The Opelousas courier., 1898-09-10
Correspondence
Editor COURIER -

EdltOT =
Now that no political excitement to
speak Of exists in our community would
he a good time TO agitate the question OF
iDausuratiug Il few progressive move
ments iii which, it occurs to me, all our
people, irrespective OF class or condl-
ton or politics, are or should he inter-
eeted. Tbs first Of these is the secnr-
irg OF a national flag to be placed on
the recently erected f1ag-pole on @nr
public square; aud, while they are ~
it, the puoiic spirited citizens VII" un-
dertake the patriotic task might secure
another to be placed on the High School
building which. On the first Monday of
next month. will open its doors to the
youth Of our town and parish. The
frequent view of our national ensign
cannot taii to be productive of much
good in many ways, for it would be Il
constant reminder to the young rs we'll
as to the old Of all classes and conGi-
tons Of the grandeur and glory OF our
common country, and stimulate q spirit
of patriotic plidc in tie land Of their
birth or adoption which all thoughtful
citizens could constantly foster and
promote.
Another matter which might be pro-
titabiy uiscussed-at least-at this np-
perfume moment is the building OF side
walks 0na systematic plan. A sugges-
ton looking to that end has been made
which appears to possess great merit,
and which might be tried with verylit-
tic trouble Or cXHense. 1t has not been
discussed to any great extent here,
though it has been found wise and
eminently practicable in other comGlu
mites; and | wonld draw to it the close
IN 800 IL ,-,r n, tn,ycttf, and
progressive citizens, who are or ought
to:Ie orr most influential ones. Brief
lySstatrd, the plan is this: One mill, or
even a half or II quarter mill, to be set
aside annually by the Town Council as
q sidewalk funh. The town to be divided
into districts, in one OF which, the bust
ness or central portion, none but brick
sidwalks or sidewalks of better material
shall be constructed; in the other wood
en- or better sidewalks might be con
s~tructed-ali under definite plans and
specifications and under the supervision
and managnmeutnf the town authorities,
thus insnring uniformity and the great
est economy. This fund to be allotted
to the highest bidders among those de-
sirous Of improving and identifying
the town as well rs their property, the
expense to the town to in no case ex-
coed One-lialf of the cost OF the i'm
pr0yements. OF course this small fund
would DO soon exhausted, for many
wlde-awke citizens would promptly
agree to pay two-thirds, three-f0urths
or oven more of the cost of such desira-
bic improvements, and tho plan would
thus he at Onca prOm0tiVe OF enterprise
and public spirit and Of great public
utility. OF course this plan, as here
outlined might be considerably modi-
fed (anh thereby i~mprnved); but the
main idea OF "a uniform and systematic
plan of sidewalk improvement with
municipal assistance and encourage
ment seems to be 4 good one to tie to
and build on.
Still another matter Of public inlpor-
ance-and 'there are others" still
which should now DO considered, and
passed upon without further delay, is
the treatment OF the condition pre-
scented by the survey Of the town made
some four or five years ago by a civil
engineer employed at considerable ex-
pense by tie town. This officer per-
formed his work in a p~ainstaking ard
conscientious manner, and drove down
permanent and durable iron stakes
wherever bis survey showed the lines
should run. These stakes, are frequent
ly found several feet from the fence,
on the sidewalk, and 10 those cases the
owner seems at liberty to fence in or
build on the intervening ~space-and in
some cases has already done so-while
in other instances the stakes are inside
the yards, or behind the fences on the
fronts of the buildings; but in or case
has it been conclusively shown that the
owner had given up to public use the
public property which had been fenced
in and appropriated to private use for
10, these many years. This is a condi-
ton that deserves instant consideration,
and in the meantime q heavy fine
should be prescribed for the unautho-
rized removal of any of these stakes.
Our aldermen are very much puzzled
just now to find some way Of running a
$4,000 on $4,000 town on a 5000 reye-
nue., aud it some intelligent and pro
gressiye citizen would evolve q salts
faction solution OF the somewhat per-
picking problem growing out of this
survey and present it to them while
they are cudgeling their brains over
financial difficulties, he would doubt
less receive their sincere thanks, and
he would certainly deserve the warmast
gratitude of the community. Let such
citizens make are attempt, at least.
The matter is one deserving of their
deepest and most p%ainstaking consider
alton. CITIZEN.