The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-02-08
FOR BETTER ROADS.

the people of the parish as worthy
Of their hearty acceptance. Mr.. Mat
thews said:
IF this parish expects to keep up
with the progressive parishes of Lou
isiana, and be able to keep abreast
of the times, and make our parish a
suitable abode for not only new com
ers, but for ourselves, we must set
to work now and build up a system
of decent roads and bridges through
out our entire parish. Several veal
thy men, who are interested in colo
riZatiOn schemes and other real es-
tate ventures, have visited this par
ish lately, and after looking over the
parish they were OutSpOken in praise
of cur people, our lands and our hos
pitaiity, Tut they said that We could
Rot possibly expect to interest any
new people in our parish as long as
we die not build better roads and
bridges.
I'VE lave here almost every nat
ural advantage which would go to
make up the very best parish in the
state for homeseekers, but our roads
and our lack of bridges scares them
away, and we must now get to work
and Systematically build up our
roads and bridges as soon as posi-
BILE. The parish has about paid off
its entire Indebtedness, owing today
less than $4,000, and with our pres
ent rate Of taxation, it is now posi-
bic to put our roads in first class or.
der, and build steel bridges across
the principal streams of the parish.
Bridge companies have signified their
willingness to build all the bridges
this parish may want and to take as
little as 25 per cent in cash for their
contracts and accept our parish GER
tif!cates for the balance payable in
from two to 10 years at per cent
interest.
IF we want to get the money
savei up to build roads and bridges,
they vii, never be built-we must
get to work and commence to build
mp these necessities like all the 9TH
er parishes Of our state are doing,
and thar is on part credit and part
cash system and give the certificates
Of this parish for the balance and
provide for their payment by a rate
CT taxation no higher than we are
now paying.
"This can be done, and done cas-
lily. A debt on this parish of $685.
900 for roads and bridges distribut-
ed over a period Of, say, ten years,
is only $4,000 year to pay off, and
it is a well-known fact that our Po-
lice Jury has been paying off as high
as $4,000 a year for the last three
years in paying off the court house
debt; so why should there be any
hesitation on the part of the people
when they can pay off a debt of
$4,000 in ten years, and have for it
4 system of steel bridges across all
The principal creeks and a system of
roads which will not be a disgrace TO
a civilizved community? 1t is we'll
known that right now in certain
parts of this parish the roads are
absolutely impossible, and this is
not in remote sections, but right in
the most densely settled parts of
the parish.
"The people who have got to build
up West Feliciana parish are the
people who own it today, and if we
do not bestir ourselves and do some
thing to attract new settlers and
make our country such country as
VIII appeal to the newcomers who
are now flocking by the thousands
to the South, we may just as we'll
make up our minds to the fact that
this parish will lag behind and nev,
er be what God intended it to be-
the very best hill parish in the
South. We have got to begin some
where and somehow, so let's hot
squabble among ourselves as to
where We are to begin, but start and
do something. 1t is absolutely rdi
CulOus to contend that this parish
is not able at this time to undertake
this most important work We are
able today to carry out the PROPOSE
ton, and it ought to be done as soor
rs possible.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. W. Bookter, Jr.
| and little DAUGHTER leave TODAY fol