The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1890-08-30
The Owls victory Over Daylight
Editor MERlDIoNGL.

fenu TIT WEAA010aSahB anu Y
pleased that both OF you have con.
stantly advocated improvements,
immigration, railroads, good public
roads, etc. Nearly three years ago
the police jury of this parish was
asked to appoint jury Of free.hoI-
ders to lay off a public road in the
western portion OF the parish, which
they did. After number of trips
to the parish seat. aid much appar.
emily unnecessary delay, the com
mittee succeeded in having their
report, a year and half after they
were appointed. Several months
later road overseers were appointed,
and now, fifteen mouths after the
road has been adopted, and after it
has all been opened except across
zone mans land, came these instruc
tions to the the overseer Il have
been instructed by the police jury
of this parish, to inform you that,
you arc not authorized nor required
to take any action whatever against
parties who may have distractions
on the road as laid out : as the
jury are not wiNtng o. able to pay
the amonnt of damages claimed, etc.
Signed J. N. Williams, clerk" We
do not know the amount of DANA
ges claimed, but the amount assessed
was the enormous sum of about fifty
dollars, and that for laying out a
road nearly twenty miles long and
leading from the western extremity
of the parish toward the parish seat.
Does it not strike you as little
singular that a jury that is willing"
aud "able" to vote $4,000 for a
new courthouse, that is willing aud
able" to build three or four bridges
over Vermaion bayou, that is "wil
ling and able" to lay off and ray
for public roads in the eastern part
of the parish; that is willing and
able" to vote fifty dollars to pay the
expenses Of d delegate to an immi.
grafton, called by the Governor of
the State; that is willing and able"
to pay the expenses Of one or two
delegates to the midsummer conven-
tion at New Orleans; that is will
ing and able to pay its clerk fifty
dollars a quarter, during which
they meet three times, equal to $l6g
day, should be willing or able"
to pay the exhorbitant sum Of fifty
dollars to lay out a much needed
public road in the parish nearly
twenty miles long. especially when
the road has all been opened except
ocrosa one mans land, which is only
about one half mile Won't that
be on attractive advertisement to
immigrants TO come to Vermilion
parish! Il it any wonder the people
Of Abbevilie wort enthuse even
over a railroad, when the affairs OF
the parish are in the hands Of q
jury who are mot willing or ablc"
10 pay for much needed road in
part Of the parish which is settling
mp more rapidly perhaps than any
other part, where all the people pay
their taxes, where a number Of the
heaviest tax payers of the parish are
Interested, and where never one cent
Of the parish money has ever been
expended for any purpose whatever.
We dislike to write this OF ohr
parish, much less to see it in print;
but every citizen has duty to per
form. We think you, Mr.. Editor,
have done your duty we'll in calling
the attention Of people seeking new
homes % our naturally beautiful
and fertile parish, and it seems to
be ours to call the attention of our
oWu people to some of the wrongs
which exist amohg US, and which,
If left unwrighted, do more to hin
der progress and development than |
you can undo in weeks or months |
Of hard work with your pen 10 tell
ing OF the advantages which our
soil and climate afford.
We believe each individual mem
ber Of the police jury to be an ION.
est gentleman, and If they would
visit the west end Of the parish,
they would realize the need Of roads /
and would be willing to help u
Notwithstanding the kicks aud