at the helm,
and so he has been privately engaged,
ia though member of the Board. The
Te Public School Treasury must be
at drained to satisfy his Unsuitable Gu.
o. pidity, and this is done under pre-
is tense of doing the public work.
or want to ask, Mr.. Editor, is this Re
ur publicanism? Are we to sit still ant
We say nothing? Ought not the public
N to have some knowledge Of this pub
,n lie work? Am not mechanic a
well as the contractor? Don't pa
,ur taxes as well as he, (ifhe pays any!
ish Is it right for School Board, or an
,st of its members, to take the publ
ror money or material and spend or us
re- it as they are disposed? Where did
certain gentlemen get the shingles
rts his house? Were they not the scho
,ou property? Are we to shut our ey'
us to this midday highway robbery
Can't these men be made to purs'
}. the proper method? Is there no Ia
to force these lawless lawbreakers i
cen to rectitude? Are we to allow o.
ing black negro, because he pretends
the be a Republican, to monopolize
red the public work? Where are Mess
the Mills, Kelly, Richardson, Damon a
the all the other mechanics in Town!
as Are they not citizens? Have tn
[ong no rights nor privileges that sho,
The be respected? And if things CT
too tinue as they are, will this count
ork. be fit to live in soon? Where
rest we drifting? Are we to be repud
olem ted and trampled in the dust? !
r it, AS sure as the sun shines, and or
4 in grows, and water runs, so surely ST
an end be put to the reign OF ig
rance and fraud, and the ensuing CT
h is paign will demonstrate very cles
here, that the bramble bush cannot re
been over the forest. ENQUIRER
Able
is for ROLLING THE GRouND.--On DIR.
start wet ground the effect of the role
first found to be salutary. Plowed
look prepared for sowing, dry land is m
helped by the roller. The blades
grass spring up sooner and reta
agent firmer hold in the earth. In a
Mail son Of drought, rolling has saved
louth crop, when without it the seed W
9 once have never sprung from the gro
? may In wet and heavy ground it is be
mails ed the roller, smoothing and har
ing the surface, will have the sol
oJ;,+o1,, honaoth tho surface
;street me.ia'ely nenea'n 'ns ~