The Opelousas courier., 1886-05-29
The Real Issue.

the question of removing tbs parish site
from Opelousas to the town of Wash
| ington.
Why this should be done, no man has,
up to this time, given a reason that
Wonld weigh the weight of feather,
with any fair minded legislator. The
present site was established so far back
In the past, that there are none now
living who remember it, 1t was selected
on account of its high, well drained,
healthy and central position. The pea
pie OF the parish have recognized these
advantages, and refused many years
ago, to remove the site to Washington.
Compared with Washington, the advan-
tage is all with Opelousas. Its location
IS more central both in respect of terri
tory and population. Ii is more acces
sible, Washington being located be-
tween two bayous, one of which has Il
wide basin that during heavy rains is
covered for several hundred yards, with
water. 1t is far more healthy, rs statis-
tics OF many years past will prove We
believe that it is susceptible of strict
proof that yellow fever epidemic
never preyailedsin the city of New Or
leans, since Washington has been u town
of any size, that it did-not also prevail
in that town; whereas, Opelousas has
been free from epidemic yellow tever
since 1889. We believe that the fever
did exist at 0pelousas that year in an
! epidemic form; it was also at Washing
ton, though the village was very small.
Since 1889 Washington, we are sorry to
/ say, has been severely scourged by vel
low fever. 1t was there in 1853, 1854
1867, 1870. There were few cases at
Opelousas during each of those years,
but the number never exceeded or s,
and during the years first mentioned,
was not more than or 4. Such is the
salubrity of the locality of Oprlousas,
that the dreaded disease could not take
on tue fatal features of an epidemic.
Indeed we do not remember that an epi
demic disease of any kind has ever ex-
isted in the town. with the one excep-
tion that we have mentioned as occur
ring in 1889.
A part of the public buildings that
the law requires shall be erected at every
seat Of Justice IN the State, Wig: 1t clerk
aud recorders Office and a Jail, exist ut
0pelousas. The clerk aud recorders
offic. is a fire proof building The Jail
is an excellent building aud was erected
recently III !, cost Of SI2 500. The Police
Jury of The parish of 81. Landry, Il few
weeks ago, in pursuance of l,,n amt tiIh
performance Of its plain duty, entered
into contract with Messrs Hannon &
Voss of Baton Ronge. fer the huildiug
of new Court House 81 the rnius of the
4 oh h,,Y.
us that these are sufficient reasons why
Mr.. Kavanagh's bill should be rejected
by the Legislature. Why the people
should not be yexed with, and put 10
the expense of, a special election to de-
eide whether Washington shall add to
its prosperity by having the parish site
removed tIiither or not
These contests for the removal of par
ish sites are, tt all times and under
nearly all circumstances, costly, acrlmo-
nious, and disturbing of public tran-.
guilty; and nothing bn.an urgent pub
lie necessity, or Il great and indisputa-
BILE public advantage, can Justify the
inauguration of such a contest. The
only real reason why ihe people. of
Washington AtB anxious 10 have h.
parish site removed. toll heir town. Is he
supposed advantage hat The reniay.sl
believe still say, that tif removal. ~
rather the erecting of he pnsiie n.ilti-
ings there, shall cost tht parish untfing
This is evidently intended To Influence
legislators favorai,ly to Senator kavsil- :
agh's bill, and should the bill pass, 10
influence voters to cast their votes III
favor of the measure. The money ne
cessary to build d Court House, Offices
and Jail, If the site is removed to Wash
ington, We believe firmly will have 10
be furnished by the parish. We have
seen no satisfactory evidence anywhere
that Washington will, " can possibly
guarantee that The money thai may be
required, or any considerable part of IL,
viii ever be raised BIZ that town Opel
ousas has already provided, in sub
stantiai and practical manner, for the
raising of $4,000 90 Of the $50 900 90 RI
quired to pay for the new Court Hense.
The Police Jury has provided for lais-
ing the balance of the cost of building,
say $l2, $50. .00-not by speeial tax. as
the protesting people Of Washington
and others would seem TO intimate, huf
without the addition Of a cent to the
budget OF 1867. Now why, we ask
again, should the good people of this
parish be vexed and annoyed and put
to expense by special election ~ re-
gard to removal Of the parish site
There is but one answer that can be
trutlfully given, viz; Because the good
people Of our sister town would revive
their trade, increase the value OF real
estate and conduce generally to theis
material prosperity. Isita good reason
WHY the people of the entire parish
should be required to aid IN the work Of
pulling down Opelonsas, that Washing
ton may he built np9 This is the true
issue.
Capt. J.. j. Thompson of the st. Ian
dry Cavalry informs us that the Com
pany will on Tuesday evening, June
10, 1886, give at Perrodin's Hall
grand ball and supper to raise funds
with which to purchase uniforms for
said Company.
As the community will natural
ly take great pride in the appearance
OF the boys, NE trust that they will moi
fail to respond to the Co.'s call.
The Mayor and several Of our live
business men of the town have prom
ised to assist them, which is OF itself an
assurance of success.
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