The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-08-24
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS
It is Proposed to Build a
School House, a Market
and an Extension
OF the Waterworks and
Electric Lights. .

to the taxpayers of this town for their sigma
lures, and, we are pleased to say, only six
seven persons have, far, refused to
sign it:
To the Hon. Mayor and Members of
the City Council of Lafayette, Lave,
the undersigned property taxpayers of the
corporation of Lafayette, Louisiana, being
Der of property taxpayers of said town, en-
titled to vote under the provisions of the
State constitution, respectfully show:
That the following described public inn
provementS are urgent public necessities in
said town, to-wit:
/. Grounds and buildings for first-class
modern high school flor white chIldren),
requiring not less than $40, 900.
2. The extension of the water mains of
said town, for the extinguishment of fire,
and other purposes, and also the extension
of the electric light system for additional
street lights, and for private lighting requir-
ing not less than $4,000.
8. Ground and building for frst-class
public market house, requiring not less
than 10000.
And petitioners further show that there
are no funds in the treasury of said town to
acquire and construct said improvements,
and that same con only be required by the
levying, assessing and collecting of special
taxes therefor and issuing bonds thereon.
4. And petitioners further show that
there are outstanding 5000 of six per cent
OOnOS issued unQcr ACt NO. go or the ACtS
OF the Legislature of 1896, to obtain the
present water and light system of this town,
and that it is to the best interest of said town
that said bonds should be called in and re-
placed by five per cent bonds with greater
length of time for redemption.
WHerefo>e, we respectfully petition your
honorable body to order a special election in
said town of Lafayette, Louisiana, under
the constitution and laws of the State, for
the purpose of ascertaining and determining
AI,o~ &C. h AocS~ IS
the property taxpayers of said town of La
fayette, that special taxes based upon the
assessed valuation of property of said town
to the official rolls, be assessed
levied and collected, for twenty-five years,
with the year 1902, at the rates
and for the purposes hereinafter set forth,
upon which tax, and the public faith and
credit of said town, negotiable bonds shall
be issued by the City Council of said town,
in such denominations may be found
mum interest, payable in twenty-five years
Interest payable annually with right to call
in the same said tax is collected. And
the rates of said taxes and the purposes for
which they levied and intended, and
said bonds issued, are now declared to be
as follows:
1. To procure grounds and buildings for
a first-class modern public high school in
dollar upon the assessed valuation of prop
erty aforesaid, shall be levied and collected,
upon which tax bonds shall 0e issued for
the sum of twenty thousand dollars.
2. For the extension of the water mains
and light system as herein above set forth,
a special tax of five eighths of mill
the dollar upon the assessed valuation of
property aforesaid, shall be levied and
upon which bonds shall be issued
for the sum of ten thousand dollars.
3. To procure the ground and building
for a frst-class public market house,
special tax of one and one-fourth mills
the dollar upon the valuation of property
aforesaid, shall be levied and collected, and
upon which bonds shall be issued for the
sum of twenty thousand dollars.
q. To retire and replace the outstanding
bonds issued under Act No. go of 1896, for
the present water and light system, special
tax of one and seven-eighth mills on the
dollar of the assessed valuation aforesaid,
shall be levied and collected, and upon
which bonds shall be issued for the sum of
thirty thousand dollars.
All of which taxes shall be levied and
collected, and said bonds issued, for the
time and in the manner as herein above set
forth, and the title to said Improvements
shall be in said municipality, and subject to
the control of said City Council, and said
bond shall not be sold for less than par.
And we further petition that said prop
ositions be submitted to the qualified voters
at said special election, in such manner that
the voter may vote separately On each,
s.for'' ssagainst,'' as he may desire.
1t is obviously unnecessary for to expa-
tiate upon the plan clearly set forth in the
petition. 1t is understood that the levying
Of the proposed tax will not increase the
present rate of taxation. The fivemill tax,
which is being collected for the payment of
the waterworks and electric light bonds,
will be discontinued the day that the new
tax is levied, because the plan is to call in
the outstanding bonds. The fourth propo-
sition the petition refers to the matter
of bonds. AS explained in the petition it is
a distinct proposition to be voted On sepa-
rately. 1t is, however, the foundation of
the plan and it must first be adopted before
the other propositions can be made effective.
In other words, if proposition No. is de-
feated the whole plan falls to the ground.
Proposition No. provides for the ex-
penditure of not less than $40, 900 for the
purchase of suitable grounds and the build
ing thereon of a modern school house for
the use of the white children of the town.
We do not think that any argument is nee
essary to convince intelligent person of
the necessity of a new school building. The
present buildings are clearly inadequate.
The second proposition provides for the
of the waterworks and electric
light plant. For this work not less than
$4,000 is to be spent. 1t is well known
that the plant, in its present condition, fails
to meet the requirements of this community.
The residents in several streets have not had