St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1914-02-21

NDRY CLARION, FEBI
doctrine of better highways was first heard
in the land, and though at first only a few
brave spirits had the nerve to declare
themselves in favor Of good roads, yet the
even the most ignorant are enthusiastic now
in their support thereof. When the police
jury a short while ago. began to take steps
to give us actual good roads, enlightened
people hailed the move with delight. The
first 10y Of the jury, however, in passing
and submitting to the people a proposed tax
for a bond issue, the proceeds of which were
to be devoted to giving US better thorough
fares, died t'abornin." Later on in the
game the jury issued and sold bonds to the
tune of $500, 600, and those who were
preaching the doctrine of good roads"
thought that their wish and hope was soon
to be realized.
Well, the money from the bond issue is
on hand and a perusal sf the proceedings Of
the last meeting of the jury shows US how
it is going to be spent. We are not going
to have good roads," but simply, as some
one expressed it, IAN eight-foot sidewalk of
gravel down the geographical center Of a
few roads" The thing is so ridiculous that
one wonders if some horrible error has not
been made and committed to print. Who
ever heard of a modern graveled highway
only eight feet wide? Another party stated
the other day that the entire scheme of a
good road % eight feet wide was in the
interest of the automobile drivers and that
the other vehicles would have to take the
ditch when the gas wagons came along. It
is a patent fact that two vehicles cannot
pass each other on a road of such width and
either one or both will have to take the
mud in effecting a passage. If this remark
able move of the police jury is not the great
est fake ever hoisted on the people, then
only the good Lord would know what tol
characterize it. We have been paying AM
engineer 500 per month for some time toE
look after the roads and the drainage. Hea
has been drawing his salary right along, it
is to be presumed; but what he has accom- ?
in the year or so he has held thu 2
job is more than the average laynan cal ;
figure out. A few of us who read the prc !
ceedings Of the police jury note occasional =
that the engineer lays OUT a new rod ;
somewhere. Perhaps these new roads wi, !,
the course of a few centuries. received
of gravel eight feet wide" WI, o
anyhow, we will have an automobile size #
walk along these roads one of these das, J
put perhaps when that day daWns we rill :
nave no use for highways, for all travelgil !
by means of flying machines over RAIDS
hat will need no eight feet of gravel {
There is one thing which is dead 3ure b
md certain, and that is that the proceeds .
IT the bond sale will be speedily gotte rid Z
#. A nice chunk Of it is to be investd in Il
mules, machinery and other stuff Whia will
alter on be sold as junk to the highes bid f
Perhaps the engineering or suervis-
ng force which will have in charge til work.
# laying out the eight-foot sidewalks will Il
iced a gas wagon to take them abolt their ;
iuties in proper luxury. Il such a semand
made, the police jury will no dobt see 8
hat the requisition is speedily IGNORED.
The balance of the money will dolbtlessly
'e spread out in that eight-foot ribbon on v
ne roads between Opelousas and Washing G.
and Opelousas and Sunset and he other =
Dads already selected by the jur. Some (,
t these roads are many feet wild, notably Ell
nat between Opelousas and Washington, Il
nd that poor little strip of gravel will feel n
tightly lonesome when it is sandyiched be- - =.
many feet of plain dirt, dut or mud 81
either side of it. It will be ony a brief "
of time before the strD of gravel Is
be lost-irrevocably lost-ulder a deep pl
yer of dirt. We wonder if The engineer - ..
I'd the police jury will makean effort to "
the drowning gravel, f such an By
1entuality occurs? Perhaps We will need tn
lother hundred thcusand-d olla bond issue OF
help save that which we lave already 8
lid for. j.
1t the present police jury ,eally wants A.
give the people good roads thought make ha
first move in that direction n a different na
ay. This thing of ~squandeIng 500. 900 m
gravel sidewalks in the certer of high at
avs looks ridiculous on the ACE of it. but IN
the long run it is a mighty serious prop sa
ltion. especially when the taxpayers have tn
come across with the payment of the to.
issue. Il the money onhand will only