Natchitoches populist., 1898-03-18
Good EsOat!s.
Times Democrat.

Agricultural and Mechanical Col
Iege at Baton Rouge, has undcrta
ken to collect information as to the
condition OF the roads in Louisi,
ana. Such information is neccssa.
ry to enable Us to act intelligent,
ly in preparing legislation that will
give Us better roads. The State is
signaIIy deficient in highways, per
haps more deficient than any of its
noighbors, for the reason that with
it's alluvial soil the roads oct bog
gy and wholly impossible here in
wet weather.
Some years ago Louisiana in
augaratcd an agitation for better
roads, and some few Of the parish
es improved their higways, but the
matter was dropped, and little has
been done since. In other States
the movement for good roads has
been earnestly and vigorously push
ed, with good results, and it is
time to revive the agitation here.
What we need first is information
on the subject, and this Mr.. Taylor
is seeking to oct with the following
circular which he has sent through
the State:
81. What is the total number
of miles estimated or measured)
of public road in your parish.
"2. What is the average width
of the roads,"
''3. Are Your roads kept up
entirely by the labor system, and
if not, how are they maintained!"
-. What is the average num-
ber of days each Iaborer actually
works on the roads"
"5. Is the work on the public
roads done mainly after the crops
arc laid by, and that very little at
tention is paid to them during the
remainder of the year,"
''6. TO what extent are your
roads kept up by special contract
with reliable men living near Or
along them!'
81. Has tho result of any such
contract been better or worse than
where the same road was previous
ly kept mp by the labor system!"
IS. To what extent have any of
the country roads of your parish
been graveled or macadamized or
specially imleoved!"
80. Please give the location and
character of any suitable stone or
gravel that You know of accessi-
bic for covering the roads of your
parish"
$50. If you have had in your
parish any specially successful ex-
perlonce in the construction or
maintenance Of roads without |
gravel or stone covering, please
outline it."
I'll. Do yon think it possible
that the active agitation Of tho
question Of good roads in your
parish could produce q more intel
ligent interest in the subject and
bring about a general disposition
to better the roads,"
"12. Is it your opinion that the
people of your parish would ap-
prove of the appointment by the
next General Assembly of a tenn
porary State Highway Commits.
sion, whose duty it shall be for the
next two years to study the qucs-
ton Of the improvement of the
common roads of the State, to hoId
good roads conventions in differ
ent parts Of the State, to dissent
nate u knowledge of how other
in other parts of the
Union are improving and have
improved their highways, and to
report back to the Legislature at
the end of their period Of Office on
The best way and means and legis-
|ation to bring about the much
needed Improvement in the COM
mon roads Of the Statew
If these questions are generally
answered it will be seen that the
answers will furnish us with infor-
nation upon which we can act in
diligently in our road legislation.
We believe that the time is ripe
TOR this work to be done, and that
f the Legislature takes hold of
natter Of better highways it will
nave the cordial support and CO.
operation Of the people.
The Teachers Institute.
Peoples Demands.