St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-03-03
STATE ITEMS.

IS # r
ST. Charles Herald, Feb. II: "A fair
sized water melon was received this
week, by the Herald from our young
and energetic friend Placide Baudouin.
We thank the donor and challenge
competitors to beat his product.
We are indebted to our worthy Parish
School Superintendent, L. L. Baudoin,
Esq, for the following:
The public schools of this parish,
(ten in number, four for white and six
for colored children) were opened during
five months last year at a cost of $780,
SO. They are again open this year for
another term of five months /; the
school treasury now contains the sum
Of $2046.95 and the Board does not owe
q cent.
Webster Tribune : Many people will
doubtless be surprised to know OF the
large number Of colored people that
subscribe for papers in this parish, and
the number is increasing. There is no
better evidence that they are fast pro-
crossing than this, and the good effect
of schooling their children is seen.
They recognize the fact that newspa-
pers are cheaper and better reading
than books and also a good educator.
lHOy iuOoUiy ouosolioo LII 9bhSA S.AA
dren. On enquiring of them what kind
they like best, the answer generally Is
poetry, the next funny pieces and then
local news. But few of them take any in
terest in political articles, and with most
OF them it is, perhaps, as one of the no
remarked, "we read about tariff and
such, but it has no effect on u.s." We
have about twice as many colored read
ers as we had a year ago. #@
Capitolian- Advocate, Feb. 90: The
tain Pierce Lanier, on last Thursday,
while returning to his home, in Living
ston parish, after having made some
purchases in Baton Rouge, was waylaid
about 2 o'clock p. M, near the Phil. Spill
Ter place, where his body was found
pierced by shot in the right side. and
another through the cheek. His cloth
ing was almost entirely burned, and as
it rained about the time of the killing,
the deceased being covered with Oil
cloth, precludes the theory that his
clothes took fire in any other way than
by the deliberate act of his slayer, who
must have saturated the corpse with
coal oil and set fire to the clothing.
On his person was found the sum of
SIG. Captain Lanier was an elderly
man, who had been engaged in several
bloody difficulties, and it is conjectured
that he probably fell a victim to some
feud of long standing. No arrests
have so far been reported.
Pointe Coupee Banner Feb. "a: The
water flowing through Morganza Gre
vase is over seven feet deep and the
swamps are being rapidly filled.
Bayou Crosse Tete is reported to be
rising very fast from the Morganza
Crevasse waters. In fact the Bayou is
now bank full and the water is begin
ming to spread.
In view of the threatening rise in the
river and the unfinished condition of
the Scott Levee, it would be we'll for
those persons in this section of country
who have live stock running at large
to take time by the forelock and get
their stock to a place OF safety SO that
in case of a crevasse they would have
something saved.
From New Texas Landing up to Red
River Landing and the head of the
Atchafalaya the people all feel COM
parativeiy safe against the waters of
the Mississippi as all the new levees in
that stretch OF country are either fin
ished or soon will be. The planters
and farmers have gone to work with a
will and are actively preparing to make
"a big crop this year.
In our next issue will be published
the list of land seized for non payment
of taxes of 1882, etc. Parties will do
well to call or address without delay at
the Collectors office, and effect sat,
isfactory settlement, in order to avoid
the heavy costs of. these proceedings.
The Collector is ready and willing to
extend all leniency in his power, but
he is bound to execute the law, and
has no discretion to remit, or any fur
ther postpone the fnalisettlement.
City Item A party of Western men,
on a visit to the city, went to Carrolton
the other day, where the forces of the
Commissioner Of Public Works are pre-
tending to work on the levee. After
watching ten OF twelve of them trying
for an hour or so to put in a revetment
plank which one or two efficient men
could have accomplished in ten min
utes, one of them remarked that it is no
wonder the city is bankrupt. He prob
ably does not agree with the head of
the department, who boasts of the
strict economy and splendid service for
which tits noted.
liz this hour of threatened danger the
hopes of the executive OF this State,
three or four newspaper men and the
contractors, tremblingly repose in the
efforts of five or six hundred convicts.
These efficient auxiliaries are expected
to accomplish wonders between now
and the eighth of March, the allotted
time for their effort, especially as the
Ohio river is falling at the rate of three
or four feet day. We hope Gov. Nc
Emery will be as successful in putting a
stop to the outrages upon the railroad
laborers in the northern part of this
State as he has been in obtaining gov
eminent employment for the striped
brigade.
Natchitoches Vindicator: From