St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-04-08
Communicated
iiialIlCdl ltu
Editor DEMOCRAT:

| Being to the "manor born, and feel
ing deep interest III the improvement
of my native parish, st. Landry, and
impressed with the idea that it was the
duty Of good citizen to give utterance
to his views and feelings where the i'm
provement OF his country was the
theme, and assured that you are will
ing to give space in your columns when
the subject was for the improvement of
st. Landry parish, [ have concluded to
give you my views in regard to this
subject The improvement of the par
ish in the way of good roads and good
bridges, and this is subject in which
every good citizen should take an in
terest.
| see by the proceedings of the last
Grand Jury that they have recommend
to the Police Jury Of this parish to ap-
point an Inspector or Superintendent of
Public Roads. Bridges, etc. Now, I
think that the Grand jury who we're com
posed OF men who represented different
parts of the parish had the interest of
this parish in view when they made the
recommendation and the Police Jury
would do we'll to make an appoint
ment at Its next meeting.
We OF this parish can boast and are
proud OF the natural beauty and fer
tility of our soil. Famed by the cool
and fragrant breezes of the gulf we
enjoy good health. Our men are strong
and active and our women are rosy and
fair. We have all the natural advan-
tages that we could desire and it only
remains for us to finish what nature
has begun. The first thing that a
strangers attention is called to in tlav-
ellngthrough a country are its public
roads and bridges. If they are good it
makes Il lasting impression on him, and
if he is looking for a location with
view to settle, he is very apt to "set his
pegs" right here for he reasons in this
way 1t find as | do in this parish
such good roads, ETC., it must be we'll
governed parish in all respects and if
| invest my money here, | am certain
Of protection. But if on the contrary
he meets with bad roads and broken
down bridges to cross which would i'm
peril his own or his horses limbs or,
life, he certainly would take grand
disgust for such country and get out
OF it as fast as he could.
Now, Mr.. Editor, won't spin you a
long yarn about wonderful bog holes
such as we have sometimes seen on our
public highways or of broken and di-
lapidated bridges where neither man
or beast could cross unless at the risk
Of life or limb, but will tell you what I
think is the only remedy for this evil.
| do not think our parochial authorities
are responsible for the condition in
which our public roads are and have
been in. They have done all
that they could under the exist
ing road laws, but think that the Grand
Jury has pointed out a way to remedy
the evil, and that is for them to appoint
an inspector Of all public roads in this
parish and give him full authority to
enforce the law and make all road over
seers and road hands do their duty.
The one appointed should inform
let nothing interfere with him to pre-
vent him from doing that duty.
The inspector should be furnished all
the necessary implements and lumber
to repair and keep in repair all the
roads and bridges in this parish. These
should be held responsible for them and
be required to make monthly report
OF all lumber aud implements used and
on hand. He should be paid fair sal
ary, for it twouid be his duty to give all
his time to go over all the ground and
give his personal attention to all the
work going on. In this way only can
we hope to accomplish this desired end
and I hope that at the next session the
Police Jury will make such an appoint
ment, and there will be an end to that
old chronic complaint which has been
the cry for several years past of bad
roads, ETC., and the stranger visiting our
parish will not return home and tell
bis friends that he had just visited one
of the most beautiful and fertile
parishes in the State Of Louisiana, and
although he found its citizens intelli-
gent and hospitable, yet strange to say
their roads and bridges were in a fear
full condition.
Hoping to hear from some one else
on this subject, I am yours,
IMPROVEMENT.