St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-03-27

ish in the way OF taxation; that bne
lands that will remain to the mother
parish are for the most part culti-
waited in cotton, and not adapted to
rice culture, and their value for the
production Of cotton on account Of
the boil Weevil incursion has rendered
them practically non-productive for
cultivation; that the territory that
will remain to the mother parish in
case of division embraces all the
eastern portion Of the parish,
il mainly an alluvial formation, and
is ~traversed by numerous rivers and
streams, requiring an extensive and
expensive system Of bridges and high
WAYS for the use and convenience of
the people, and the burden of main
tanning the same will fall exclusively
upon the taxpayers of the old parish,
while the territory embraced within
the limits of the proposed new par
ish contains very little swamp, and is
for the most part high land eligible
and suitable for habitation and culti-
walton; that the mother parish will IN
case of the creation of the parish Of
EVangeline be compelled under the
provisions Of the law to account to
and pay over to the authorities Of the
new parish its due proportion Of the
value of the assets and property
which now belong to the parish Of st.
Landry, and which will amount to a
very considerable sum; that the main
tenance Of the bridges, roadWays and
public works Of the mother parish in
case Of division cannot be maintained
without an increase of taxation above
that levied at present upon the already
over-burdened tax payers of the
mother parish, and that it will, as
petitioners verify believe and SO be-
lieving charge, require an increase of
the present burden Of taxation To
provide sufficient revenue to MAIN
tain the bridges, highways and public
works Of the mother parish, and to
account to the new parish for it's due
share Of the assets ard property now
belonging to the parish of ST. Landry.
Petitioners specially refer TO the
map attached hereto, and which
shows the proposed line Of the div
ision, and the swamp area that will
constitute a portion Of the territory
Of the mother parish to the extent
of nearly the half thereof, in case
the parish be divided as proposed in
said act.
Petitioners further represent that
they are large taxpayers, having
considerable real estate within the
City Of 0pelousas and beyond its cor
porate limits, nearly all Of which is
within the limits of the mother par
ish In case division is carried, and
nearly all of which viii be effected in
value by the proposed division; and
in addition to the causes above set
forth their property and holdings
situated within The City OF Opelousas
will be materially diminished in value
by the establishment of another
county seat within the territory now
forming the parish of st. Landry, and
which will necessarily cause the with
drawal from 0pelousas of much Of
the business and Importance which III
now derives from the fact that it is
the county seat of SO large a terri
tory, inhabited by a numerous popu-
lation;
Now, petitioners represent that
the division Of the parish as propos-
ed in said act will for the reasons set
forth above cause them damage and
loss, largely exceeding two thousand
dollars, and which damage, unless
arrested will be perpetual and ire
mediabl6.
They further represent that they
in common with their fellow parish
toner's have always felt great pride
and satisfaction from the influence
and prestige which the Parish of st.
Landry, from its great territory and
population, has ever exercised among
its sister parishes, and Of which
pride and satisfaction, petitioners in
common with their fellow parishion-
ers will be forever deprived By the
dismemberment of the parish as pro-
posed in said act,
And finally petitioners aIlege that
the division of the parish Of st. Lam
dry as proposed in said act, will work
lrreparable injury to them and to all
their fellow parishioners, and would
be a public calamity, from which to
save them, they invoke the interpo-
Of the great Judicial power of
The State.
Wherefore, premises considered,
petitioners pray, that the said Board
of Supervisors Of Election, M. L.
swords, Sheriff, and the publishers of
The ST. Landry Clarion be made de-
tendants and cited herein; and that
5he said Board of Commissioners Of
Election be prohibited and enjoined
from publishing a notice of said spe-
sial election, from appointing COM
to hold same, from print
or causing TO be printed or dis
5ributed any ballots for said election