The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1888-10-20
Local Legislation.
Laws Relating to Louisiana r assed by Con
gress.

Special to The Times Democrat.
! Washington, Oct 9.-Although Con-
gress still remains with us, the work of
The session is practically completed,
rs no quorum is present, and 1T lies in the
power of any member, therefore, to
prevent legislation by simply calling
attention to the fact. 1t may be in OF
der, therefore, to give resume of the
legislation that has reached the stage
of laws which is of local Importance TO
Louisiana. Before giving the statement
it can be said that during the present
session Louisiana measures have Jared
excellently, and the results attest the
value of her representatives.
In the way of public buildings, the
State has secured such favors for two
cities. The first is Monroe, where pro-
vision is made for a $75, 900 building
| to accommodate courts and other pub
lie officers, and the other is Opelousas,
where $4,000 is provided for like
purpose.
/ Then comes the act to extend the
limits of the port of New Orleans, which
need only be mentioned.
Appropriations are made for the con-
structidh of roads to two national ceme
teries, the first of $4,000 for road
leading to the cemetery at Baton Rouge,
t and the other is that at Pineville, where
$lI, 900 is to be expended.
An act of some importance is that to
cancel certain reservations of lands, on
| account of live oak, in the southwest
ern land district of Louisiana. All per-
sons who have in good faith settled
upon these lands on Pecan Island are
allowed to enter 160 acres under the
homestead laws.
The Louisiana national judicial sys
tenn has been turned upside down by
the division of the former districts.
From this time courts will be held at
Baton Rouge, of the eastern district,
in November and April, the term OF
court at New Orleans remaining as at
present.
In the west district courts are to be
held at four places-Opelousas, Alexan-
dria, Shreveport and Monroe-but the
new law does not mention the months
iu which the courts shall be held in
each city. It only makes provision for
the subdivision of the western judicial
district
Provision is made for higher and
more powerful lights at the outer ends
of the ietties at South Pass; for hot air
fog signal at tbs end Of the east jetty ;
a higher and more powerful light ON
one of the jetties at the head of the
Passes, and a fog signal at Cabit's Gap.
The cost of these aids to navigation
will be $27 500.
An act of considerable Importance is
that proyidiI q that in louisiana, Mis-
sissippi. Arbgnsas, Alabama and Florida
the nnbl4c lands of the United States
now subject to private sale as offered
lands, shall be disposed of according to
the provisions of the homestead laws,
the act to remain in force until pending
legislation affecting such lands shall be
disposed of or the present Congress
closes. And isolated or disconnected
trscts of the public lands, less than l60
acres, may be ordered sold at private
or public sale for not less than $l.2i
per acre by the Commissioner of the
Land Office.
An appropriation of $45, 900 was al
IOWeu ZOE tu6 EemOFat ul Iuc NatlOAfs
Quarantine Station at Ship Island to
some other is'and, and this has been
supplemented by an appropriation ot
$4,000 to cover the expenses of the
station for the present fiscal year.
In the matter of bridges the Little
Rock and Alexandria Railway Com
pany are authorized to erect a bridge
: over Bayou D'Arbonne, near the town
, of Farmerville, in Union parish, and
the Houston, Central Arkansas and
Northern Railway Company are per,
mitted to bridge Bayou Bartholomew
, and Ouachita, Red, Little and Sabine
rivers at such points as may be selected
The Postmaster General was author
!, lied to terminatesthe mail contract ol
, Charles 2. Trouslow for carrying tue
mails ON the lower Mississippi river.
In addition to the bridges noticed the
Mississippi and Louisiana Bridge ant
| Railroad Company are allowed to con
struet q bridge over the Mississippi
, river at Natchez.
This completes the statement of th'
, legislation local to Louisiana, which hal
reached the stage of laws during th'
present session.