The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1899-02-02
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1899.
Bidding for the United States
Land Office.

Since the appointment Of the colorec
man. John q. Lewis. Of this place, as
Receiver of the United States Land OF,
flee, and his refusal to accept the posi-
ton, there has heen good deal of SEN
eatIonal talk IN the papers to the effect
that the land Office will be moved from
NatchItoches to some place which il
more tolerant Of negro office holders
and a number OF hamlets IN the State
are claimants for the location.
Among the number we notice that
Baton Rouge-a somewhat Overgrown,
and very unkempt, village on the Mis-
sissippi river-ls being advocated by
our brilliant, and, generally. CHI ivaIrous,
friend VINO so ably presides oyer the
the destInies OF the Captolian Advocate
That paper says:
"A Washington dispatch say : that the
refusal Of the negro Lewis. to qualify as
register Of the United States Land office
ut Naichitoches has suggested TO the
Secretary Of the Interior ine advisable
NY Of removing that office to Baton
Rouge. We see no reasCh why the
change should not be made, The gov.
g-"-'YAssni already owns here one Of the
ln2s il tlae SsLaIaAa-
being the capital OF the State Baton
Rouge Is the center Ia which as much of
the public business should be concen-
traied and from every point of view this
Is the place for the Land Office. We
have no desire to rob Nalchitoches of
anything but tue people Of the Sta te
have Eloquent business at the Capital
Mnu Ut would make IL more convenient
for them 10 have one center ut which as
much as possible Of the business Of the
public could be transacted. Let Col.
Robertson look into The matter and If
the Secretary Of the Interior desires to
move the Office from Natchitoches il
should by all means come here.''
Now, We have very little selfish in
terest 10 this matter, because Natcnito-
ches will not miss the land Office much.
With her splendid Normal school; her
AGmerous railroads, present and pros
pective; her oil mill, Ice factory, bank,
ana the prospective compress, water
works, and other industrial institutions
too numerous 10 mention; the fertile
aelds amid which she nestles; her ever
growing trade and widening commerce;
her splendid political history, and her
enterprislng, prosperous and happy
people. whose lives illustrate tue high. !
est development Of vii the civic and 500
rial virtues, she will hardly be cOnscious
Of the departure Of the hand Office.
But our sense OF duty to the unfortu-
nate citizen who may have business be-
tore this Office inRels US to protect
against It's location at Rat on Rouge.
II the United States government IA
mad At Lewis because he won't accept
IN official position when it attempts to
thrust 1t upon hlql, and decides 10, take
II out on Lewis fellow citizens by mov-
ing an'ofice which has been located
here for half acentury, we most humo-
" beseech the powers thai be, to select
s0me place MhlUTa man can get to-. and
from. which he can rni away, withou a +
100 lavish expenditure Of cash and. cuss
words. aV g
Put 1t at WINFIELD. or Colfax, or
Leesville, or Many, or some other place
on the line Of travel; but for gracious
sake spare US from Baton Rouge.
II Is nue that our law makers have
located the penitentiaFy NJ Baton Rouge;
and great many people have wonn-
cred why such populous--we started
10 write OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, should
be placed at such an inaccessible point:
bntwhcn We reflect mat while 1t is hard
to reach, Is. If anything, harder to leave !;
ana that the unfortunate CITIZEN who ,
gees there AZ the expense OF the State,
can scarcely be czpeelcd to get away at
his own expense. and hence will be
compelled TO remain, the wisdom Of the '
legislature becomes apparent
While Il Is admirably suited In. many
respects for the penitenliary, whose I'm
Aaales oaxht to be cut of from all in
iercourse with the outside world, IL will
never do 70 put an oIlice there. with
which Business lnen have business. I