The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-08-16
Communicated,
"A Crying Shame.


To the Editor Of the SENTINEL:
1t is one of the oldest principles
OF law, that which gives to every
taxpayer or free American citizen,
without regard to race, color, or
previous condition, as the disci.
pies of Blackstone would say, the
right to make complaint against
any public servant or call to his
attention, in any possible way,
without debating, that which
would be of benefit to the citizens
whom this servant or officer rep
resents. Hence it is that it must
not be thought disrespectful to
those gentlemen if we make bold
to call the attention of our City
Fathers in general, and of our
worthy Mayor in particular, to
the deplorable condition of the
bridges ~ which so ungracefuliy
span the canal at the foot of Main,
Thibodaux and other streets, and
connect in sisterly love Thibodaux
East with ThibOdauX West.
Though it may not be of our
canal that an unknown poet sang,
.Knowest thou that beautiful river.
knowest thou that swift 10 wing river?
Which gentle flood,
By cliff and wood,
With wild'ring sound goes winding ever"
and though it is an incontestable
tact that this canal is not another
Ohio which must of necessity have
its Cincinnati bridge, still it must
not be allowed to degenerate into
a Dismal Swamp: our Moore would
never sing it 10 Immortality in un.
dying verse.
And, besides, Mr.. Editor, it is
destined to become the great com.
mercial route between this and
TerrebOnne parishes.
"These neglected BRIDGES" re-
marked a visitor, a few days since,
are the only things in your town
unworthy Of civilization ; they
are IA disgrace to beautiful little
Thibodaux." We know that the
gentleman was leniently disposed
towards US, but his criticisms
were too severe. He should have
considered the wide margin and
made allowances. OF we course do
not agree with him in regard to
their being unworthy of clyilza.
ton, but it cannot be denied that
the state of "those bridges" shows
a lethargy, of waEt Of energy, OF
public spirit on the part of those
to whom has been entrusted the
care of our town. They should
take care of her and heed b.. ey-
cry want, as the mother does that
of her child. If the child breaks
a limb, it is Immediately set in
place; ifa bridge is damaged, it
should be repaired. If the cLild
is neglected or cruelty treated,
under the laws of Louisiana the
mother may be deprived Of its
care; If the town is not properly
taken care of. and falls into ruin
through the neglect of her guar
those guardians may be
called to a sense OF their duty.
Don't you think, Major dear,
that a set Of solid, neatly built
bridges, with balustrades attached /
would greatly enhance the princi.
pal thorOughfare Of Thibodaux,
her pride we may say.-Canal
Don't You believe the
Golfers of the corporation could
spare, with but little sacrifice,
the small amount necessary for
SO worthy an object as to reclaim
from al "uncivilized condition" !
q part of it's own corporate body |
and, with hat i'll hand Go | ask it.
can goa, will you be kind enough
to lend us a helping hand by adj
vocating in your newsy weekly,
Lhe cause which you should have
esponsed long ago. Remember,
the SETINEL is on guard, and, as
It is i'll duty bound to challenge
everything which may deteriorate
TO the benefit of the town, so
must 1t constitute itself the champ
of her interests. Let the
watch>w0rd be, Onward to Public
Improvement.
AQUILLA.