The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-08-17

Railroad Mass Meeting.

Railroad Mass Meeting.
Colfsx. Grant Parish. La.
A mass meeting assembled at the court
house at II a. m. August 10, 1895. about
two hundred of the leading citizens Of
the parish being present. H. v. Mccain
was elected president, and H. G. Good
wyn secretary.
On motion Hon. ]. w. Traer, agent for
the Kansas city, Watkins and Gulf Rail-
way Company, was invited to speak and
submit the proposition of the railroad
company to the mass meeting. Mr.. Traer
made strong showing in favor of his
company, clearly defining the situation
and the results of the acceptance or re-
lection or the proposition by the citizens
Of Grant parish. He made a favorable
impression on the people, and then read
the proposition submitted by the railroad
company, to be considered and acted up
on by the citizens of Grant parish.
On motion a committee of nine, includ-
ing the chairman, was appointed by the
chairman, to consider the propositions
and report their opinion ss to whether
they were acceptable and fair. or whether
they should be rejected. and the follow
ing citizens were selected ~ said CON-
mittee: @. H. Teal, j. P. Hadnot. Sam
johnson. G. @. Dunn, Mathew Nugent,
]. A. Hyde, H. G. Goodwin, J. H. VIII
liams, and H. v. Mccain. chairman.
A recess of one hour was taken to per-
init the committee to retire, deliberate
and report upon the proposition.
The mass meeting reassembled at 3:l5
pm. and the committee on resolutions
reported az follows:
would be increased e2400 per year If
railroad was built through this parish as
projected: and, whereas our present par
said increase of S24OO is made it will then
parish taxes ~ mills on that assessment;
and, whereas tho improvements, invest
ment Of capital, and increased assess-
adjoining both sides of the proposed rail-
road track, will further increase our par
ish taxes about 1880, which would make
II possible to reduce our present parish
taxes still further ~ mills on this &C.
count; and, whereas said reduction Of
the present parish taxes mills would it.
ell repay the citizens the amount re-
Quested by the railroad company; and,
-l,nu>ne 20 rup,,,lA k1ov, ho vxorso1a
tax 8 mills, railroad tax s mills, and State
tax 6 mills, the same as It now stands, q
total of Is mills; and.
Whereas, considering the great advan-
tages to be derived from said railroad, of
cheap and ready transportation, develop
ment of our resources, increased value of
lands, influx of immigration, mail and
telegraph communication, and increased
income to our parish treasury, and other
advantages and benefits, which our limi-
ted time prevents dwelling upon at great
or length; therefore be it
Resolved, That we recommend that this
mass meeting recommend to the citizen
taxpayers of Grant parish to request by
petition to the police jury to submit this
| question to the people, to be voted upon
O. proposed by the railroad company rel
alive to tho tax of mills; and, further,
that the railroad company be requested
| to have agents to explain this matter of
tax to the people thoroughly, and to can
vass the parish to that end.
Resolved further, That committee Of
three from each ward be appointed by
the chairman of this mass meeting, to
| canvass each ward to get citizens to sign
the petitions requesting the police jury
to grant said election; and that said COM
mittee of three from each ward be re-
quested to act az general committee,
and to meet at COlfax, at IL am. August
q, 1895, at the court house, to organize
and act upon such matters as shall come
before them as general committee, and
tc advise upon questions herein acted up
on; and that majority of wards present
by delegation shall constitute a quorum.
Respectfully submitted.
H. v. MCCAIN, Chairman.
The report of the committee was re-
ceiyed and adopted.
The chairman then appointed the fol-
lowing citizens as said general commit
tee, viz:
Ward &C. H. Teal. A. A. Dean and
]. A. Hytle.
Ward 2AJ.P. Hadnot. ]. B. Wilmut
and w. j. Tiscn.
Ward 3-Richard Newton. G. w. Vain.
right, and w. p. Guynes.
| Ward MATTHEW Nugent Jno. Smith
" warts sTs 5- 3. Hyde, W. H. Matthew.
and e. H. Bradford.
Ward g. Sam johnson. B. H. Phillips
and il w. Stanield.
Wrn7-J. WilIiama. @. L. Eth.
fridge and F. L. Craig.
F The, secretary was requested to fur
.hish each member Of the committee with
IN copy of said petition to the police jury.
ron motion the chair then called upon
be the citizens present to express their
3s9ntn1ents upon the railroad question
nav dn3es consideration.
r Il uy;,Sr< r. in.d N ~r;xy, q