The Opelousas courier., 1900-08-04
The Public Road Question.
BRISTOL P. o., July 81, 1900.

81. OIAAS4OA W. OuiJ oAs y
Editor COURIER -
Mr.. j. X. Sandoz gave in your issue of
the 26th the report made by the commit
tee on the building of Public Roads he
says that the resolutions presented to
the Police Jury by this committee were
unceremoniously tabled and so will
every report or idea presented by any
committee or private individual on Pub
lie roads be treated and our parish will
continue to evince ideas of which our
neighbors will take advantage, as Mr..
Sandoz stated ; and we will have the
credit of being great takers and little
doors, as the saying goes.
When | learned that the Police Jury
had appointed a committee to devise
means to build up the public roads OF
this parish, | wrote Mr.. SandOz that |
had at Il considerable expense purchased
a road machine and built four miles of
road last year for the parieh for the
sum of $4,000, and that this year l had
tried a new plan, viz l surveyed my
road and found that l had four
| charged each individual $3.50 for his
twelve days due to the road. | also
stated that we had a traction engine,
and that I thought it cheaper to work
roads with the machines than with
teams, and requested the Police Jury
to ALLOW me to make a test which would
not have cost the parish one cent. No
action was taken in regard to my prop
Osition. | wish to state that my exper-
iment has proven to be o perfect sue
cess; every inch of the road which | am
appointed to oversee a miles) was
worked and put in first class condition
for the paltry sum of $4,000, and cost
each person owing duty on same $3.50.
| must add that there is not u single
individual that regrets SO small an
amount expended for q good road, and
yet are relieved of IL days work. |
am beseiged every day by neighbOrs to
undertake their roads; even parties
from Acadia parish are axi0us for me to
build their roads; and as | learn that
Acadia has strong bridges, tame ami
mails and brave and progressive citizens
who will not scare at the sight of a
traction engine building their roads /;
and will drag my machinery over the
border of st. Landry with teams, l will
go to work in Acadia if the people over
there will give me living chance.
SOME IDEAS OF WHICH OUR NEIGHBoRs
WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE.
In conclusion | wish to give my rea-
sons for strongly urging those in power
not to discourage any private individ-
ual who is aiding with his time, labor,
and especially with his money, in build
ing roads. My ida ia that if q few
good roads could be built throughout
the parish by private individuals that
the people would soon learn to appre-
ciate good roads. and would be willing
TO be taxed to obtain same. The proof
that / am correct is, after my road was
built, as | stated before, others are will
ing to have their roads built at their
expense. | wish to further state that l
approve of the report made by MI. San
dOz of the Committee on Public Roads,
aud as a citizen and taxpayer, tender
the COURIER my thanks for the defense
it is making in behalf of the people, and
trust it will continue to expose any and
every INSCRIPTIONS individual or body
of men who gobbles the money of the
people. It is time for the taxpayers to
wake mp and shake off the lathargy that
has gotten hold of them, and vigorously
protest against the money OF their par
ish being ~sqHandered.
Respectfully,
T.. T. SIBILLE.