The Opelousas courier., 1904-09-10
-~ OFFICE OF~E~
@DeIusas, Gulf and 0V0rzheaStefn 07aHWaY co.

ODeJOUSUS, LM, September L, i9O4.
DEAR sR-T enclose q COW of resolutions adopted by the Board of Drecorso OF the
Opeouxu, Gulf & Northeastern Railway Co, at meeting held IN The 9th OF August go4
and which embody the pn unanimously agreed to by the members OF said bo"a changing
The objections which we're urged against the original plan made change necessary
and the board after much earnest consideration adopted the changes set e oh IN 1he 1eson-
friend of om railroad enterprise, but also to those who have hitherto oppsedit
Special attention is called to the following salient fHtres of the new plan:
FErt-The taxpayers whose money viii mainly construct the road will own it. and
it cannot be disposed of without their consent
taxes they pay for its benefit and receipts fol- the payment of taxes ill have IN asgabe
vaue transferable by the simple endorsement of the taxpayer OF bona fe holder -,
connletm of the road through the respective wards and as % the first police jury ward of
the parish Of St Landry no portion Of the fund paid by the taxpayers G% Of THAT ward I'd. will WILDE be
& Pacific Railway, Or system of railway parling that road
will be returned to the taxpayers, with the accumulated Interest tere"n,s should the road lot
Fih-In order to prevent the ne. road from falling under the control OF the South
en Pacific Railway Company ad in order to guarantee competition with tatr road NJ
transfer of stock can legally be made, directly {" indirectly to noncompehng railway
Special attention is also directed to the Feature of the plan which prohibits the cea-
the fact that the subscribers to the capital stock who have contributed $4,000 toward the
payment of the suryey. and other preliminary expenses ha!e taken stock at pr t & 1.-The
contribution More than this can be said in proof Of their umselhsh support OF his great
ees shall get back the amounts PAID by them to secret the construction of this new road and
with interest nc provision whatever is made for the reimbursement of the original sub@1O-
es to the capital stock in ease the failure of the enterprise
Another feature of the new plan that ought to commend itself specially to the tax
payers is the provision 9 ngl giving then en- a proprietary hy Interest IN tine rodc IN proportion a%a to n the
ad exceptional It's certainly very equitable M In the older States where a eEim-
posed tax has ohn benr sord to in aid of the construction of public enterprises, stock IF
paid has in some instances been given to the ward or county in which the the tax was e F@
t Ms soGd 5T RpPG s@ a n asnDee to r& S@h it m %ens sho eidB bsy smpi ho ssts S ee amount " the
1t shoud also be mentioned that this corporation has no list Of sahred officials, and
and exceoing he seretry Who asa comensahon for the large mount of respondent
and clerical work h is required to do receives the moderate stipend of $25 per month
ced to defer further action in the prosecution Of their enterprise until the public and epec-
tally the property Taxpayers of the several wards through which the projected road will
pass have been fully informed Of the details of the nwp plan. and have had ample time to
consider the subject matter and form an intelligent judgment in the premises. Meanwhile
stand for for the progress ad development Of the Country and the Welfare Of ali classes of@r
people to rally to the support of the pubGcsTrted men and women who are giving their
time, talents and influence unsefshy ad Daloudy to the aid of the Opel"nas Gulf &
Very respectfully, your obedent servant THos. H LEWIS, President