The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1889-02-23
Our Public Roads.

1he SUBJECT OF OFF public roads, their
proper condition and repair, is one that
interests every citizen. of the parish.
Inat they have been in The past, and
are now shamefully neglected Is stand
ing reproach to our citizens and 10 those
whose duty tits to enforce the law re-
quirlpg public roads to be constructed.
and kept in order. The present Police
Jury has recognized this, and has taken
q step in the right direction to remedy
the evil. They have appointed an ac
tive, energetic and firm mau inspector
of roads. His duty is to enforce, as far
as is In his power, the provisions of the
law on the subject of public roads pass
ed by the Police Jury. The law is plain,
simple and easily enforced. We there
fore look forward confidently to great
improvement in our public roads in the
futpre. We remember that many years
ago, when the Police Jury FIRST created
the office of superintendent of public
roads, the roads were in sadly bad
condition. There was prevalent among
certain class of people subject to road
duty, a spirit of insubordination, and
opposition to the road law that led them
to resist the enforcement thereof, not
only in this, but other parishes of the
State. The superintendent of roads, NJ I.
G. May, backed and sustained by the
then District Attorney, was equal to the
occasion, and after some trouble sue
ceeded in enforcing the law. Much val
liable work was done on the public
highways, and it was remarked at the
time and has been observed since, that
the public roads and bridges were then
put in better condition than they had
been for many years previous.
In the neighboring parish of St Mar
tin, parties resisting the Enforcement OF
the road law took the case against them
up on appeal to the Supreme Court.
The case was decided against the de-
fendant and the road law sustained
The case is entitled Parish of st. Mar
tin ex rel. Baker VS.. Delahonssaye, and
will be found reported at page 1902 of
the 30th Annual. In that case the Su-
preme Court decided that !" the ordi-
nance of a Police Jury imposing fine
on persons between certain ages for
failing or refusing to work ON the pub
lie roads is constitutional" That set
tied the question of the constitutionality
of the road law passed by the Police
Juries of the parishes throughout the
State. The law therefore may be en-
forced through the instrumentaiity of
the Courts, like any other Law. The
law on the subject of public roads,
bridges, &c. now in existence is a good
one, though it might perhaps be amend
ed in some respects and made better
|. We have, in this parish, a good soil
for the constr uction and maintenance of
good pubic roads. IF the law were
properly enforced we would have such
roads. If it weIe properly and impair
TALLY enforced, we feel satisfied that all
classes of citizens in the parish, except
ing perhaps that class known as chronic
grumble-s, would be satisfied. Indeed,
no reasonable person could object with
good grounds to the enfoieABent. OF the
Faad law. Looking attic question from
the narrowesE point q yieW-that 81
self-interest-eVery reasonable person
must approve the construction ane
maintenanSs Of good public roads. For
every man and woman in the parish,
unless he live like an oyster and has
nothing to do outside his siell, stands
10 need ofroads to travel over and for
the purpose of transporting produce or
merchandise.
Then let the whole community rise
np as one man and give its moral sup
pert to the proper authorities in their
effbrts to enforce the law; nay, let the
community exact IFS rigid enforcement,
and, st. Landry will soon have thin
pixies of which it might be proud, and
which would contribute vastly to the
convenience, comfort and prosperity q
heE peopla We propose 10 subsequent
numbers Of our paper to return TO ta's
subject.