New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1913-03-15
THE BOND ISSUE.

In "A recent issue, we devoted
some space TO the subject of Good
Roads and called attention to the
plan of the Police Jury of visit
inc every ward in the Parish and
holding meetings where this all
important subject could he dis
cussed in all its phases. TINS
self imposed task. often irksome
and sometimes attended by dlS-
comforts. is undertaken, not witn
the hope Of personal gain or
profit. but that the entire COM
munity might be benefited. The
citizen in turn should do ms
share. and by attending the meet
ings ana thoroughly throshng ont
the subject. help III the solution
of the road problem For thirty
wears or more n plan has been
in vogue whereby the money bud
yolcd TO the roads has been ap-
nortioued ont TO the different
wards. and has been used under
direction Of the Police Jrror IN
filing n mud hole here, repairing
n bridge there. and opening
hitch elsewhere, resulting IN moth
mo more than the expenditure %
the money. The bog hole today
i
are plentiful. the bridges rs bnd
and the drainage as faulty as III
the start. Nor are those VINO
lahorcd thus to no purpose 10
blame. They did the very best
with the means at their disposal.
The system however has been
faulty, and a change N that sys-
tom becomes necessary to obtain
results Ia road building and mann
tenance.
With this in view. the Police
jury has formulated pan
which is now being presented to
the taxpayers who are invited TO
criticize. advise and assist III per
fcciing il This plan does not
contemplate, m is charged by
many. an additional tax but SIM
ply capitalization OF the present
road revenues so as 10 permit the
of funds necessary TO DO
a work otherwise impossible. Tho
State Constitution torbids n leVce
of more that ten mills Tor IA
rochial affairs except with tn"
express consent Of the assessed.
iberia il now and has always col
lecied these ten mills and does
moi ask for more. These ten mills
Weld approximately $4,000 an
nually which are expended about
on this wise. $4,000 goes TO de-
fray expenses of Court, salaries
of officers and the many incident
ais usual to the conduct of pub
lie affairs $15, 600 TO the educa-
ton of the children, and the re
$4,000 TO roads and
bridges
IT is now proposed to discon
tinue the old system and utilize
the $4,000 Of road funds as
would a competent business man
in like circumstances BY taking
three mills from the ten mills
and dedlcating the revenue de-
rived 10 special road fund an
of 100000 could he Dor
rowed and bonds bearing five per
cent. interest and running for a
period of twenty years. issued for
the liquidation Of the debt. This
would then permit every road
in the Parish to be reconstructed
and properly drained; and the
avail of the three mills suffice to
pay the interest and retire the
bonds in annual series of $1,000
aud besides leave maintenance
fund growing yearly in proper
ton to the reduction of the in
terest debt.
This plan strikes MS as being
not only feasible. but sound in
business principal and its adop-
ton would result in untold good
to the entire community.
Let us aequiest in the Jury s
request and terminate forever
Iberia s unenviablc distinction
For bad roads.