St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-01-30
COUNCIL Will ORDER
BOND ISSUE ELECTION
Board Of Aldermen, u Special Session, ADOPTS
Report d Commlfiea.
SCI, 900 ASKED TAXPAYERS
Thls % bG distributed asFoIlOMs. PeRsF Plant
$780, NaleFHoFks Extension 5000; Prl-
mary School S2f,2O0; Fire alarm 5000

The Board Of Aldermen, sitting as
q committee of the whole, in a spe-
Icial session last Friday evening,
agreed To submit to the people of
Opelousas the question as to whether
or not they are willing to levy a spe-
cial tax Of three mills for twenty
years against the taxable property Of
the city Of Opelousas, for the foIl0W-
ing purposes and the following
amounts:
WaterWorks and Electric Lights
Plant, $50, 900.
Extension Of WaterWorls and
Lights, $4,000.
Primary School, $2l 200.
Fire Alarm System, $4,000.
Total $67, 200.
The City Attorney will prepare The
necessary ordinances, and Che Board
at its next meeting will order the
election, To take place at an early
date.
1t was deemed the policy of Wis
dom to ask the people only for
those utilities which are absolutely
necessary, items the establishment Of
which can brook no dalay. The mat
ter Of sewerage, drainage and pave
ment was discussed, but the gentle
men of the council agreed that it
was not advisable to submit these to
the people at this time; that such
course might endanger the passage
of the measures which were impera-
tive to the life Of the city.
There should be no opposition to
this special tax. The taxpayer who
will vote against any one of these
projects will not only be voting
against his town, but against himself
as well.
He will be voting against the educa-
zion of his children and his neighhors
children.
he Will be voting against the pro.
tection from fire Of his own home
and the homes Of his neighbors.
He will be voting for the abandon
ment of an electric light and water
plant that has cost him and his fellow
taxpayers much money and time inA
obtaining, or the selling of the plant
TO private corporation that will load
him and his fellow-taxpayers down
with exorbitant charges for water
and light, far in excess Of the paltry
three mills tax he might pay for the
bond issue.
He will be voting to deprive his
fellow taxpayers living on the out
skirts from enjoying the privileges
enjoyed by their more fortunate
brothers who have electric lights and
Waterworks, notwithstanding that all
paid takes alike.
The citizens of The city Of Opel
ousas should show unanimitv III vot-
ing for these necessary improve
ments that the echo will be heard
throughout the land.
The laundering majority given The
bond issue should be SO overWheln-
ing that our children will il future
years look back with gratitude and
pleasure at the action Of their parents
who made the small sacrifice Of three
mills On the dollar to arm them for
the world battle; that the widow as
we'll as the rich man when her or his
house is saved from destruction BY
fire through the protection Of mod
ern fre-fghting system, viii offer
thanks to the whole town for having
voted tile tax that made sue p0ssi5iie;
that the housewife and the business
man will look at tie bright burning
light in the home and in the business
place, and remember the voters Of
Opelousas; that the inhabitant of the
outskirts when he sees himself enjoy
ing the same privileges all the man
of the busy street will look with kind
ness to oil the voters; and that the
whole country will look with admira-
tion upon "0pelousas Beautiful (