The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-02-22
CONN NlCATION.
Wakefield. La. Feb. II 10

|
In reply to your criticism of my
letter l beg leave to submit the fol
lowing.
A deep sense of gratitude and Oh
legation for the honors conferred on
me by my fellow citizens, and a full
knowledge of how little able they
are to meet any increase in taxa
ton, is my reason for taking up the
| matter of good roads in their behalf
MY record as a citizen of our state
and parish is we'll known to our oeo.
pie and speaks for itself. Neither
censufe nor praise from any source
can add to or detract therefrom. And
be it known, I would not alter it a
single jot if | could.
But nay course, be it good or bad,
right or wrong, is not the question
at issue. Therefore one can only in.
fer that it is brought in, to quote
our distinguished neighbor, Governor
Vardaman, in order to muddy the
waters.
| take it that the question of
good roads is not a political but an
economic one. And The True Demo-
crat only weakens it's case in trying
to give it a personal tinge.
1t further Weakens it's case by treat
ing every one who disagrees with
its findings, as an enemy not only
of good roads, but as public enc
my,
Now as a matter Of fact / don't
know of man in our parish who
is not in favor of good roads. The
writer wishes now and forever to
set at rest his status as to good
roads. He is in favor of the very
best roads that the means of the
people will allow. But he is not in
favor of building them on long wind
ed credit, for the very plain reason
that they would cost about twice as
much as if built for cash. Again one
job. the road building should be COM
pleted before the other job of bridge
constructing is begun, Ordinary pru-
dence demands this.
Further, we believe that the roads
can be best and most economically
built by the people themselves in
their own wards. The roads of the
Ind, 9th, 3rd, and 4th wards all run
in straight lines towards st. Francis
vile, each ward having a main tho
roughfare leading directly there. The
people from each of these roads use
their own main roads in going to
town, until they merge into the 1st
ward road or st. Francisville's streets
What is to prevent these wards Or
ganizing and either jointly or sever
ally working their own roads and
seeing to it that every dollar col
lected is put where it will do most
good
The 5th ward is especially we'll To-
Gated to be organized into a road
district. The people in the upper
part of this ward do all their bust
ness at Norwood and Wilson. Those
in the central and eastern part
trade in Jackson. The main roads in
these two parts of the ward lead 10
these towns. 1t would therefore be
nanifestly unjust to ask them to
pay taxes to work roads they never
use. The roads in the western part
of the ward lead to St. Francisville,
and could be easily worked with the
tax collected on this side of the mid
die prong of Thompson's creek.
The 10th, 9Th, 9TH and Sth wards
could organize Jointly or separately
along the same lines and work their
roads.
This is the plan pursued in Mis-
stssippi, where the beats, subdivis-
ion of the counties, corresponding
to the wards with lis. organize for
road building. The counties are also
authorized with the approval of the
people by election to issue road
bonds. Are we less able to handle
this matter than our neighbours?
To sum up: Building roads by
wards means building them at once,
with the cash. Building on long
winded credit means getting them
how and when you can, and paying
two prices for them.
You speak of state and federal aid
for roads. Be it known whenever
federal or state aid is given, U. S..
or State engineers take charge, and
standard roads are built. These roads
cost anywhere from $4,000 to $4,000
per mile, and are therefore out of
the question.
AS we have managed to get along