The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1916-05-05


uish tract of land sufficient for tn
erection of a courthouse and Jail an
also furnish a bond that the official
should be furnished offices for peri
cd of three years. Jennings, Wells
and Lake Arthur promptly quaIltlet
and began most bitter contest. Il
the first election no location received
a majority of votes, Welsh being tn
highest and Lake Arthur the lowest
Lake Arthur was thus forced out ant
the fight continued between Jen
nings and Welsh which resulted in {
victory for Jennings but while Jen
nings had secured the parish seat, a
an election which followed soon at
ter for parish officers every parish
official elected save one belonged tc
the anti-Jennings faction. The po
lice jury and the parish school board
also were decidedly anti-Jennings. In
view of this condition Of affairs it was
feared by some that our development
would be retarded and that it would
take years to heal the old wounds but
we are all proud today in the knowl-
edge that these fears were ground
less. Having had the honor of being
a member of the first police jury and
the still greater honor Of being its
president l am in a position to say
that so far as the police jury is con-
cerned no thought of retaliation or
vindictivness has had a place among
us. We early recognized this fact that
with power came responsibility and
that for the future welfare of our par
ish we could not afford to give eX-
preston to our disappointments by
our acts as public officials. How well
we have filled our positions will be
for this and future generations to de-
termine.
When Calcasieu parish was divided
there was a debt which was against
the whole territory and our part of
that was about $1,000 and as soon as
we were organized, on Jan. 4, 1913,
some provision had to be made for
the payment of this debt under the
provisions of the act creating the
parish, Calcasieu parish collected and
dispensed the taxes of 1912 so that
we had no taxes available until the
1913 taxes should become due.
There was, however, a balance due our
territory of special road funds which
we were compelled to draw on to
meet the necessary expense and to pay
our pro rata Of the debt. Out of the
taxes of 1913-1914 and 1915 we paid
back this, paid the running expense
of the parish, paid out over $1,000
for the transferring of the records and
had balance on the first of January,
1916 of over $4,000. Provisions were
made last year for the building of a
jail which cost about $4,000 which |
while not large is ample for the use
of the parish and for this building
which will cost completed $4,000 |
and will we believe be a credit to the
parish all without the aid of an in
crease or a special tax of any kind.
At the end of this the first official
'erm | believe we can turn over the
affairs Of the parish to our success
'rs without any apology for our ad-
Nor is this the most
gratifying condition, we meet here to-
lay to bear evidence that in so far
is our civic and political feeling are
all memory of the past bit
er strife has been buried and we
tand as united people whose COM
non aim is to make this, the baby
.arish of Louisiana in age and area
ne giant as to wealth and influence.
cannot close these remarks with
ut referring to a man who has been
losely identified with the develop
1ent of this country, one who came ,
ere at the time referred to in the
eginning of this discourse with moth :
1g. Of this worlds goods, but with ,
cal and determination. He cast his y
IT IN an undveloped country. | refer .
L. E. Robinson, who now lies !
orpSe in his home at Welsh. While 6
If. Robinson had his faults those of !,
who have known him longest and
est appreciate him most in the or
anlzation Of this parish and the keep
lg OF its first record. His services "
ave been invaluable and it will be Il
ard indeed to find man to take the {
ACE made vacant by his death, who =
Ill devote the same amount of care =
the proper conduct of the office. II
OF only has L. E. Robinson made a n
bod executive in his private affairs IH
1T he has discharged with honor and +
deity the duties of every trust re- - -
'sed in him and in him this parish u
is lost one of our most capable and nj
voted citizens. II
-, he