St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1913-09-20
munICa
Clarion.

nv position as member of the
City Council on the all-important
subject of street paving, | beg
that you give me space in your
good paper for the following:
I am heartily in favor of I'M
proving our streets; no one can
desire good streets more than |.
But / want the work gone at in
an intelligent, economical man.
ner. | want the funds distrib-
uted and expended so as to re-
suit in the greatest benefit to
the gaeatest number. If | may
be permitted to use a slang eX-
preston, ! want to see the peo-
pie Of this City get as much
sugar for their dime as possibly
can be had. This is the reason
why | moved to postpone the
street paving until March 1st.
next, As I view the matter,
this Is not the time Of the year
to 90 at the work for many rea-
son, among which may be chiefly
cited the following:
Increase cost of the work, by
reason of probable bad weather.
End. Increase cost of the
work by reason of the higher
wages prevailing at this season,
and the scarcity of labor.
3rd. Increased cost of work
by reason of the increased cost
Of transportation, both by rail
and wagons. Teams at this sea-
son are in great demand; rail-
roads are congested with freight.
The quantity Of material will be
very great and if its transporta-
ton is deferred to the dull
spring or summer months, |
have no doubt but a material re-
duction could be obtained on
freight.
18th. The probable inferior
work, re G from bad
weather more or less certain to
be encountered at this season.
1t must be borne in mind that
work will require considerable
time, and even if pushed. could
hardly be reasonably expected
to be completed until well in
January.
9Th. The parties who bid will
take all these possibilities into
consideration and add according
~ to the price of their bids.
9th. Further, | think it very
unwise to go to work digging up
and interfere with the traffic on
our principal streets at this sea-
son. It is said that the work
will not interfere with traffic.
Now | respectfully submit that
this cannot be so. 1t is bound
to interfere with traffic. Our
streets are narrow and how can
the work be carried on SO as not
to impede passage?
Country people finding astreet
being worked on are not IA
miliar enough with the town to
know how to get around the
impeachment. The very news
spread in the country will deter
many from coming with their
produce.
7th. Further, this is the har-
vest season; labor is scarce and
for the town to go to work and set
itself up as an opposition bidder
for labor against the farmers is
the worst of policies. We need
the country people. We want
to save their crops and
them to town, and we
should not outbid them for the
necessary labor and cause them
TO either lose part of their crops
DR. to save them at an increased
,ost.
9Th. Further, at this season
abor finds plentiful employment
It good wages. In the spring
n d s u ms m e employment is
icarce, times dull and the ex-
of money during the
lull months would materially
,enefit the town.
I'm conclusion I desire to say
hat while / am heartily in favor
{ public improvements. still II
that our enthusiasm
be tempered with pru-
ence.
Yours truly,
L. j.. DANIEL. /