Bogalusa enterprise and American. (Bogalusa, La.) 1918-19??, 1921-03-03
Want More Taxes?
COOPERATION Asked
Dear Editor.

edge a very significant fact. Some
thing that should cause every good
citizen of Washington parish to
pause and thing just a minute, ard
see what the effect of the situation
means.
The Great Southern Lumber Com
pany owns a great bulk of the timber
Of Washington parish, and lot in
St. Tammany parish, and some in
other adjoining parishes and coun-
ties. Their records disclose the fact
that IN Washington parish (our par
ish), about fifty acres of timber per
years is deadened and cut up into ties
and sold-stolen or trespassed upon.
In the adjoining counties and par
ishes there is practically no trespass
upon the timber.
Now, as a result, the company has
determined upon Immediately and
continuously cutting all Of its timber
in Washington parish first, leaving
the timber in the other parishes and
counties stand.
Let US just think for a few min
utes what this means to Washington
parish.
For 1920, the Great Southern Lum-
Der Company paid into the treasury
Of Washington parish, La, some
1925, 543.S5. The other allied in
dustries paid in approximately $685.
900 more. They paid into the treas
ury of the City of BOgalusa, La, a
little more than this sum.
Now the City of Bogalusa, as a
city, will not suffer from a financial
standpoint as a result of the imme-
date cutting Of the pine timber from
the parish, but the parish as a whole
will. The assessment of the City Of
Bogalusa will continue to mount sky
ward, while the adding of cut-over
lands, much reduced in value, set
apart for reforestation purposes, will
seriously hamper the financial condi-
ton Of the parish and its forward
march.
We are told that if this nefarious
custom was Immediately stopped, the
company would just as soon cut its
timber from st. Tammany parish and
other adjoining counties, leaving
Washington parish to profit for at
least fifteen or twenty years by the
large timber assessment. But the APP
parent carlessness and thoughtless-
ness of the people in countenancing
this sort of wilIful waste of property
necessitates the immediate cutting of
the timber and consequent reduction
Of assessment and financial loss to
the parish.
We wonder if little civic thought
might not well be given to this mat
ter in order that our parish, and not
the surrounding parishes and coun-
ties, might profit.
Why should net all of the people
cooperate and try to see to it that
this custom is stopped, and then a
body of citizens see if our resources
could not be permitted to stand
awhile?
Is there trespassing in your neigh
borhood? If so, do you favor it?
Are you endeavoring to create a
good, healthy sentiment against it!
Unfortunately, some people do not
believe it is wrong to trespass, and
endeavor to get those in trouble out
of it when caught, and as conse-
duence, numerous cases are permit
ted to happen from time to time with
outout much apparent effort to stop
it. The courts are doing all they
can to stop it. The courts cannot
stop, it. 1t is up to the people them
selves. The moment the people stop
to consider the real consequences to
themselves, and the future Of this
parish, they will then cooperate to-
ward the retention for our parish OF
a large timber assessment, so that
our bonds may be easily paid.
You note the increase in taxes this
wear? What viii happen in ten years
hence, when the action Of few OF
our citizens has forced hasty cut OF
the timber and consequent cut in as
sessment, when our bonds still have
to be paid and our parish still desires
to progress, and the farmer and small
fellow has to pay the taxes? Is it not
wise to stop now, and think about it,
and take steps to remedy the evil?
This article is written under the
auspices Of the Chamber of Com
merce, Bogalusa, La, and other ar
ticles will appear from time to time.
Suggestions are invited as to the best
way to save our parish from great
financial loss. and a consequent add