Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-08-23
Sidewalks and Other things.
BAros ROUGE, Aug. 18th Is


properties that is for the benefit of the
public. The pavements are in bad Or
der and there il no doubt that much
could be done in gradual resetting of
the old brick and the filling in of holes
and gaps with cement of old lime or
ashes and earth. New paving brick is
not to be had and slab rock is beyond
the means of our people, and the above
remedies should apply to the general
line of pavement. But there are por-
tions of the city that requires more than
this. From the ferry and steamboat
landings to Third Street, the pavements
on one side of the streets should be
slab and from the corner of Main and
Third streets to the State and Court
House the west banquettes should be q
continuation of that in front of Weeks.
The people are poor, it is difficult for
property owners to get enough revenue
to pay for repairs and the taxes, and al
though the exigence is sharp one, due
discrimination and legal forbearance
should enter into the enforcement Of
the work.
One street at time should he Sc
lected and ample time be given each
owner of lots to procure labor and ma
terial and the slab walk alluded to
should be paid for in part by the city.
1t is for the general good that one or
more avenues should be paved with
more costly material and out of the
public funds should come this extra
cost. In due time this fine pavement
would continue to the University and
out on Main street. The east side of
Lafayette fromMain to the State House
and the east side OF Church from the
Boulevard will follow suit with good
slab banquetes, and the rest can be left
to the people.
Outside of this pavement question
comes another, and this is one that
, should follow public improvements.
$ The public of its own volition should
inaugurate perfect epidemic of paint
, and whitewash, everything, trees, fen
ces galleries etc, showing to the front,
should show in its best colors, white,
, gray or blue
Under the treaties by which the ter
rtories in the valley of the Mississippi
were transferred by European nations to
United States, stipulations were always
made in regard to the public and pri-
vate rights of the people so'transterred
Among Others their roads and highways
as well as all other public improve,
ments were not to be interfered with
> What views General Sherman took oil
, these treaty stipulations when he clos
ed one quarter of mile of Third street,
= was not made public by him. 1t could
not have been that he regards the Baton
Rouge republic SIS not possessing any
of the rights so carefully guarded by
Spain and France in regard to people
and lands over which their flags should
never float again, for Gen. York in lay
ing oft the garrison and several grounds
!, over half century before strictly re.
spectcd the rights of the people of the
struggling village to the street leading
north over the costly embankment
built for them by the King of Spain
If it was in the right of the might given
, by the conquest in the late wal
there are other judges besides the man
e who ate Louisiana's bread and then
, turned his sword against her, and in
view of the fact that its rights Of this
. street may in few years be declared
by prescription would it not be lapsed
well for our authorities 10 act.
MONTHLY SALES DAY-Should com
mittee of three or five of our live citi
zens take hold of this enterprise and
, put it through undismayed by slim at
Y tendance the first few mouths, in less
r than year, the street selected and sci
Y apart for stock sales will be crowded
n with cattle from the Florida parishes
/ ponies from Attakapas, sheep from thu
: coast aud mules and horses from til,
|, west.
r With live man, like Sheriff Bates
y for instance, at its head, with all license
it and costs of sale thrown off by the city
y success will be certain One hundred
/, dollars for hitch posts, and hire of on,
or two yards, and fifty dollars for pos
- ters and advertisements, will cover tht
o expense. No entrance fees, no commits
70 sious should ever be placed upon stool
~ for sale,
y The result would be sometimes to in
~ duce four or five hundred people to visi
~ this city once month, and an additio
r., 81 4 Ill -. 1