Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-10-02
PUBLIC GRIEVANCES,

lIc MoucHl ii SO, nSten While
tell Of things which are not but should
be, and things which are but should
not be.
, In the first place, to a casual observer
our streets, sidewalks aud most public
places present a most delapidated and
povcrty-stricken appearance. TO my
certain knowledge, there has scarcely
been u dollar spent by the Administra-
:. tor Of Improvements for months past.
This certainly has not been for the want
Of proper objects demanding improve
ment There is scarcely twenty conse-
cutive yards of pavement on which one
can walk with any degree of pleasure,
comfort or safety. No man can pos
sibly travel i'll our streets faster than a
funeral march without being in danger
! of crippliny his animal or smashing the
best vehicle in the State, and our gut
tiers are filed with water, mud, filth and
corruption, all of which is a disgrace to
a civilized community and an outrage
upon men who are compelled to pay
taxes simply for the support of cum
bersome and expensive system Of gov
cmmcnt. We naturally enquire the
cause. Can it be the fault of the Al-
ministrator' Certainly not, as by a
resolution of the Council his hands are
tied and he is powerlcss to act If it
be necessary, as in the opinion of the
Council, to circumscribe him in the en-
ccution of his duties by placing over
him committee who are to determine
what repairs shall take place, how they
shall be performed and at what price.
then why pay tho head of this depart
mcnt salary, especially since every
proposition and every effort of his is to
be thwarted' 1t appears to lis that this
liabo]ical institution Of three Superin-
tendcnts to overlook and dictate to the
Administrator is a humbug of great mag
nitude. 1t cannot be thought by bust
ness lnen that there is any economy in
keeping the city in utter darkness and
allowing her streets and sidewalks to 90
to ruin. Such condition of affairs must
clod the wheel Of commerce, depreciate
the value Of property and work irrcpar.
able injury to any city. 1t is to be hoped |
that this state of affairs is not the result |
of an effort Of a dissatisfied minority of !
the City Council to thwart the efforts of
the majority, so that at future day
they may hold up rcproachfnlly a Demo-
cratic administration and thereby make
political capital.
We arc met on all sides by the cry
that a new future dawns upon Baton
Rouge, that whereas, for twenty years
she has been living in sack-cloth and
ashes, she is now to be clothed in purple
and fine linen and to flourish as in ante
bel}um days. The State-Housc is being
rebuilt, railroads are being erected {if
but in imagination, a new impetus is to
be given to our otherwise dead COM
mercc, and Baton Rouge is to be herself
again. But, sir, it matters not how
many railroads are built or how MANY
Legislatures meet at our new CAPITAL
Unless change takes place in the yoy-
OF her internal affairs, unless
he three hundred idle loafcrs who ,
hrong the streets of this city are put to
work, unless changes absolute and radi.
al take place, she must still pine under
he heavy weight and live to endure
poverty. If idlencss is the
mother of crime, Baton Rouge must be
hot-bcd of iniqnity, for she sustains a
tremendous standing force of the do
othing army. View for moment Chi
ago, with its half million inhabitants, .
wing, breathing with activity and
hrift. Dcvourcd by the most dcstruct-
We fire the world has ever known, to- /
ay she stands monument Of shame to {
outhern cities, whose natural resources
re infinitely greater. And so New York, a
t. Louis and q thousand lesser cities
nd towns all over the Union are revel- :;
lg in wealth and opulence because of t.
&c "ntirin2 thrift and enterprise of o
1cir inhabitants. Therefore, we say
radicatc from among us this worthless b
Il. Institute vagrant law Set them a
} work. The streets might look de- Il
'rted for short time and our bar-r0oms X
light close ut an earlier hour of the e.
ght, but we can survive the shock, and
le change will work wonders. It would
IKE from among us class of men who =
ere never a benefit to themselves or o
lc human family and whose only object q
life is to stir up and keep alive dis 81
nsons. "
Their votes are cast for the support of !,
en- who have no party or principle. Y