The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-12-25
THE ASSESSMENT LAWS.

itself to the thoughtful consideration
of every citizen in the State.
This move seems to have been inau-
gurated in Caddo parish, by the Po-
lice Jury there sending out circular
letter to the various assessors and po-
lice Jurors of the State. AS one of
our contemporaries puts it: The Cir
cuIar has met with such favor that it
now looks as though the meeting to
be held at Baton Rouge, Feb. 9,
would be large and full one, and at
ford an opportunity to discuss one of
the most important subjects that ca
come up before the people of Louisi-
ana. A great deal has been said
about assessments in Louisiana, the
changes and improvements necessary
in our laws on this subject; and some
excellent suggestions have been
thrown out from time to time. 1t re-
mains to be seen whether conference
of this kind, composed of men &C.
quainted with onr present laws and
able to point out the defects in them,
cannot propose the remedies needed
Their suggestions would, in all proba-
hility, have great weight with the leg
lslature, which body when it meets
next spring, may be counted on to
approve the suggestions of the con-
vention, if it is shown to be in the in
t rest of the State.
The circular letter from Caddo is as
follows:
Az the subject of uniform and equal
assessments is agitating the minds
of the people Ill all portions of our
State, and as it is we'll known that
the assessments on the same kinds of
property vary in different parishes,
which does not distribute the burden
of tar-paying in proportion to the real
value of the property assessed, and as
it is the general desire that more uni
form assessment be made on all kinds
of property in our State, and as ii
seems that an Equalizlng Board can
only he obtained at great cost to the
State, and as the police juries of the
respective parishes are competent to
act in this matter it has been sugges-
ted that a meeting of the assessors
and committee to be composed of
one man from each par:s'h, appointed
to act in tina. capacity by the police
jury of each parish, to be held at the
State House in Baton Rouge, on Feb
ruary 9th, 1890, at ~ M, to discuss
and agree upon uniform value on
all property to be assessed. This will
enable the assessors and police jurors
to simplify the matter of assessments
and more thoroughly equalize the bur.
dens of taxation, so that no part Of
the State will complain that too great
a proportion has been placed on it.
If you will consent to lie present al
such a meeting, at the time and place
mentioned, please signify your inten
ton by corresponding with
J. NJ. FOSTER,
President of Police Jury, Caddo Par.
ish, Shreveport, La.
The suggestions above are first
class, in our opinion. The Conven
ton is sure to result in great good
We suggest our Police Jury take
necessary steps to have Rapides repre-
sented in the proposed convention
next February.
RIVER REpoRT.--Captain Willard
has submitted his report of operations
for November. He states that on Rec
river the snas boat Howell continued
operations below Shreveport to Ma
quenta landing The removal o.
wreck of steamer Falls City, near the
mouth of Loggy Bayou, was begun
but discontinued on account of rist
of the river. On Bayou Bartholomew
! the chopping party continued work W
stream from Wells Gin to Oak Land
ing, about twenty-three miles. Th.
distractions from Wells Gin to Yes
terland Ferry were removed. On til,
Tallahatchie river, Miss, obstruction
were removed Up to the mouth o
Cassidy's bayou, one mile below Shar
keys landing, the cutting of over
hanging trees was continued dow,
stream to Minter City, sixty-eigh
miles above the mouth on the Yazo,
river, Miss. Snagboat Meigs contin
ued work up stream from head of Ho
ney Island to mouth of Tallahatchi
river, about forty miles; then up til,
Tallahatchie, on the Ouachlta, abov,
Camden, the chopping party continu
ed work, Nothing was done on rh'
Big Suntlower liver, Miss, OuacLit'
)La.,) and Black rivers, Ark, Bayou
Darbonne, La /, Tensas river, La, Ba
you Macon, La, Steel's Bayou, Miss.
Big Hatehie river, Tenn, Bayo,
Boeuf, La, Tchula, Miss, Little riv
er, La, Big Black river, Miss, Ouach
tia river, Ark, and La, between Cam
den and mouth of Black river, La