The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-09-16
u.s. naHnas ssFra1 Ca.AH.s.

II iaAtweckis Issue Of the Echo ap-
rearea 4 letter signed g Citizen, en-.
aorsia tlie views a. expressed hy This
journal some few weeks past regard
ing tie Importance and necessity Of
salaried town osIieials. Our CORE
spondcnt expresses the wish That the
EcHo willnotallowl the raattcrto drop,
but centinae IT'S agitation, thereby
creating an interestaanlong onr. people
on the subject that may lead to a thor
oagh discussion and possibly toa final
and satisfactory solution Of the qaas-
ton. Itmonld seem that the question
is one apon which SO much could be
said in its favor and so little against
it, that the necessity fol treating the
subject atlength intliese columns does
not exist. The time has certainly ar
rived Mlen Lake Charles needs an
efficient town administration Strangers
are coming among NJ every day, some
Of whom are seeking location for a.
permanentresidence, bat very few of
them, if any, can be induced to larry.
long ina town which has as few eyi-
aences Of prosperity and thrift5as Lake
Charles presents at this time. Only
last week the writer met a gentleman
who came here, not exactly to locate
with US, bnt TO look around, with the
idea, as be stated, ifhe found an en-
terPrising, pushing people, with the
spirit of progress and improvement
thoroughly inlbned in their minds, he
would probably stay, go into business
and become one Of Us. He was not
favorably impressed, however on the
contrary his impressions were very nm
favorable. The fact is his comments
were a little too severe to be pleasing
TO our car and aroused us toaa defense
of Lake Charles and her people yet
at the same time we felt and realized
that be had the best of the argument.
This was only one instance, and hap
Peningg to come sqaarely before as ave
make mention of it. There are per
haps similar ones occurring every day.
The very first step necessary toward
confederation Of such impressions upon
the minds of those who would likely
become residents Of our town, is to
move in this matter of internal i'm
provements, Clean and repair our
streets and lhofonehfares cause eco
-nomieal but comfortable sidewalks to
be built around the public square and
on the more important streets; with
here and there shade trees planted
where they would be not only pleasing
and attractive TO the eve, but of solid
use and comfert in the hot summer
months to both man and beast. The
cost of sneh improvements as these
would be a triiing matter, comparative
u and If it should become necessary
to increase corporation taxes a little
ii order to make them, there is GER
tainly not property-bolder in our
town who would not eheerfully pay
very small amount more, knowing that !
it would only add to the value Of his
real estate. But no amount of dis
eussion will ever bring about these
greatly desired results until our board |
of town officials are reeompensed Tor /
the time and attention they mast of
necessity deYotcto public affairs IN
order towork reform in the present I
condition of things. The realizstion !
Of this fact prompted the EcHo to adj
vance the ideas TO which our correspon-
dent referred in his communication,
and which seem To- have met with his
unqualified approval. We agree with
'tCitizen that the matter should not
be allowed to rest here, and we would !.
respectfully request him, as well as
others, to give further expression to
their views on the subject through
these columns, either for or against
the salary question. If there aIe any
who have objections to offer, they are
to use the Ecno as a medium
p give them publicity. a thorough
sentilation ofthc. matter in all Of its
details, now that The question is up, 1
nay possibly decide il, one way Or the
9theT, At an early day. 4