The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-06-28
MlURIn's MEMOIRS.
Outgoing Mayor Reviews Leading
Events in city's History and
Points to Few Of Many Notable
Accomplishments of His Fruitful
administrations


Administrations
On the occasion of the brilliant ex
ercises held in City Park June 4
TO commemorate the Inauguration O.
the commission form Of government
for Donaldsonyille, outgoing Mayor
Charles Maurin delivered the follow
Ing interesting yaledictory:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gen
tlemen
Aacentury ago marks the incorpora
ton of this beautiful city, the origi
nal site comprising Donaldsonville or
the west and UnionVille on the east
both places being amalgamated by
legislative enactment of the year
1873.
This charter of 1913 was the or.
ganic law of the town until the
troublous days of 1870, when by leg
islative act of that year the old Or
der passed into the great beyond.
| regret that. can mention only a
few ante-bellum mayors under the
charter of 1878, among them Andrew
Gingry, 1871; Robt. w. Boyd, 1847;
T. V. Jarray, I84S; P. R. Atkinson,
1s49; and Mayor Walker, who in
1858, when called upon by the com
mander of the invading fleet to sur
render the town and haul down the
Bonnie Blue Flag" refused, left for
parts unknown, and subsequently en-
listed in the armies fighting for
southern independence. With none
to repel them except non-combat-
ants, civilians, women and children,
the battle" of Donaldsonyille follow
ed the departure of the last mayor
under the charter of 1913. This. ssbat-
tie was the Smelling OF the town and
applying of the torch by the invaders.
In 1870, upon the adoption of the
charter of that year, (Act 1929,
among the first mayors were mem
bers of the newly enfranchised race,
followed conspicuously by an adyen-
turous gentleman from New York,
Mr.. E. w. Mason, who no sooner
landed here, carpet bag in hand,
than presto! he became by executive
appointment the chief magistrate of
the town. Apparently the origina-
ator of dual office holding, Mayor
Mason was also parish judge, mem
Der and president OF the school
board, and no doubt but for oar
warm climate and warmer welcome
would have been something else.
It was under this Infamous charter
that the good people of this town
suffered, the loss of Mayor Schonberg
and Judge W. C. Lawes, victims of
The foulest assassination in the his
5ory Of those bloody days. Martyrs,
hey are yet 1amented. They died
hat the town might live.
The dawn of better day, the
of the towns better
nent, became apparent in later
1ears. when Victor Maurin was
chosen the first Democratic mayor,
,olloWed by Mayors e. N. Pugh, ST.
1onius Goette. Paul Leche, G. Kline.
George Richard, and finally myself.
Al these were able Democrats.
worthy of the honors bestowed up-
N them. Finally the charter of 1901
vas repealed by Act No. 139 of 1900. |
which was drafted by Edmund Maui
IN and the late r. NJ McCulloh.
lhe splendid progress inauguratedl
y my able Democratic predecessors
vas vigorously and enthusiastically
continued by my administrations.
omposed of such men as w. B.
Park, J. E. Blum, Jas. Won Lotten.
y. T. II. Hanson, Dave Israel, D.
)hlmeyer, A. J. Schroeder. Ed. G.
Vathen, VIM. Dill, Frank Milano and
V. ]. Leblanc.
On assuming the reins of govern
aent in 1907, my colleagues and N.Y.
elf resolved to make a record to-
tand as permanent memorials toll
ur OFFICIAL career. Briefly enumer-
ting the mart improvements made
y US during my four terms as
layor, we refer to the magnificent
Ign school building, which stands as
monument to the cause of public
ducation, proposed by the town and
rected by a special tax on the prop
rty of the town.
Inc establishment of louisiana
quare, formerly known as ia Place
Armes,a the sparkling fountaint
ending its sprays heayenward where
nee stood the waterWorks tank.
hich, daily overlooking, made this
pot a breeding place for mosquitoes
nd malasia; the clover grown swards.
lie iron benches and settees, pavedI
alks, and this beautiful band stand
these through our energetic and :
atrlotic band of Wcman's Civic
eague.
Remodeling our waterworks sys-
m, putting in standard mains f,
lroughout our town.
Paving our two principal business
Ieroughfares.
recognizing and equipping with
odern fire-fighting apparatus our
re department.
installing an automatic electric 6
re alarm system, thereby reducing
II insurance rates more than fiftvl
n cent, saving our citizens manyI
ousands of dollars in insurance.
emlums annually. al
two new drainasa
mails into Bayou Lafourche.
of two suburbs,
And last, but not least, as / con-