The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-04-03
STREET IMPROVEMENT

improvements. Citizens realize thai
the condition Of our thoroughfare'
must be remedied sooner or later
Naturally, the sooner improvements
are made in this line the quicker vii
0pelousas derive the benefits to ac-
crue from such work.
A mistake that cur citizens should
avoid, in our opinion, is crawling OF
our streets. Under no circumstances
should the progressive taxpayers and
property owners, who have the best
interest of the community at heart,
should consider the cheaper pave
ments.
The editor of this paper was one OF
those who conscientiously opposed the
laying of wood block some seven or
eight years ago. We made an ag-
gressiye fight but lost. Be it said in
praise of those who had the courage
Of their convictions and who were able
to 'whip US into line we have seen
the error of our way, and like the
majority of those who said wood
block twas no good" have come to
realize that Opelousas could have not
made better investment than the
construction Of few squares of
wood block paving.
Let as, therefore, emulate the ex-
ample Of seven or eight years ago.
Let us stand for the best pavement
to be had-one that win be in good
condition when the next generation
win rule the destinies of Opelousas,
After all, the highest in price is
the cheapest in the long run. We
can recall the first sidewalk paving in
Opelousas many years ago. Some
property owners insisted we didn't
need such expensive improvements
others who were more moderate and
progressive in their views, said that
there should be two classes of paw
ing-cement and brick, the latter to
be in the residential districts. They
had their way, and as result the
brick walks were laid on many streets,
unfortunately. We now see the err
ror Of such work, for these brick
sidewalks are all ''shot to pieces" and
the cement swalks laid at the same
time are still first-class and bid fair
to last for many years to come.
Using the same corollary in regard
to street paving, let US just look at
the gravel paving laid at the same
time as the wood blocks, just seven or
eight years ago. The gravel, like the
brick sidewalks, is also all "shot to
pieces, = and that,too, longe before the
property owners have finished paying
for it. In order to keep it in repair,
constant attention must be given to
it and it seems impossible to keep it
smooth and clear of ruts. Surely it
was poor economy after all to lay such
material on some Of our principal
streets. 1t may do on some or many
of the side streets, but on the main
thoroughfares nothing but the best
should be laid, and that is wood block.
A few Of our citizens have insisted
that vitrified brick was the thing for
paving. It i good, we admit, but
it does not compare with wood block,
is much more noisy and doesn't last
near as long. We have seen streets
laid with vitrified brick in other cities
that silnply went to the bad in dozen
years and had to be resurfaced at a
considerable expense. Let us avoid
the expensive mistakes
made by others and stick to that ma
terial which we, know to be good.
The incoming city administration,
with Eddie Loeb at the head, should
consider seriously this important
need Of the community, and in our
estimation could enact no more con-
structiye law than the bonding of
funds for assisting progressive tax
payers in paving their streets with
permanent material
Why not consider street paving
bond issue? The money spent in this
direction win be a wise investment.
We can not stand in the background
and allow city like New iberia,
which has been dormant for years,
get ahead Of US in civic improvements.
IT'S TINE TO GET BUSY!