The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1893-09-09
GRAND JURY REPORT.
ABBEyILLE, Sept. 7, 1898.

W. the Grand Jury, %empaneled
in and for the parish of Vermilion,
guided by your Honor's able charge
and aided by your instructions, beg
leave to submit the following re.
port:
PARISH OFFICERS.
The parish affairs are 10 a pros
porous condition, for although no
funds are now on hand, there are
very few outstanding warrants for
small amounts, and the large increase
in the assessment nearly $700,UO0
assures a revenue somewhat in excess
of needed expenditures for the cur.
rent fiscal year.
In speaking of assessments the
jury can not refrain from compli.
menting the assessor on the diligent
fulfRment of his Office, for we be.
lieve that a fsir valuation of proper
ty with a small tax will make a bet"
ter showing for the parish abroad,
and do more to upbuild it, than a
small and unfair valuation with a
greater tax-besides achieving the
same result with no greater burden
to the tax payer.
The parish being ably Offered
we find the various departments
neatly kept and run On business
principles. The sheriff and his eff.
Gent deputy make their reports
promptly aud correctly and this par.
ish is always among the first to make
settlements with the State Auditor.
The Police Jury is neither extra
VACANT or niggardiY in its appropri-
ations, and their wise and economi.
cal administration Of all branches of
parish government is seer in the linz
proveme1ts completed and contem-
plated.
ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC.
The courthouse is 10 good condi.
ton. and except needed improve
ments to fencing and grounds moth
ing is to be desired. The Jail is also
in good shape, and the prisoners
we'll treated. The public roads are
excellent, new ones are constantly
being opened and old ones extended,
so that Vermillon may boast of as
fine a system Of roads as any parish
, in the State. This is due to the en-
{ ergy Of the road overseers and the
general compliance with the road
laws. No subject receives more
prompt attention from the Police
} Jury than road improvements and
the o~verseers are doubtless encour.
!, aged by that body's ready appropri.
atoms for needed supplies. We
would recommend to the Police Jury
the purchasiug%of a few of the i'm
proved plows, now being generally
used in working roads.
SCHOOLS.
The Grand Jury, as a BODY and
as individual citizens point with
i. pride to the marked Improvement 10
the school system. Inaugurated and
successfully advanced by the prece.
ding school board, the good effects
are now manifesting themselves in
the increase Of schools, increase Of
enrolment, and Oest of all, in the
increased interest of the patrons and
public generally. Schools which q
few years ago were closed for want
of patronage are today crowded,
and in many instances new school
houses have been built and assistants
appointed. The Police Jury is fos-
tering this healthy growth by a
liberal allowance of parish. funds, and
after a ten months session, last
closed, with % schools opened for
that term, the treasurer reported a
balance of nearly $4,000 with not a
$1.00 of outstanding Indebtedness.
7 The session of 1893-94 opens with
no decrease in this excellent show
ing and promises to reflect as much
credit upon the school board as the
past sessions have done.
CRIME.
The jury approached the subject
- of crime with q full sense of their
. responsibility, aud they have investi-
gated the subject with due delibera.
ton, feeling that it is to them your
Q Honor looks for assistance in up.
/. hnidinr the nrnatina Of Vermilion 90