St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-08-21
GOOD ROADS PLAN.
Wants the State TO Sell Penal Farms, and
Place Every Able Bodied Convict Build.
ing Public Roads In the State.

to a notable speech delivered BY Gov
ernor Sanders, address of welcom,
from Mayor Bynum, and a number d
impromptu talks from representatives
Of levee boards and police iuries d
the parishes between the Capital and
Crescent City.
Every parish is represented. as are
both the big cities, and all the com.
mercial and political organizations Of
this territory. While the attendance
might have been larger with better
weather. it could not have been more
representative.
Comment was general on the fact
that the police jury of Baton Rouge
has pointed the way to the other
parishes by ordering at its meeting
this week immediate construction Of
the first link in the proposed great
highway on the East bank Of the
first river; while the City Council Of
Baton Rouge was congratulated for
its prompt action in providing for a
macadamized street to the limits to
connect with this road.
GOVERNORS ADDRESS.
The Governor called attention to
the wasted money and effort spent i'll
advisably on roads, saying Enough
money has been spent on public roads
Of Louisiana during last twenty years
to build permanent highways from
one end of the State to the other
and yet no roads, despite honest
spendingF'
His most striking suggestion for
Louisiana was embodied in this SEN
tence:
Il would rather see the Board Of
Control sell every piece of farm land
it has save one, keep it as a receiving
station, and put all the able-bodied
convicts at work in Louisiana on the
plan here outlined. # this is done,
then we can expect to see the roads
Of Louisiana put upon a permanent
lasting basis. It is the purpose Of
the Board Of Control to sell some Of
the farms It has, not to buy any more,
thus enabling US to use the entire
able bodied convicts."
He sketched the present system Of
pouring money into mudholes, summed
the expenditures, compared the con-
dition here with conditions in States
where different systems had been used.
and with Europe where splendid roads
exist.
you can build nothing permanent
on the 'installment plan,n he said.
he elaborated his plea for par
ishes to capitalize their pro-
posed expenditures Of many
years. so that none, could be
spent to better advantage. He point
ed out that a parish never attempted
to build a courthouse by spending
i've thousand q year for ten years, or
twenty-but capitalized the expend-
built at once, and paid off du-
ring the long period Of time.
Then he proposed the plan for the
highways from New Orleans to Baton
L. That the road be laid out by
The State Board of Engineers, To-
the road wherever in their
Judgment il should be. This service
will cost the parishes nothing, as
these officials being salaried officers
If the State, place their services at
she disposal Of the parishes, and cost
nothing save the actual expenses
While engaged in the work.
2. After the road shall have been
surveyed and laid ont by the State
Board Of Engineers, the construction
thereof is under the direction of che
States Government experts,
by the Bureau Of Good
Roads and their services are free.
8. The actual work to be done by
camps and their services are
cost to Che parishes, beyond
heir keep and guarding, which ex-
Heard, President Of the
board of Control, estimates, in any
.ase. will not exceed ten dollars per
month per man.
He concluded as follows:
The ultimate desire Of Us who have
AIKEN this matter uD il Ia connect