St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1920-08-28

Hon. Don Caffery and Amos l..
Ponder spoke to good audiences IN
Covington last Thursday evening.
~-o0-~~-o-~o-~~o-o-~~oO~ O~~o~~~~~o~0~~-o-0~O"o"~o
mattcr of this kind, are identical,
and " hat affects the one affects the
other, and all of the small as we'll
as the large interests, should have
been consulted by Mr.. Arnett and
their views obtained and their
rights cons .dered and protected be-
fore any action was taken. This was
not done.
We are opposed to the drainage
1proje1e covering the entire parish,
as a large portion of our parish needs
no drainage, and this would be plac-
ing the burden of taxes on some or
our citizens, without any resulting
benefits. And, We are opposed to
drainage, at this time, OF the other
portions of the parish for many and
obvious reasons-among them be-
ing the fact that the drainage dis
tricts were laid out by almost a total
stranger to this parish, without sur
veys being made, lines run or levels
taken: thai the people, as Wholo,
were not consulted as to their views
in the matter; that We are still in
the shadow of great war, and the
Government is opposed to the launch
ing of any projects at this time;
that the bonds could not be sold, IL
requ;,ed Dy law, except at heavy
discount, which would be in viola
tion of the law, in order to make
funds available for the carrying out
of this project; that, even IL the
funds were available the necessary
machinery and supplies for carrying
out Of such work are almost un-
purchGseable.
If we had drainage throughout the
parish, it would cost over eleven
million 0,OOOO dollars, ac-
cording to the estimate made by NJ.
Frank J. Coleman, drainage en-
gineer of national reputation. And,
then, there would have to be a main
tenance tax, even on a gravity sys-
tenn, of approximately two hundred
and seVenty-ive thousand ($275;-
000) dollars per year, and each year
the taxpayer would have to pay this
tax to maintain the system and -
drainage tax to provide for the n
terest on the bonds and sinking
fund to retire the same. This would
be true, whether our lands were In
cultivation or not. We believe thai
the representations that are being
made that by having drainage We
would increase the value of our
lands from one hundred and fifty
($150) dollars to two hundred
($20C) dollars, or more, per acre,
are misleading and visionary. Il
this were true, why is it that we have
thouGands OF acres of land, well
drained, large portion of which is
under cultivation, which can be
bought for twenty-five ($25) dollars,
or pe;haps even less, per acre?
Now word in regard to the
policy of the Poitevent G Favre LDr.
Co. in st. Tammany parish. It Is
not our intention to reforest our
lands. We expect to start, In the
immediate future, taking the stumps
out and putting our lands into cult
| walton, in order to show just what
these lands can do agriculturally.
We propose to sell these lands, at o
reasonable price, first to our homo
people and second to our neighbors
from other States, for agricultural
purposes. And, it Is our desire to
assist them in profitably marketing
their products.
The Potevent G. Favre Lbr. Co. is
owned by homo people, practically
everything they have is invested In
this rs srish, and they are deeply IN
tefessed in the development and fa-
ture Of st. Tammany parish, and rs
people, and they will do nothing to
retard its growth or interfere with
it's development and prosperity.
| In conclusion, l wish to avail my
self of this opportunity to express
my thanks to the Police Jury Of St,
Tammsny parish for their fair aud
impartial attitude in which they
have handled this entire matter.
Very respectfully,
| InHN G pnTTEyVERIT