The Opelousas courier., 1905-09-02
Opelousas, La, Aug. 20, 1905.

Ap't
The Board of Aldermen met this day In spe-
cial session, with the following members pres
emit: b. A. Littell, Mayor, presiding; 1t G. Soil
eau. J. 8. Evans and Homer Ventre;
Absent, F. /. SandOZ and F J.. Pulf0ld.
Quorum present. =.
The Mayor then explained that the object of
calling the Board of Aldermen i'll special SEES
sion was to consider the following petition pre-
sented to him by some OF the duly qualified
electors and taxpayers of the town, praying
the Mayor and Board of Aldermen to order an
election to take the sense of the duly qualified
taxpayers of the town of Opelousas as to
whether q special tax of five mills on the dollar
should be assessed on the taxable property Of
the town of opelousas for the period of ten
years, beginning with the year 1906, in aid OF
the Colorado Southern, New Orleans s. Pacific
Railroad Company. or assigns, which said petit
ton is as follows. to-wit:
To the Honorable the Mayor and Board of AL
dermen of the Town of Opelousas, Parish
of st. Landry, State of louisiana:
The petition of the undersigned duly quail
fed voters Of the town of Opelousas respect
fully shows:
Tie petitioners are now assessed taxpayers
of said town, and were likewise such during
the year 1904; that they constitute more than
one-third Of the duly qualified electors of SAID
town who are now assessed taxpayers OF said
town and were such during the year 1904; that
in view of the benefits that would accrue to
the citizens of said town by the construction OF
parish by the Colorado Southern, New Orleans
and Pacific Railroad Company from DeQuincy,
in Calcasieu parish, to the Mississippi river, at
a point opposite or nearly opposite to the city
Of Baton Rouge. a special election should be
ordered to take the sense OF the property tax
payers of said town of OpelOusas entitled to
vote at such an election, to determine whether
q special tax OF five t) mills on the dollar, or
as much thereof as may be necessary, be levied
on all the taxable property of the town of Opel
ousas for the period of ten years. to wit: 1906.
1907, 1908, 1909, 1910. 1911, 1912, 1918, 1914 and 1915,
to raise the sum OF seventy.tive hundred dol
lars for each of said years, Or as much thereof
rs said tax of five mills on the dollar will yield,
in aid of said Colorado Southern, New Orleans
and Pacific Railroad Company or assigns; that
said tax should be voted on the express condi-
lions, viz:
1st-That the construction of said main line
of railroad be begun not later than March 1st,
1906, and completed and trains running be-
tween said town Of DeQuincy, in Calcasieu
parish, and said point on the Mississippi river
Baton Rouge, through the parish of st. Ian
dry, and the town of Opelousas, on or before
March /, 1908.
2d-That no part of said tax shall be paid to
said Railroad Company or Its assigns until
said main line shall be completed as aforesaid
between the points aforesaid.
That the ballots to be used at said election
should be of the following form. viz:
For special tax of five (6) miMs annually for
the period Of ten (lOl years., beginning will the
Orleans and Pacific Railroad Company"
against SPECIAL tax OF five f) mills annually
for the period OF ten tl0l years, beginning with
the year 1906, in aid of the Colorado Southern,
New Orleans and Pacific Railroad Company"
Wherefore. petitioners pray that a special
OF Opelousas entitled to vote at such an cleo
ton be ordered to be held according to law for
the objects and purposes above stated, as in
duty bound your petitioners will ever pray.