The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-02-17
Go The Caucasian. }


When great minds are employed i'll
solving a problem, what is termed the
small fry or common people are not sup
posed to ask questions or offer sugges-
lions. but being the son OF rebel | may
have inherited some rebellious incllna-
tons which may explain the presump-
ton in my attempt at this letter. La
borers haven't the means to buy or the
time to read all Of our local papers,
hence we can not be posted on the issues
of the day: but from what we can learn
on the park proposition it seems to us
that there is change of our mayor los
ing his reputation of being one of the
greatest financiers i'll this State, if he IS
Judged by his management of our city 5
finances.
Economy is said to be the secret of
success, whether true or false we know
not, but we believe economy should have
some consideration especially while we
are taxed within one-eightl of mill OF
the limit of taxation allowed i'll this
State. It is rulnored that
THE MAYOR HAS A SCHEME
BY which the park bonds may be ISSUED
and the people taxed far above the limit
of taxation allowed by the laws of this
State. We don't believe much in
schemes. for it is evident that there has
been entirely too much schemIng among
our politicians, National, State and
municipal, for the best interest of the
people. If more taxes must be collected
| it can be done without violating any law
We suggest that all the property III orl
city be taxed in the same ratio to valllt
as the laborers' homes, and we believe
there would be enough taxes to meet al
obligations and some for graft if such ;
thing could be possible
Parks are very nice. but there art
many things to be considered IN connec
| ton with them.
When our mayor and city father
make all expenditure of money for ther
families, they certainly see that all ne
cessities are provided before any lux
uries are bought.
The necessity and value of park to
city can only be determined by the den
sitv of its population and the number o
people who will share the benefits of
park. If all the people had homes lik
the homes on part of Jordan street an
a part of Fairfield avenue, with tn
beautiful shade trees. paved street,
large lawns and beautiful flowers, tn
CITY would be one park and no need c
, any more: but if there were thousand
! of people living in crowded flats VIII
had no place to rest out OF their oW
dark rooms except on fire escape c
curb stone, there would be cry1n
demand for parks if the people could G
to them.
If we had park could any one r1o
ten or fifteen miles on street car II
sc to reach the park, then be entertaine
by the music of an orchestra or bar
paid BY the street car company "
read of our mayor reducing street c;
fares by compelling the car company
issue transfers.
!; WHAT HAS BECOME OF TIA
PROMISE?
Tell us how we are to get to the par
and what it will cost. If the parks
J. to be automobile drives only few W
5 enjoy them. and the common herd wou
70 be safer at home, but if the parks
o for the people the majority will have
10 walk or 90 on street car. From t
s information we have, it seems that
70 will be necessary to build road to t
10 park. That will mean a I5c car fare
i. reach the park. As the average fam
@ consists of FIVE, it will cost large pc
centage of us $I.5o to take our famill
to the park.
: But how about city hall? We have
beautiful place to put hall Cor 1t wot
be beautiful il the hall was there:
present it looks like the ruins of so
= ancient city,. The people voted for
\ hall to be built and they have place
build it, but we have not heard of
- scheme to carry out the work A c
hall is necessity Will our city faith
give us necessities or luxuriese
ldont know the amount of rents be-