St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-05-23
(Com.mnalic0tcd.l
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:

EDITOR DEMOCRAT:
You have very courteOusly requested
the writer, on several occasions, to send
you news from our palmetto glades'
What I now offer, hope, may reach
the point of average interest to many of
your readers, and thereby pay for set
ting the type.
Waxia is within the boundary lines of
st. Landry, known by the fact of its
lands being assessed (and to their ex-
IRENE value) by an officer Of said parish,
and the taxes being punctuaIly paid by
our citizens, into the parish treasury.
otherwise it would be difficult for
stranger-even a citizen of another
ward-to find out that such q neighbOr-
hood had an existence. There are some
natural and some very unfortunate
reasons for this condition Of things. As
a rule our people are rarely called to
court, either as witnesses, jurors, princi-
pals or otherwise. Then, again, our
geographical position is such, that none
travel the banks of our little stream,
unless it be the doctor, assessors sub or
tramp who has lost his reckoning.
Ours, is not a public highway, thanks
to the reason above stated, as we'll as
the very serious fact that one road is
nearer in a condition for others than
those acquainted with the many ma
nmuVres necessary to avoid bitches,
dangerous holes, gullies, and other OBJ
stacles. To the wisdom Of our numer-
Gus parish legislatures, is due the cause
of all this trOuble-Sackett Bayou, the
natural outlet for the surplus waters OF
! Waxia is damned, the waters of the
bayou, after every ordinary heavy rain,
are forced over the banks. the bridges
lifted and the road submerged. Several
petitions, signed by every inhabitant,
with three exceptions, have gone before
our Police Jury, praying for relief, but
in vain--I hope that when this body
goes before the people again to claim q
right to make laws for us, that this
question, as far as the 4th Ward is con-
cerned, will be satisfactorily settled
| The serious condition of our road nine
months out of twelve is the only com
plant we can urge at present.
/ Our plantations have Of late wonder.
fully improved. New buildings, new
fences, more teams, more lands and {
greater acreage, have been added; {
more happy, contented spirit prevails
with wonderful increase of energy
The result, is very excellent prospec
for an abundant harvest.
, The bridge across the Courtableau, (tt
be) which is in course of construction
will work wonders in our favor. By tht
18th of August next, the structure will
, be ready for inspection by the commits
sioners, and will undoubtedly be re
ceived without hesitation. The lumbe
is being sawed at Gantt's mill, unde
the eye of the architect himself. MI
!, CAN'T who owns valuable plantation
ON Waxia, being deeply interested il
, having substantial bridge, takes grea
pride in showing to those interested
i, the very excellent lumber that MI
Ewes, the builder, is working into shape
For the appropriation of $1,000 tende
! the sincere thanks of our people to tina
Honorable Body the Police Jury of ST
, Landry. Thanks, because the amour
was given not because it was not dut
, A glance at the taxes covered into th
!, treasury from this ward for fifteen year
, back, and another glance at the apprC
= priations for internal improvements i
q the different wards, will show that W
! have not yet received our just proper
: ton of the public moneys. Now ca
r the appropriation for bridge over th
. Courtableau be charged wholly to OF
account. M.
Waxia, May 18th, 1885.