The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-08-03
THREE OF THESE
ARE EXCEEDING WISE

The v sual faculties Of the sO-called
citizens committee of jennings, self
constituted for the purpose of acquir-
ing pecuniary profits, otOrety and
o,he incidental atta'nments, in con-
nCctiOn with the gravel ROAD quest on,
is growing considerably in acu,eness
and proficiency. The last expression
from that energetic trio is, that they
have now actually discovered by keen
observation whole sections Of the i'm
proved highways with green grass
grow ng on the sides, evidenC 'ng be-
You'd any shadow of doubt the start
ling fact that the engineer, contract
ors and police jury have blindly pass
ed these large sections up with not
even q shovel of grading done. The
remarkable extent to which The afore-
said trio have assiduously developed
the organs of observation since their
last report is something that calls
forth from us some express on of
amazement, We actually marvel at
the wonderful development in so short
a period of time by these faithful de-
voices.
Another evidence of this marvellous
deve 'cpmant is shown by the further
fact that they have now actually dis
covered the depth Of gravel to be only
two inches instead of three and one
half inches as heretofore We may
say that this latter discovery on their
part reveals not only a highly devel-
oped proficiency of vision but also
be,okens a wonderfully developed
skill in the taking of fine and delicate
measurements. Oh, the pity that
such rare talent in our parish should
have lain dormant and even undis-
covered for so long. If these faithful
martyrs to public service are permit
ted without restraint from sOlicto
friends to continue heir laboriOus un.
dertakings, the indications are that
sooner or later they will bring forth
such startling facts as that even the
little sparrows would have to go else
where than on our gravel roads to
nd sufficient grit to grind their
food, and that little mole hills would
be summitless mountains compared
with the grades the engineer is per-
hitting to pass on the roads.
But it almost turns US upside down
against these little adopts when their
tile arrogant spirits begin to as
crlbe, first all to themselves, the won
derful achievements already attained
by their own faithful efforts. Not
withstanding the fact that the little
fellows have been told over and over
again that not a single foot of high
ways have been completed nor accept
ed, but are sI.l under course of con-
struction, and are being built to COM
plet'on as rapidly as possible; yet
when they discover the contractors
moving over these roads and bringing
them up gradually to completion they
suddenly harp at the result of THEIR
labors. This almost turns us agains!
the little cyclists
But speaking to the same purpose,
but in another vein, we believe this
misguided trio would be serving
more noble end if they would lend the
same energy in cooperating with the
police jury and the engineer and the
contractors in their effort to give to
the parish the very best system of
public highways possible. The con-
structonist is always preferable to
the destructionist. The builder is far
beS'er than the iconOclast; the booster
Is more desirable than the knocker
every time. You say you are our
friend; then give us the palm of vour
hand, and not the back; give US a lift
and not shove.
1t is our opinion that the police
jury and the engineer are doing their
best in an honest manner to give to
the parish the very best roads posi-
Die with the money at their disposal
for this purpose, and we dislike to see
few nOn-representative men con-
tinually on the job throwing h'ndran-
ees in the way of the harmonious
progress Of this work.
The parish is getting considerable
notoriety that bears us no good over
this matter. The strenuous adver-
tisement by the sO-called committee
outside the parish is all uncalled for
The laborious publication of the COM
mi,tee's personal findings in the
Tmss-Picayune could have been done
with no other purpose in view than
to attack the engineer in his own town
and in other sections Of the State.
since it could serve no purpose in this
parish This is all uncalled for and, in
our opinion, should be condemned.
In conclusion the last instruction
clearly defined and seIf-promuIgated