The Natchitoches enterprise., 1917-03-29
for good roads. Greater praise than
this hath no man.

for good roads. Greater praise thar
this hath no man.
CHURCHES
And when you speak of churche:
| they have them in NatchitOches, al
picturesque, all on Normal avenue, and
above all, all patronized. First of al
IN point of historic interest, is the
Catholic Cathedral, just across from i,
the old See House, home of the bisho!
TOR so many years, its statues CLEAN
ing in the sunlight of the great greer
court. | wish you could see this historic
old church as | saw it on Sunday al
mass with hundreds of assembled wor-
shippers. There are l 200 members now
There seems to hover the very spirit
of the past about the great, dim, won
derful old building; the colorings are
all subdued with age, the architecture
is of day long past, but beautiful yet,
even the candles on the altar glowed
palely and the outer sunlight fell in
subdued radiance through the many
colored windows of cathedral glass
One felt as if they had stepped out of
the world into place of infinite peace,
romance and old-world beauty. Father
A Piguey of Lyons, LaBelle France,
oh, many years ago, 80 years ago next
September, IS as interesting as the old
cathedral and as picturesque figure.
You love him at once for the wonderful
kindness, gentleness of his face, for
the friendliness of his spirit and for his
conservation to his church and his peo-
pie. When he first came to this conn
try he was assistant to Father Enaut
of Monroe, He came almost at once
to NatchltOcheS rs SSiStant to Bishop
Durriere, where he served up to the
time of the bishops death. In 1905
Father Piguey was made a church
dignitary. He is vicar general next in
power to the bishop and quite per-
sonage in Catholic circles OF this state
Rev. Dana Terry is the beloved pas
tor of the First Baptist Church; Rev.
J. w. Lea, is pastor of the Methodist
Church; Rev. D. J. Cummings, is pas
tor of the Presbyterian Church, and j.
O. Miller is priest in charge of Trinity
Episcopal Church clerical aggregation
of unusual attainment and strong per-
sonality.
GOVERNMENT BY COMMISSION
1t was St. Patrick's day when l first
met him, and he was "wearin' of the
green. but you'd have known he was
Irish by the smile of him, by the twin
kle of his eye, by the big, generous
heart that you just know beat under
the bit of shamrock. speak of Mayor
Kile of Natchitoches. There are may
ors and mayors, but he is as Individual
and distinctive as only an Irishman
knows how to be. Well, God loves the
Irish, anyway. So do |!
And it was the hardest matter to get
out of him. He is clever, is
Mayor George w. Kile and he is mod
est, and he nearly out-talked me.
"You can say am the LATEST man in
the parieh and not miss it far" he
said with that twinkle of the eye.
"You might add that l am also
CRATER, Once, wayback yonder when
l was president of the police jury of
Natchitoches they paid me $500 a year.
Well, if you want to know it, it cost
me $500 trying to do something to JUS
tify my job. And they accused me of
being a CRATER. F" And he laughed
that infectious laugh that no one can
resist. All joking aside and all blair
ney too, this George w. Kile is really
one of the great spirits of this town
and parish. When he went into office, |
he is serving his second term, the city
was $Il, 900 in debt He cleared that |
up, paid all the bills and today don't |
owe cent. This term, he and the
commissioners, two splendid men, o.
F. Himel, head of finance, and D. L.
Suddath of public utilities, have star.
ted in to lay underground drainage
the town. The main streets
nave it already. They have paved six
miles of streets. making 20 odd miles
If the best you ever saw, and will not
rest at that. There are Is miles of
paved sidewalks to the towns credit
already. They are long on paving in
Natchitoches. Steps are being taken
oy these progressive city dads to bring
20 pass the biggest achievement yet, a
splendid sewage system, the best that
IAN be had. The survey has already
been made, and they are waiting for
he president of the state board of
health to come and advise with them.
These commissioners have long heads
md are going to look before they leap
Ill right. Putting in sewerage isn't
he easiest nor the simplest thing town
an do, nor the cheapest, When it has
come to pass, Natchitoches won't
AVE much to ask for, having already
10 much to be thankful for. Not the
east of these is mayor absolutely de-
Toted to its every interest and COM
nissioners who back him up to the last
Itch and oyer
Commissioner of Finance 0. F. Himel
manager of the oil mill, is man of
and of achievement and
las the towns interests at heart, d.
4. Suddath, commissioner of public
is head of Levy Drug Com
,any, one Of the leading business
louses of Natchitoches, and is a safe,
Intelligent, conservative official who
,nows the needs of his constituents,
md is progressive in spirit and activity.
John II. Keyser is secretary treasur-
r; P. C. Rogers, tax collector; R. L.
susca, chief of police; and j. V. An
erson, night policeman. Earnest and
aithful service like that given by the
ublic officials of Natchitoches is sell
ON found. It is not with Mayor Kile
or with the other officials mere poll
les; it is conservation to duty. And
hat is great.