The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-06-20
it appears to be necessary to under
take this work at once.
The Lighting Plant.

The Lighting Plant.
Regarding rates of taxation: Il
case the lectric light and water
plant make any money, it can bt
applied to the payment of thes
bonds, and the rate of taxation re-
duced. If enough money is made tt
care for the outstanding indebted
ness, then no taxes need be levied.
1t has been suggested that WI
wait until the Legislature meets in
1912 and obtain therefrom authority
to issue bonds as against the light
plant and the water plant, thus
avoiding the necessity of is
suing city bonds and imposing 6
tax. If this is done the city be-
comes the guarantor of the bonds,
and it is still debt due by the peo-
jle. The plan | suggest is, in effect,
the same thing, and has the advant-
age of being started now instead of
two or three years from now.
From the standpoint of health
conditions will be improved upon
the completion of the new intake
direct from Red River, and will be
still more improved when Cross
Lake becomes available. From the
standpoint of fire protection, work
should be begun Immediately if we
would keep pace with Shire, eport's
wonderful progress.
Regarding lighting bonds, I will
say that l believe the city should
acquire and own this utility. Some
citizens disagree with me, bul the
matter should be threshed out and
settled at once.
Others will bring the merits Of
the State Fair Park bonds to tie at
tention of the public. I shall vote
for their issuance.
The city is badly in need of fur-
ther facilities for handling its poor
and delinquent children and women.
No one should object to this cha .iey.
My idea is to devote this sum for
the purpose of taking care of ali
those cases. which, for good reasons
can not be cared for at the Training
School or at the Orphanage. Both
Of these institutions, as well as the
Home for the Homeless, are doing a
fine work, but we still have a class
of people who, if taken into these
would hamurr and, in
some cases nullify their efforts.
The City Jail.
A tall building on the lot adionl-
ing the City Hall would seriously
with its usefulness. In a T.
dition to this, we need a llodern
humanitarian Jail, The city Jail is
large enough for present needs, but
it is excessively hot in the suIfnrcr
and cold in winter. The sanitary ar
rangements are abominab!a. The
jail, as-it now is. is a disgrace to the
city, and should be torn down and
a new one built. When this is
done, it should be erected on city
The city now pays $3.50
per year for the use of the land o.
cupied by the city Jail.
Fire Department.
The fire department needs
strengthening. Two new automobile
steamers and one new autoGiobile
chemical and hose wa
gon are necessary. The frame
at Nos. Sand 4 should &c
torn down. l want $4,000 to pur-
chase a lot at or near the intehsec-
tion of Jordan Street and Texas
Avenue and erecting a modern brick
there. This should be
equipped with an automobile
steamer and an automobile combin-
alton wagon. We could go out west
Jordan and Pierre Avenue to Allen
dale, or out to Southern or Fair
field to Colonial Hill, or out Texas
Avenue to that district now served
by Company 4. The presnt equip
ment might be installed out near
the Harriet Street yiaduct, where
it could serve both West Shreve-I
port and Queensborough. This is
most important.
| am very anxious to provide q
subway at the K G. S. and Texas
Avenue crossing. The sum of S25,
600 will assure this and go a long
way towards eliminating other dam
gerous places.
The Council desires, above all, the
of the City of Shreve-I
port and her citizens. At present,
we are busy getting ready for paw
ing, but after a few weeks this work
will be in such shape as to permit
of other undertakings. In the mean
time, I suggest thorough discus