The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1878-05-18
The Town of ThibO.
dauX

Thibodaux was incorporated by
an act of the legislature approved
10 1888, by Governor Ed
ward D. White, a citizen OF the
Parish of Lafourche. e.
The Town Council was organic
ed on May Z 1888, by an election
of Mayor and four Trustees held
the direction of Henry f.
"Parish Judge of the
Interior Parish of Lafourche."
A subsequent act of the legisla
ture increased the number of Trus
tees to six.
The Mayor and Trustees are
the only officers elected by vote
of the people, all other officers be-
ing chosen by vote of the Council.
At the first election James Nc
Allister was elected Mayor, with
Mathurin Bourg, Alexander Law
son, John q. Beatty and J. A.
Scudday as Trustees.
This Council organised May IA,
1888 by electing Louis Bush,
Clerk ; Alexander Lawson, Col
lector, AMI constable ; George w.
Squires, Treasurer, and A. Skin
ner, Assessor. Forty six votes
we're cast at the first election.
The corporate limits of the
Town have not been changed for
thirty two years.
The Mayor and Trustees have
been empowered to make rules
and regulations for the good gov
eminent of the Town, to assess
and collect licenses and taxes, &c.
but it was not until 1865 that
any judicial powers were granted
to the Mayor, who was then, by
act of the Legislature, empowered
with the authority of Justice Of
the Peace so far as the execution
| of the ordinances are concerned.
The Typographical situation of
ThibOdaux is such as to have al
ways attracted to it a large trade
from the Lafourche District.
1t is doubtful if any town in
Louisiana of a similar population
ever commanded So much trade
as Thibodaux has, or does to-day.
She has at all periods of her
history, been noted for citizens of
energy, character and vim by
whom the interests and prosper
ity of the place have been protect
ed and promoted. Such citizens
as DR.. J. A. Scudday. NJ. II. Dau
mis-. Victor Richard, E. j. Brnff,
Judge McAlIister, j. G.. aud
Adam Beatty, Louis Bush, the
Raglan Bros. Joachim Badeaux,
Morgan Springer, James Craw-
ford, P. II. Gary, J. F. Riviere,
and many others were the lead
ing spirits of Thibodaux in past
years, under whose influence and
aid the business interests of this
place were continually increasing.
whilst the promotion of good gov
eminent received their earnest
support.
In a few years after the incor.
poration of the Town the subject
of the establishment of a free
school for all children, residents
of the place, was brought forward
and finally the Guion Academy
was built and about the yeal
lS49, opened to the public and
kept in constant operation until
closed by the war : subsequently
it was kept up for a couple O
years by private subscription;thel
again closed to be reopeued i:
1877, and it is to be hoped that i
will remain a permanent institu
tiOn in the future.
There has been nothing intro
!, duced into Thibodaux that hat
J so happy an effect and did s,
much to increase the population
of this Town as the Guion Acad
!, envy Free School. People from tn
surrounding country, removed in
to Thibodaux in order to Obtai,
i, the benefits of a free school 70
their children. Houses were bull
: for residences and the supply O
. their wants necessarily increase,
the mercantile and mechanical
business.
:. The appropriation and collec
+ ton OF a tax often thousand do
: lars for the purchase of stock i
e the Thibodaux Bridge Company
secured the erection of a Bridg
over the Bayou improving til
business of the town very materia
q ly. That appropriation has bee
, like bread cast upon the water
q which returns after many DAYS
y for the stock which the corpora
ton held and still holds has pe
p haps saved Thibodaux from bank
ruptcy, or at least, from the sad
ding of a large debt upon tn,
people that would have had to b
maid nv ~fovotion