New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1913-03-15
A PUBLIC APPEAL.
Editor Enterprise.

/ Editor Enterprise. -,
Approaching the crying h'cd
and the urgent necessity OF pet
fer public roads and highways III
ihc Parish of iberia, the present
Police Jury. since their induction
in office. have devoted much
thought and time towards 'NoiV-
inc a plan by which the roads OF
thc Parish could be effectively
anl permanently fixed. .
That body has finally resolve"
and concluded that the only leasi-
bic way by which the roads and
bridges could be permanently
fixed, was by creating Il nerieet
svstcm Of drainage; and in order
To do that, it requires conslu-
cradle amount Of money In
order. therefore. TO carry out their
design aud project, the folico
Jury Is forced to borrow the sum
Of xl2O.O0O.OO and to issue bonds
for period Of twenty years, SAID
bonds TO bear five per centum III
terest per annum. and their re-
tireuent TO be effected by scgro-
eating and setting aside ont OF
the ten mills levied by the Par
ish for all purposes, three mll'S,
thereby neither nugmenting the
assessment. nor imposing single
cent of taxation more upon the
taxpayers.
II will be realized that under
the law the Police jury cannot
carry ont the above project with
out authorized so TO do by the tax
payers at an election held for that
purpose. They are now clrculat-
ing petitions throughout the Par
ish, asking that the people sign
them in order that the election
be called and held.
For what reason, the writer
knows not. but there seems to be
an absolute lack of Inherent taken
in this movement by the taxpav-
ers, and by the people in general
II is hard to appreciate why such
apathy should exist among our
people on a subject so much for
their interest, and for their ma
ttrial benefit
1t is said that man is usually
judged by the company he keeps,
and il may tlrlthfullv be said that
People should be Judged by their
roads and highways. And m
fortunately should iberia Parish
be judged by that standard, the
Judgment would fall heavily upon
us. for il has become almost \
hyword. that when travelling over
the highways of the State, that
YOU can tell, the moment you
strike Iberia Parish, by the conli-
ton Of the roads.
For the past many years the
Police Jury of iberia Parish has
been spending from twelve to fiji
teen thousand dollars yearly upon
its public roads. and yet. we have
no system of public roads. 1t is
not claimed. nor is there any pre-
tense made, that the money has
not been honestly spent, nor ev-
cry cent Of it properly accounted
for; but il is nevertheless true
that owing to the lack of system,
and the lack of sufficient funds to
establish proper system of drain
age, and an economic way of con
ducing the work, that the Police
jury has been entirely unable TO
give the relief desired and needed.
Hence il is that the present Po-
lice jury desires to. at once, ef-
fectively and permanently drain
and establish all the roads of the
Parish.
All good government originates
with the people. and the Police
Jury. in the performance Of their |
duty, ask and pray that the peo-
pie aid and assist them in tho
proper and economic administra.
ton of Public Affairs.
II is particularly urged that
good roads mean better drainage:
better drainage means better
'rops; better crops mean more
money; mora money means more
and more comfort means
more happiness.
Therefore. let us all get together.
he merchant. the banker. the far
ner, the lawyer. and every man
who must needs the public roads.
md see that the Police Jury of
he Parish Of iberia. in their
great effort to better the condi-
ions Of the community and Par
sh. be given the proper moral
which they are entitled to,
md the writer bespeaks for the
'arish of iberia q bright and
future.
The above appeal is made with
i'll earnestncss. and with view
o enlist the active aid and sup
'ori Of the public spirited citi
ems of the Parish OF iberia.
Very respectfully.
ANTHONY n. MULLER.