The Opelousas courier., 1902-02-15

VI OuC IcCouG remark.
able strides made by the capita
OF the State, the Baton Rouge
Advocate says:
Baton Rouge has grown ana improved and il
yetlmpfoving, and she offers ali the comfort
anu eonvenienccs necessary for the nIeasur,
anu anu happiness of her guests. When the Gen
tf 0fs,i assembly convenes few weeks hence, it,
nltinoers VIII lind every sidewalk paved iJ
| every direction They will find asphaltet
Stfeets, increased hotel facilities, sewerage. tht
nnese tbat ignts street railway service and watel
schools and public buildings, many of then
new and all of them elegant ~
The most recent improvements
are Il fine city hall, fine school
bullding-cost ABOUT $50, 900 each
sewerage. pavedosidewalks and
paved streets. These have cost,
or will cost, over $500, 900; but a
portion Of this amount, viz: two
thirds OF the cost of the sidewalks
and paved streets, has been OF
will be paid for by the abuttino
property owners. Once the lay
ing of the pavements was begun
the work went on, very rapidly
and very smoothly, public spirit
being aroused to that degree that
the heavy extra expense was cheer
fully borne by the individuals
whose property was beautified
and enhanced in value by these
improvements. Then began the
paving with asphalt of Third ST.,
just completed; the work had not
progressed very far before the
beauty and convenience of such
improvements were so apparent
that the. Inhabitants of Main st.
and North Boulevard were both
loudly clamoring to have these
streets paved next, figuratively
climbing over each other in al
most frantic efforts to first obtain
the privilege of paying two-thirds
of the cost of these expensive inn
provements. The City Council,
desiring not to cause any jealous
les, concluded to make contracts
for the paving Of both at one and
the same time;. and contracts for
both were therefore given out
last week at about $4,000 each,
the contractors to keep them in
good rep;tir for ten years, Bonds
bearing about 5 per cent. interest
have been issued to pay for all
these improvements, which will
be bequeathed to the rising gene
ration and in part paid for by it.
One would suppose that the rate
of taxation in Baton Rouge isevery
heavy. Not so; itls-only rs mills,
all told. The rate in Opelousas
is 81 mills. But Baton Rouge
does not pay. as we do, 10 mills
to the parish. 1t pays only 4 OF
5, and that is all we should pay.
Five mills is all that Crowley,
Rayne, and the other parish towns
in Acadia pay into the parish
treasury. why should Opelousas
and the other towns in St. Landry
more?. Yet in, the Acadia
budget for 1902, $4,000 are appro-
priated for schools, $4,000 to-
wards building a new court house,
besides $4,000 for general improve
ments, and the rate of parish tax
ation is only To- mills,=except in
the towns, where it is 5. st. Ian,
dry gives only $4,000 for schools.
Several lessons may be drawn
from these facts. One is thai
public spirit is contagious. An
other is that people will cheer.
fully pay out their money when
they can see that it brings SUBJ
stantial, tangible benefits and re-
suits, Another is that Opelousas
lis paying more than it's fair share
for the support OF, the .parochiaI
government. And there are 9th.
ers-some of which we may refer
to; at another time. Meanwhile,
here is lots tof food for reflection
/ For Rent-A small farm neal
lOpelousas suitable for marke
garden, dairy and poultry raising
with large residence and out
buildings. Possession given i'm
mediately. Apply at this Office
This place has 16 bearing pecal
trees, a large number of figs
i aLo:oo vor;af;ac eoha,,t % voun,