St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1878-07-13
Proceedings of the Police jury.
OPELOUsAs, May 9th, 1878.

ment Present: r. H. Littell, President; A.
buisson, s. Haas, F. Savoy and B. E. Clark.
The minutes of the last meeting were read
and approved.
Elisha Boudreau, Road Overseer, be and is here
by authorized to assist with his road hands,
the working of the road through Taylors lane.
To the Hon. Police Jury of the Parish Of st.
Landry:
The undersigned, appointed your committee,
under resolution of 18th inst, " to confer with a
like committee delegated by the Police jury of
the parish Of Lafayette, to make an estimate,
and suggest the most practicable method of
having the bridge rebuilt over the Bayou Car
ancro, the dividing line between the parishes
of Landry and Lafayette and to report thereon
have the honor to submit the following:
That our conference has been had near the
old bridge, and uron examination found the
old structure so thoroughly dilapidated and
decayed, as to be incapable of PREPARATION to in
sure safety, economy and usefulness and there
fore recommend an entire new bridge, erected
on its site. That i'll as much as the said bridge
Is the connecting link of the two parishes. and
on the great mail route which tr;.verses the
country, it should be built with the view to
safety, durability and strength, and thus we
recommend that the proposed new structure be
erected at least twenty feet longer than the
old one, making it 400 feet in length that it be
likewise higher by one and half or two feet,
and constructed with the best cypress lumber,
and of a size and dimensions to meet our spe-
clticatiOns
We have the honor herewith to submit to
your consideration detailed bill OF lumber,
amount 33053 feet and Of proper dimensions.
necessary for the work, the SAME furnished at
our request by a competent builder, and we
have no hesitation in declaring our acceptance
OF it to insure good stable, durable and nee
essary bridge.
1t is further agreed and understood between
| our commissions from the two parishes inter
ested, that the amount shall be equally divided
between the1n, that is, each of the parishes of
st. Landry and Lafayette shall pay one-half of
the entire costs and expenses.
And we earnestly recommend that in as much
as the OLD bridge Is already entirely inpracti-
means whilst the waters of the Bayou are low,
and that our mail facilities must cease, for the
time being, during any ordinary flood, that
such actions be Immediately taken by your
Hon. Jury, as to give to the public, at the
earliest possible moment, the usual facilities
of transit, and ensure a safe conduct to the
United States mail.
beers of the Old bridge are SO broken and deeayed
Nor are they of correct dimensiOnsJ that we
deem unfit for further use, and recommend
that some disposition be made of them by pub
lie sale Or otherwise as the Police Jury may
determine. Respectfully submitted,
R Rfi i; T5 dHfbR} st. Landry.
THEODULE HEBERT,)
JEAN VINCENT, LAFAYETTE
ERNEST POTTER,
On motion OF Mr.. Saizan, Resolved that the
sum Of eight hundred dollars or so much there
OF as may be necessary, be and is hereby appro-
OF the current year, to assist in rebuilding Car
oncro bridge, and that the same committee be
appointed to represent the parish OF st. Landry,
i'll the sale and supervision of said bridge.
On motion of Mr.. Clark, Resolved, that the
above committee be authorized to take charge
of the lumber OF the old bridge and turn over
the same to any Road OVerseer, for the use of
the public roads.
On motion of Mr.. Guidry. Resolved that the
14th magistrates ward be changed so as to in
clude the same in the 1st Police Jury ward.
TIli1 Two and
Voting nay: Messrs. Savoy, Saizan, Dubuis-
son, Haas and Clark.
On motion of Mr. Hawkins, Resolved, that
whereas witnesses before the Grand Jury not
being paid for their attendance, that they are
hereby authorized to cross and ferry or toll
bridge free, on the presentation Of their supona
to the keeper of the toll bridge or ferry.
The following ordinance was submitted, read
and unanimously adopted:
AN ORDINANCE
To carry into effect an act entitled an act rela-
tive to crimes and offences, authorizing Judges
in certain cases, to sentence convicts to work
Oh the public works and reads or in work
houses, and delegating the power to parochial
and municipal authorities to pass the ordi-
oad t. enforce the same
Be it ordained1 1. That whenever any person |
shall be sentenced by virtue of the act Of the
General Assembly Of Louisiana, above entitled
the parish of St. Landry, such person shall
work on the public roads, bridges, streets or
other public works OF this parish
in the custody Of the Sheriff of St. Landry or of
one OF bis legally appointed deputies, and shall |
work az ISL shall be directed by the Police Jury
officer, who shall have such work performed as
may be indicated by him by the proper authoriz
ties of the parish or OF the municipality having
charge OF said roads, bridges, streets or other
public works. ~
SEC. 8. That such persons shall not be nut to
WORK before sunrise nor shall they be continued
to work after sunset nor shall they be worked
more than ten hours on any day.
SEC. 4. That during the term for which such
persons shall be sentenced, they shall be pro-
Tided with proper food and raiment and lodg-
ng and medical attendance, by the Sheriff at
,he expense of the parish.
SEC: s. That the Sheriff shall mako to the
Police jury, monthly statements Of the expen-
les SO incurred. also monthly statement, of the
also monthly statement of the work
which has been performed during the proceed
ng month.
SEC. 6. That the Sheriff shall have right to
Use such compulsory process to enforce perfor-
nance OF the work by such conviets, as are
mployed by the officers and employees of the
sEo.7. That the Sheriff shall be entitled to
barge two dollars per day for each deputy,
ot exceeding two, whom he may employ to
uperintend said cOnvicts while at work
Sec. s. That their Sheriff shall be allowed the
anne for feeding said convicts as he is allowed
Or prisoners in jail.
oIc. Y. IHht eiIs ordnance take effect from
nd after its passage.
On motion CT Mr.. Guidry, Resolved, that the
lerk OF the Police Jury be and il hereby au-
aorizea 70 purchase the necessary tools, on the
eqnsitlon OF the Sheriff, to work the conyicts
n the public roads. ~
, o N melton OF Mr.. Savoy, Resolved, that the
lsrg OF the Police Jury be and is hereby an
lorlzed TO have the necessary repairs made in
ne recorders office, and that the sum Of fftr
oilars or so much thereof as may be necessary
ana Is hereby appropriated payable out ef
ny money in the treasury, not otherwise an
rOpriated, to pay for the same -
On motion Of Mr.. Hawkins, Resolved that