The weekly Thibodaux sentinel. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1898-1905, 1901-08-31
The Electric Railway.

4 oWobe, Jul PCOP'C. ouo uS"i'y %" W
the discussion is of character favor
able TO the project. In fat, we d6
/ not believe that there are half dozer
persons IN the four parishes who arc
opposed to having rapid transit A
few persons deem the project so b ne
fetal and far.reaching in its effect:
that they can scarcely believe it pos
sible Of realization.
What is feasible elsewhere, Ough'
to be practicable and easy of accom-
pIishment here. We have thlckly
settled community living along the
line of the projected railway. The
agricultural resources Of the count y
and its manufacturing possibilities
are 80 great as to eiiminats from con
slderation every element of doubt a.
TO whether the road, when built, will
be paying investment.
The Police Jury of this Parish
have, with commendabIe public spirit
granted a franchise for electric rail.
way along the public roads, under
condition that the roads shall always
be maintained in good order and al,O,
that the use Of the roads BY tie
public shall not be interfered with in
any manner. Surely. the Parish can
not be said to have given anything OF
value for nothing. If the roads are
not kept up according to the ordln.
ance Of the Police Jury, and that
body is made the judge as to whether
that condition has been fulfilled or
not. there can be q forfeiture Of th,'
franchise. 1t is q notorious fact that.
at present, under the existing road
laws, the roads are very poorly main.
tanned. Hence, it is more than likely,
that there will be, at least, an i'm
prOvement when the trolley line is
established. In the first place. good
drainage will be provided all along
the line of the railway. with tiles or
bridges across the roads. This alone
will involve q large expense and will
be vast improvement over the
present system, for it is the exception
now when good drainage of the pub
lie roads is found.
In rainy weather, the roads become
almost impossible, SO that no one
travels on them unless IN cases Of
absolute necessity. Is 1t not better,
even if the Parish were to pay a
bonus for the purpose, to have a way
to traveii rainy weather and muddy
r,ads than 10 be compelled, as at
nresnnt In remain at home cnt nfi
from all communication from tOwn
aud country alike? During the
present rainy spell. scarcely one per.
son in ten uses the public roads, for
the very good and sufficient reason
that travelling is 50 inconvcnient and
disagreeable. Muddy roads are hard
on horse fish and on man. Who i
there with 50 little public spirit and
50 little Of sympathy with his neigh
bor as tn deny his neighbor an easy
and inexpensive, and absolutely re-
liable means of locOmO,ion during
bad weather? Any man who Is
gifted with the slightest mOdIcum of
common sense will conclude, that il
the Police Jury could have secured
rapid transit for their constituents in
slI sorts of weath:r, even by paving
bonus to the promoters of the
electric railway that is projected, they
would have earned the lasting graft
tude of their people. Many com.
munities have offered the largest in.
ducemeuts for railroads to come Ia
them and connect them with the out.
sid. world. Not to 60 any farther
than Thibodaux, it is Of record that
the Town Council subscribed five
thousand dollars AMI the public
spirited citizens Of the town contri
buted a. much more for the purpose
of having railway communication
with the main liDe of the Morgan 8
Rail Road, and there is 20 one iu
Thibodaux who would dare to Use
and advocate the discODtinuauce OF
that branch line. Every one feels
that never was public money invested
to better advantage than in the Eve
mics now connecting Thibodaux with
Schriever.
Instead of paying Eve thousand
dollars, or any other sum for the pri
viIege of having a railway along Ba.
you Lafourche, where 1t will be Of in
calculabie advantage aud benefit TO
the people, as we'll IS enhancing the
value Of their property, the Police
Jury found four gentlemen who we're
willing to tax themselves to build a
line by undertaking 10 place the pub
lie roads 1: good order. Iu Oth-r
words instead Of giving aid to the en-
terprlse Of those citizens, the Police
Jury have secured very valuable
bonus themselves for the public bene.
fit. Whether The people of Lafour
che travel IN buggies. carrisg,s, carts,
or IN heavily ladeu plantation wagons,
(which later nOtO, ,ously do more TO
cut up the public roads than anything
else matter not Ia the Police Jury.
or to th" people Now. If some per
son. rhu,o,c IT, ride in car Instead