The Progress., 1893-01-07
MOORlNGSPORT FERRY

port Ferry and Queer Actions of
Police Jury"
L am satisfied it IS not your inten-
tion to do the people living in the
northern portion of the parish know
ingly an injustice, but you do not un-
deIstand the situation. And being
amember of the police jury that ad-
vocates the free ferry at MooringS-
port, will give some of the many
reasons why | advocate it, The hill
portion of Ward One lies north of
Black bayou and Fairy lake. And
for the people to get to Shreveport
thep have to travel from 55 to IS
miles, and when the water is up they
have to cross Black bayou on ferry
fiat and ferriage for two-hOrse wagon
over and return 81 And it requires
from to days to make the round
trip. And they can 20 to Atlanta,
Queen City or Jefferson, Texas in
two to three days and transact their
business. And Atlanta and Jeffer-
son, Texas offer every inducement in
the way of good roads and free bridg-
es to get their trade And the people
living in Ward Two to get to
Shreveport have to cross Fairy"
lake at Mooringsport and travel from
40 to so miles, which requires from
4 TO 5 days, according to weather and
roads. And III Ward Two the parish
has not spent a dollar for bridges
since the free ferry has been in op9r-
alton. Aud the people who live i'll
this ward are nearly all white and
they have the best worked roads in
the parish, And if any bridges are
required they are built by the citi-
Zens without cost 10 the parish
Within the last few weeks they have
built bridge across Il small bayou
which would haye cost the parish at
least $50 if it had been built by the
parish. They bulld these bridges
with the understanding they are to
hive the free ferry at Mooringsport.
Also there is large quantity of land
lying in the hills of Ward One and
Two and think a greater number
in the hills of Ward One. Now the
free ferry has induced to come to
Shreveport at least 500 bales of cot
yearly and is increasing every year.
The city of Shreveport realizes at
least greater per cent of the pro-
ceeds. And if the free ferry is dis
continued the city of Shreveport will
lose a great portion of the present
trade of the above portion of the par
ish. And there is several planters
In Wards One and Two who have
turned their trade from jefferson to
Shreveport since the ferry has been
free. The people living north of
Fairy Lake will be forced to trade in
Atlanta and Jefferson, Texas another
town more convenient and not so ex-
pensive to reach if the free ferry is
discontinued. 1t is natural for the
citizens of parish to wish to trade
in their parish and to assist in build
ing up their parish town if any in
dncemeats are given them. If you
will take the time and trouble to ex-
anime you will find that every bridge
IN the parish is free except two. Also
the police jury has under contract
for building bridges in the bottoms
of Ward One to the amount of $3.50.
land the police jury has promised and
kiven to Tones bayou within the last
year $1,000 to build and rebuild Tones
bayou bridge which indorsed. Now
Now the ferry at Mooringsport is on
no ordinary stream. 1t is about the
width OF the Mississippi river, and
wider than all the bayous in the par
ish together which are bridged by the
parish. And the Mooringsport free
ferry has been run five years and ev-
cry year it brings an increase of emf
grafton and trade to our parish. And
for the police jury to discontinue the
ferry would be backward movement
and would be anything else but pro-
gression and would not be acting
fairly with Wards One and Two. in
fact the ferry is beneficial to the en-
tire parish and the city of Shreve-
port. l am in favor of bridges and
ferrys being free to the people and
give the people every facility to trav
ei and trade IN Shreveport and TO
bring emigration to our parish and
build up Shreveport. Your paper
advocates immigration and progtess.
if we desire immigration we
must give the people travelling facili-
ties You may say the trade is not
sufficient to justify the expense of
running free ferry, therefore dis
continue the costly luxury which
would be unjust and unwise, as the
country is building up and the trade
Is increasing every year. Aud / am
satisfied it does pay the parish. If
you will go TO the hills of Wards
One and Two and see the situation
Df the country you would certainly
be convinced that the people are e.