The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1897-08-14
Is There =?

1t there be Il town in Louisiana, con.
tanning 1900 or 1000 inhabitants which
has not adopted Il more on ordinance
we confess to our ignorance of the fact
And we put the question to anyone who
can answer it, is there such town ir
Louisiana without such an ordinance,
except Opelousas Snch law has
long since been an absolute necessity.
ln making this announcement, we
would not have it inferred that we
would discriminate iu favor of, or
against any legitimate business in
town.
No one can possibly fail to have OBJ
served that on some days in every week,
certain places of business are 50 crowd
ed with colOred people standing on the
sidewalks aud in the doors, that the
passer-by is very frequently forced to
worm his way through the noisy aud
unciyil crowds that coDgregate. They
| occupy the sidewalk for hours at a
time, and rarely show any willingness
to make wav forsone passing. This is
so VIGOROUSLY tie case that the ladies
| studlously avoid walking on the side
of streets thus crowded. We refrain
from calling names, because we would
not offend, but the facts are indisput-
able.
We suggest that the Board Of Alder
men pass what is generally known as a
more on ordnance, and that it be vigor-
Ously enforced. Merchants have a lust
right to complain of this habit the col
ored people have of congregating and
standing in front of their store doors
tor an hOur or TWO at Il time, thus prac-
tlcaliy obstructing the use of the side
walks, and preventing ladies and chill
dren from entering. They are gene
rally noisy and are accustomed to using
Oatbs IN most audible vGice, regard
less OF who is approaching, present or
passing.
In fact, it has become indecent and
intoierablc, and If not obvlated will
sooner or later lead to violence.
Whilst the streets belong to the pub
lie, and all are free to use them for
proper purposes, it should be made
known to our colored citizens, that they
have no right to blockade them three
evenings in every week.
We repeat 1t, give us Il more on Ordi-
nance, making it misuemeanOr to
stand in crowds of three or more per-
sons on the banquettes, punishable by
such fines Or Imprisonment, or both, as
may put q stop to the evil we complain
of. Ii colored people will coDgregate to
amuse themselves, they should occupy
premises belonging to private individ-
uals who profit by their patronage.
The use of the streets would not then
be denied to other classes of citizens
wishing to pass along them. Coupled
with a move on ordinance, should be
incorporated Il liberal reward to the
town officers. for rigdly enforcing
it.
There is anothe: evil which should be
arrested. We have reference to the
practice of hitching saddle horses, and
horses attached to vehicles on the l
streets in the way it is done. That
they are allowed to be hitched there,
we understand and do not wish to in
Weigh against, but what We do object to,
is the habit OF SO crowding the streets
with them as to often make it difficult
or impossible to crowd through them in
the middle of the streets. There is no
town, hitch and leave. ,.Sem standing
there for hours. OtlkSfs do likewise,
until the animals fill Up mueDof the
streets. This is crueN,Ltos stIe poor
beasts. Their riders or dssSers leave
them there suffering for want of water
and baking their backs lin the hot
sunshine, while they pefAmbulate tue |
town until after nightfall.N
This is all wrong, but the point we |
now emphasize is the obstruction of the |
streets. A stop should be put to it, for
it is often difficult to drive safely along |
them on account of the innumerable |
horses and vehicles hitched on the sides |
Of the street.
Some other places may be found |
where animals may be hitched, and
where SO much Inconvenience to the
driving passer by would not be caused