The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-09-13
DR.. PENNINGTON or ELTON
ARDENT WELSH SUPPORTER
Advances Sound and Telling Argu-
Il1ents for Locating the Parish
Seat IN the Center of
the Parish.
D. Z. Read, Editor
Rice Belt journal.

D. Z. Read, Editor
Rice Belt journal.
Dear Sir:
Some few days ago while reading
an article in an old periodical | came
across tue sentence Now is the time
for all good men to come to
the aid of their country" and when
1t was read nv mind and thought
was instantly diverted from the con-
tents of the article and was soon en-
tlrely absorbed in the question OF
locating the parish of Jefferson Davis
parish, that is now being SO euthusi-
astcally agitated. After serious and
careful consideration | came to the
conclusion that if were eligible to
membership in the company of good
men, and was permitted to join bands
with my fellow men and to assist ID
locating our Court House that | could
best serve nv country and work no
hardships upon anyone, nor tread up
on their rights, and could best treat
every individual throughout the en-.
tire parish as | would have tnem
treat me by getting off the fence and
declare myself in favor of Welsh.
No man has given this question
more serious thought than myself.
And [ wish to say just here, that
am free OF malice and cherish no ILL.,
will nor animOsitv against either of
the c0ntesting points, and when | cast
nv vote and cast it for Welsh. |
shall cast it for no motive other than
to do the most good to the greatest
number of people. Every advantage
and disadvantage that has been ad-
yanced by each of the competing
points has been carefully considered
and | will say, and say it free OF
prejudice, that Welsh is the only
point that has advanced sny logical
reason why she should have the parish
seat.
1t should be every mans greatest
desire aud the height of his ambition
it matters not who he is, nor what
bis circumstances may be, to make the
parish of jeff Davis the very best Of
the three carved from old mother
Calcasieu, and if possible the best in
the state. Now to do this, and do it
IN the near future, we well know that
we will have to develope every un-
developed portion of our parish. it
matters not how remote it may be-.
The eastern portion is we'll developed
and needs no inducements, but the
western and central portion. which is
now being used largely for grazing
purposes, is very fertile but unde-
veloped, and to place the court house
ut Welsh would act as the best
media by which these portions of our
parish would soon reach the highest
state of cultivation, a thing that we
want and q thing that we could not
hope for, at least in the near future,
If the court house should be located
either at Jennings or Lake Arthur
Along educational lines it is is con
coded fact that no one thing has ac'
complished more good in recen. years
than forming districts, consolidating,
and locating schools in the center 0
these districts where they can be
easily reached by every individual.
1t occurs to me as it occurs to you
and ought to occur to others, that II
locating schools in the center OF
districts has proven effective and has
and is advancing the cause of edu.
cation in our state, we then ought to
| by all means concentrate our efforts
on the one thought, LOCATE THE
PARISH SEAT AT WELSH. THE
CENTER OF THE PARISH, for here
it would work no hardships nor any
Inconvenience to any one, and as the
criminal expense, which, as You we'll
know, has to be betrayed by the par.
ish aud which perhaps at times will
be no small sum will be far less with
the court house IN the center than at
either of the other competing points
II located there we can all 20 and at
tend to our official business and re-.
turn the same day, but If located at
either Jennings or Lake Arthur il
would be practically impossible for
many to MAKE the round trip in one
day.
AS Jennings Is one of our strong.
est competitive towns from q mercan.
tile standpoint shall vote for Welsh
for II located at the former place 1t