The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-06-14
RETROSPECTIVE
Fifty Years Ago.

l NY SoaS f78Os
From the Banner of June Is, 1ss7-Berevue. i
Married, on the 18th instant, at
the residence of the brides father. in
this place, by the Rev. Mr.. Tolbert
Mr.. John c. Head to Hiss Mollie
Kelly"
During the present week, UP to
the time of going to press, we have
had no mail. We are water-bound-
cut off from the true source OF light
and newspapers
lowing to the high water bet-ee,
this place and Shreveport. HIS Honor.
Judge Ween,s, was unable to reach
our village, and in consequence Of
which the regular probate tie, m of our
court, in course, was not held during
the past week"
From minutes of meeting of the
Police Jury shown in print in this
issue we learn that Messrs. James
Ford, Thomas Player, j. w. Rabb, w.
S. Edwards and Thomas Applewhite
were members of that body. The
report does not state that there were
absent members, but such must have
been the case.
The editor bewa;lcd "a Public
Grievance" in rart. as follows: "Thc
Court House at this place should be
pa!ed in as a protection from the
ravages of hogs, dogs, horses, cattle
and, IN short, every snscies of the
animal kingdom from the runa-inant
to the ana-rhib-ious. The nuisances
committed upon this building are a
bur,esnue unon decency and an in
suit to refined community. It's
o public grievance that demands an
abatement. We regret to be forced
to also include in this protest the out.
RACES of human bipeds, who are
emulous, it appears, TO rival other
creeping vermin in their utter dis
reTard for common decency."
(Sure'y the old Court House must not
have presented very Clearly ap-
Fpearance about that time. In this
connection it is gratifying to rote
that in this day more respect is eze1-
cised for the general appearance OF
public buildings.l
In one of the ADVERTISING columns
Of this issue appeared a small picture
of negro on the run, with bundla
at the end of a stick across his
shoulder. These little Illustrations
were common in the newspapers
prior to the war, and were meant t.
depict runaway slave maxine for
the swanirs. However, il this in
stance it called attention to the es-
care Of two negroes from the Parish
Jail and to the reward Of SEQ offcre1
for their apprehension. The notice.
signed by "4N. H. Hi, Sheriff ard
Jailer," read. in rart, as follows
"Broke Jail at Bellevue, on the 18Th
Of June, 1867, two negro men, one
known as Dave Alexander. about
twentv-siy wears Of age. BRIGHT cop
Der colored complexion, near six feet
high: formerly owned by Christcphe,
Chaffe of Minden.. Dave is a black
smith hv trade. The other calls him.
self Oliver Jones, is about twenty
two years old, about five feet and six
inches high, Of copper complexion !;
formerly owned by Lee Arick, near
Benton, in this parish"
'sOn the first and fourth pages or
to-day's issue will be found the pro-
ceedings of the Police Jury of this
Parish. The most important &C.
passed by this body at its late session
was an act introduced by Col. j. w.
Rabb, relative to the duties Of road
overseers. We sincerely trust that
every road overseer in the parish will
be held to a strict accountability of
his stewardship in this connection
Heretofore our Police Jury has
merely gone through the ridiculous
farce of appointing road overseers
and apportioning their respective
Jurisdictions and hands to work the
same, and there the matter ended.
As a NATURAL consequence, the roads
are almost impossible, with bridges
down, yawning gullies and ravines
boys, guagnires, etc. If the Police
Jury of Bossier lets out her ferries
and toll bridges for revenue to tho
parish, forcing an almost onerous tar
upon her citizens, as well as trav.
elers passing through her territory, il
is duty obligatory upon the mem
bers of this body to see that the roads
over which those thus taxed have tc
pass are, if not in a well-conditioned
state, at least passable." perhaps
he did not dream of such at that time
but the editor of the Banner lived ITO
travel over well graded, gravel-sur-
faced roads right here at home, and
in motor driven vehicle at that