The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1892-04-16
GRAND JURY.

Ell IOI InlS ClllDlnai Term OF CONT
the undersigned Foreman, appointed
by your Honor, desires to make
the following final Report
In accordance with instruction re-
celved from you, we examined the
Parish Prison which We are pleased tu
report appeared i'll as good a condition
as can be desired. Better ventilation,
however, for the lower cells would not
at all be discordant with humane and
healthfuf demands, but as the building
has served i'll its present condition for
a great number of years. it may be
considered All unnecessary innovation
tor us TO recommend the placing of
several ventllators i'll the Jail for the
benefit of the prisoners in the lever
cells. The Police jury would not do
wrong in giving the matter considera
tiOL.
The prisoners now in custOdy-four
In number-expressed themselves as
perfectly satisfied with the care and at
tentiOn accorded them by the officials.
A visit to the Recorders Office dis
closed to your jury men that the re-
cords and papers of the Parish aud
other fixtures therein contained are in
proper order and condition with the
exception of about a dozen volumes of
the records of this Parish of the be-
ginning of this century, one of the
dates in the acts gong back as far as
18O9. The books are without covers
aud through handling and exposure to
the elements, are gradually becoming
mutilated We were informed til . t
other Grand Juries had recommended
that these books be bound, but 80 far
nothing has been done hence We
deem 1t our duty to recommend aud
urge upon the Police Jury of the
Parish of LafOurche that these volumes |
OF our public records be bound and
otherwise made secure. Several of the
books cannot easily be bound, as their
edges are worn and shortened in "a
that renders binding them
practically impossible. As u means of
preservation, We would recommend
the Police Jury to have the records that
are I'D this condition recopied into safe
and sound books. /
In the Clerks Office which we ex-
amined next, We found it's contents in
proper shape and order.
Our attention was next given to the
Treasurer's books and accounts.
A RENEWAL of that officers books, the
accounts and entries which that geutle-
man, with much courtesy and con.
slderatlon, fully explained, disclosed
that there is now in the Parish
Treasury u grand total of $lI44O.O1.
which mount $6414.19 oelong to the
General Fnnd, and IS O25.1O are due
The Drainage Fund, or the nine Drain
age Districts of the Parish. Your iu
Fors md 1t very strange that there is
10 much money in the Parish Treasu-
for drainage, and that there is 90
little done in this respect. The Trea.
'urer complained of this fact. and sug-
gested that something be done to put
inc money in practical use. The ne
'esslty for some such action more
strongly emphasizes itself when it is
into consideration that the
public roads are in very discreditable
condition, and the travelling public are
auc Inconvenience thereby. The
once Jury, in our opinion, should
orce \ road inspectors who are I'M
,er theif direct supervision, to keep
ne Dads in a proper condition. es-
,eciaiiy since there are ample funds for
nat purpose. The Police jury can
liner do this, or revise the whole road
no !evee inspection system of the
alish. 1t strikes US that some plan,
'ettef thar paying road inspectors a
eeuiar salary and having bad roads,
ouid easily be hit upon. We recon
reno That the Police Jury look into
his matter.
AS ior extortiOn in office to which ,
our Honor in his charge to us Incl :
ehtaiiy called our attention, we will ,
~ mat We We're powerless to t.; Ike ,
ny dennlte steps, as we had no specl-
r case to act upon. Without a direct ,
omplaint from some source. we can. !
OF do anything. In this connection
g Would like to say that it would be !
Use for the public, when they have any
lch complaint or grievance, to make :
note OF 1t, and when a grand jury is \
npanneled, appear before that BODY, y
~ MAKE a statement of the facts. )
Grand jury is bound to listen to )
l grievances, hence the public, VIII =
e invested with full light, should y
all themselves of the opportunity Of y
TO get redress if they be justified !
their complaint. q
After examing a number OF WITNESSES y.
regard to cutting levees in the lower
rt OF the Parish which it was alleged
rs done to the detriment of a number L
persons In that community, we find
at the evidence is too vague and in
rect to Justify us in establishing