St. Landry democrat., 1889-10-12
Government Works
AT THE HEAD OF THE ATCHAFALAYA AND
THE MOUTH OF RED RIVER.

in the fourth district, left
on the. steamer Pargoud for Hard Times
levee. The present line of the levee runs
across Ships bayou, up to which point
work has almost been completed The
bayou is now being drained, but it's bed
will have to be inspected and tested before
the levee can be extended across it, and 1t
is for that purpose that Captain hingman
has gone up there.
Something like 100000 cubic yards of
levee yet remain to be built, but every
thing is progressing very favorably and
the huge embankment will be finished by
contract time-March /, 1890.
The work in the Atchafalaya river, as
far as projected out of the last government
appropriation, has been completed. The
two submerged dams across the river have
been finished, and the beneficial results
are already being realized beyond expecta-
tions. The river is gradually filling up
between Simmsport and it's head, and by
the time the remaining four dams (six be-
ing the number originally designed) are
built it is thought that the securing out OF
the bottom and sides will be etfectually
prevented.
About the middle of September the en-
tire plant, consisting of steamboats,, tugs,
barges, ETC., was moved from the Atchata-
lava river to the head of Turnbulls island,
to be used in building a dam across Red
river, about 400 feat below Sugar house
chute, plan designed for DETECTING the
waters of Red river down Upper Old river
during the low water season.
The survey of the proposed dam was
made some time ago. Work has already
been commenced and is progressing favor
ably. The preliminary work consists OF
the laying of the sill upon which the dam
proper is to rest, and the shore projections,
the material for which, consisting Of Will
lows, stone and timber, is now on hand.
The sill, it is thought, will be finished by
Dec /. The crest of the dam will be about
ten feet above the zero of Barbin's gauge,
which is expected will be high enough to
accomplish the desired result.
The entire cost of the dam is estimated
at 1926. 900. OF this amount only one-half
is available, including $4,000 set apart
for use in keeping channel through Old
river. With the entire amount on hand
the dam could be built in three or four
months, but as it is only the sill will be
put down this year, and as is too often the
case with river Improvements undertaken
by the government, the work will have to
be stopped just at atime when 1t should
be rushed to completion.-N. o. P5cay11ne.
Ballot Reform Progress.
The record of ballot reform Legislation
for the current year is one one OF most en-.
couraging progress At the beginning OF
the year, only one State, MASSACHUSETTS,
had such law on it's statute books. AT
its close, the legislatures of nine 5 ates
had passed comprehensive measures
closely resembling that Of Massachusetts,
seven of which were approved and be-
came laws, and two of which were &C.
feated by executive vetoes. The States
which have these, all of which are to &c
into effect in the near future, are, given
in the order of enactment: Massachu-
sets, Indiana. Montana, Rhode Island
Wisconsin, Tennessee, Minnesota, snd
Missouri. The two States which lost
theirs through vetoes are New 1orR and
Connecticut. New York has been deprlv.
ed in this way twice in succession, both
times by the same governor. In Maine
Michigan. Ohio, Illinois, and several Other
| States, similar laws were considered, but
were not passed, The seed sown by tbs
! discussion eessasfhtem is certain, however
| leading principles of the eight laws
| which we now have are the same in all
They are:
/. An exclusively official ballot, prin-
| ted and distributed at the public expense
| The names OF all candidates for al
Offices are to be placed upon these ballots
and no others are to be received or counted
| Q. Absolute secrecy in voting. Every
| +a oh hol
! retire alone with them into compart.
ment, where. free from observation or es'
pionage of any kind, he must mark then
to indicate the candidates for whom h'
wishes to vote. In three of laws, thos'
of Indiana, Missouri, and Tennessee, thu
names of candidates are grouped unde
party titles, but in the others, they follow
the order in which the nominations ar
received by the officer in charge of thu
printing, with the politics indicated afte
each name.
3. Ample provision for Independent
nominations All the laws contain care
| full provision whereby specified humble
of voters, can, by agreeing upon an indie
pendent candidate, and by making hi
nomination in writing to the official prin
ter of the ballots, have his name places
| upon tuS Ch Cduo1 tSAhio "AsA1 eAio9
of the regular candidate.
1t is easy to see at a glance what mo
mentous gain for honest elections has beel
secured by the ergtafting of these tire
principles upon our electoral system
The printing and distributing of ballots a
the public expense, and the prohibition O
all others, takes away sll excuse for assess
ments upon candidates and drives from tn
~, oly OF fshl
political workers of all kinds. There viii
be nothing for them to do outside an,
about the polls; they are forbidden t
congregate near the polls, and they are NO
allowed inside. Thus we are rid at ono
corrupt purposes at the polls, and of tn
ability to use it, even is raised, with an
certainty that the receivers of it will carr
out their part of the corrupt bargain at til
ballot boxes. By having an absolute
secret ballot we are rid Of pionage an
intimidations of all kinds. The war
ssboss" cannot follow his henchmen to til
polls to see if they vote according to or
ders, or according to the terms of ideal.
The bulldozing employer cannot intimidat
his employees to vote in accordance wit
his interests, but must leave them to vot
| III dCCCEQduCo Will tASIA oWu A4CC Wal
Possibly the greatest gain of all will b
found in time to be that secured throug
independent nominations. This is tn
! straightest and deadliest blow which he
been struck at the dictatorial caucus sys
tenn. Henceforth in eight States, an
body of men, though mere handful, ca
get their candidates names upon the ba
lots, and can have them distributed at II
polls on equal terms with those of tt
regular parties. Every caucus will thu
have hanging over its deliberations IL
threat of formidable and easily organ
lied independent movement in case its oU
nominations aronot satisfactory. Heret
| c-n ~ = - .+ offoot;va ohcta clio tn ON in 4