The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-09-05

| Mr.. F. O. Hamilton appeared before the
meeting in behalf of having the Lower
Jackson road worked, and also requesting
a committee to investigate conditions rea
tive to roads through his private property
| Communication Of Mrs. S. H. Barrow
and Miss Lucy Matthews was received
and ordered spread upon the minutes.
September /, 1914.
Mr.. Chas. Howell. Pres of Police Jury.
Dear Strive wish to bring to your
notice conditions respecting our road the
lower Jackson). 1t has had one general
working in about IS months, and no other
work except some temporary patching of
| impossible places, awaiting the expected
road machine, which, however, was moved
/ from the neighborhood without having at
any time been on the road in question.
Conditions, so far as this road is con-
cerned, are worse than when dependent
upon forced labor. Being among the
largest taxpayers in the parish we feel
ourselves to be entitled to fair amount
Of consideration in this matter.
Respectfully yours,
LUCY L. MATTHEWS,
S. H. BARROW.
Referring to the above communication,
Mr.. Daniel, member from the End ward,
stated that $25 had just been expended
on the road in question.
The following communication from the
School Board was ordered published and
the committee was assured that the Police
Jury would assume responsibility of one
half the amount required to make up the
deficit
ST. Francsville, La, Sept. 2, 1914
To the Honorable Police Jury, Parish of
West Feliciana
Gentlemen:-We, the School Board of
West Feliciana Parish, beg leave to call
the attention of the Police Jury to the
accompanying statement of the financial
condition of our parish schools.
The estimate of expenditures is a very
conservative one. Wherever possible the
estimate has been made lower than the
actual expense of last year. For instance,
the item supplies" has been put at $3.50,
when the amount actually expended for
supplies last year was $79215. The teach
ers' salaries have invariably been kept at
the same figure as last year. in spite of
numerous requests for higher wages. 1t
is true that one new teacher has been en-
Vile and the item for teachers salaries
is correspondingly increased, but this was
absolutely necessary in order to secure
recognition of the Manual Arts depart
ment by the state and to prevent the
previous expenditures for supplies in this
department becoming wasted. The schools
for the colored people have, as usual.
been placed at the lowest possible figure.
In spite of every possible economy it ap-
pears that we will fall short in the sum
of $1,50000. We. therefore, respectfully
ask that the Police Jury go on record to
the effect that they will take care of this
deficit in behalf of the parish schools.
Otherwise, it will be necessary that the
School Board proceed to revise its budget
and cut down expenses. AS we have said
above, every item has been reduced as far
as possible already. There is, therefore,
no other alternative in case the Police
Jury refuses our request, but to reduce
the length of the school term. We have
no other way of raising money than to
ask it of the Police Jury. We have no
other way of curtailing our expenses than
to shorten the school term.
1t is needless to say that to shorten our
school term 6 ellis disaster to our school
system, The School Board will not short
en- the country schools without shortening
the town school. That means the utter
destruction of our one parish high school.
Unless it runs for nine months, it will be
no longer recognized by the state as
| high school and the children of the parish
will no longer have the opportunity to
secure high school education. Further
more, if we once begin to shorten the
school term, there is no limit to which it
might not be carried, and if we can't have
adequate length of school term we might
as we'll go out of business.
We therefore once more ask the Police
Jury to go on record that they will help
us out in this matter to the extent of the
estimated shortage in order that none Of