St. Landry democrat., February 02, 1878, Image 1

About St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894

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ST. LANDRY DEMOCRAT.
M. D. KAVANAGH, Editor.
TERMS FOE SUBSCRIPTION.
One Dollar ani> Fiftt Cents a year, in ad
vance. The year can be begun at any time, as
fifty-two numbers of the paper make a years
subscription.
AGENTS OF THE DEMOCRAT:
D. P. Saizan Barre'» Landing
Capt. Saui. Haas Bayou Chicot
j. J. Hicks VHle Plate
Leopold Godcliaux ..Big Cane
Abraham Richard Chureliville
Dr. J. F. Lester Petit Prairie
Henry Wood worth ..Washington
Mentor Andrus
Foreuian <fc Dusou ..
Andrew Henry
T. C. Chachere
Jos Fabacher
J. D. Bernard
E. C. Roger
B. S. Gay
M. J. Rosteet
Grand Coteau
Plaque,mine Brûleé
Mermento
Prud'homme City
Fabacher P. O
PoupeviHe
Arnaudville
Bayou Boeuf
Lake Charles
The geutlanien above named are our agents
and as such requested to solicit subscriptions.
M. D. KAVANAGH,
Editor.
0PEL0USA8, SATEBI »AV, FEBBl'AUY 2, 1878.
Peach trees are beginning to bloom.
We have had some dark cloudy
weather this week, but not a great deal
of rain.
We will soon have almost a new bridge
across Bayou Tesson. The lumber is
on the ground:
The Enterprise speaks of our friend
Alcee Dupré killing 74 birds at 80 shots.
That's nothing, another-friend of ours
killed 40 at one shot a year or two ago.
The Rev. E. Cater will preach at the
Masonic Hall in this place on next Sab
bath, Februar} 3d at 11 o'clock a. m.,
and 4 o'clock p. m.
Judge Hudspeth is converting the
late residence of B. F. Linton, deceased,
into a law office. It will be a nice place
for a law office ; near the Courthouse
and well shaded.
Dou't forget the entertainment to be
given thiseveningby theUnited Friends
of Tempeiance, at Wilkins'Hal!, Wash
ington. Admmittance 25 cents. Re
freshments in keeping with the princi
ples of the order, will be on hand.
J. 0. Chachere, Clerk of Court, Judge
B. A. Martel, E. T. Lewis and Jos. M.
Moore, have returned since our last
from New Orleans. J. N. Ogden, Esq.,
is still in the city, but will be at home
Monday. The Parish Court, Judge J.
B. A. Fpnteuot, adjourned on Thursday.
A Probate term will begin the 1st Mon
day in February.
Judge Jones, and one of his sons Mr.
6. F. Jones were in town this week*on
business. The Judge and his family
came from Missouri to this parish du
ring the past summer. They purchased
1000 acres of good farming land on Pla
qneroine Brulee, where they are engaged
"in farming and stock raising, and seem
well pleased with their investment. We
liope the Judge may induce some of his
frieuds to come to St. Laudry as we
" have ample room and a harty welcome
for such gentlemen as Judge Jones and
his sons.
We extract the following article from
the Washington Enterprise of the 30th
ult.:
We hear a great many asking about
the new paper of Opelousas, and we
have not yet heard a soul that could
tell anything about it. When the Jour
nall suspended it said nothing to the
public about the change. The Journal
head was taken off, and the St. Landry
Democrat was the new paper. Is it
possible that the people of this parish
are so ignorant as to believe such politi
cal tricks as that? if so they deserve
what they will get in the November
election, that is tricked by the Court
house clique, and that body remain in
power a few years longer.
The Courthouse element knew that a
new paper would have to be started for
their benefit,and a ' catch-name' at the
bead to win. A uew editor was neces
sary as the retired editor of the Journal
could not edit a Democratic paper, aud
even if he did, the boys would not bite,
so he plays quits, and the name of M. D.
Kavanagh, appears at the head of the
infant. * v
In conclusion we will say that the St.
Landry Democrat will be published tor
the benefit of the Courthouse clique,
and we ask you ail to look aud see who
that body is composed of. A few years
- agooue of the leaders was a Republi
can. now he hops over to the Democrats
and asks their support, and expectH as a
matter of course that the 'rads' are
boundtostick. Wehavenothingagainst
J^ie editors of the Journal -Sr: Landry
^ D emocrat , but d—m it, how we hate to
gee a people suffer for years at the hands
of a party and then suffer themselves to
swindled under a new name.
As oiir readers are aware, the Enter
prise is about the size of a lady's cam
bric pocket handkerchief, is edited by
Frank Conelley, who floated in here
from the State of Arkansas, about a year
ago. Since coming here and starting the
Enterprise he has been on all sides of all
questions. Originally he could say
nothing toe mean or too low, about the
negroes, scjdlawags, carpet-baggers, Re
publicans generally. A trip to New
Orleans, and a little kind treatment at
the Customhouse, brought him back an
ardent admirer of Matt Wells and An
derson, whom he gave the special bene
^fit of a gushing column on his return.
Originally an advocate of the Sunday
law, threatening to denounce all who
were opposed to it, in his columns ; prais
ing Untile skies when enacted ; we next
find bins denouncing and damning it as
a nuisance and reprobating and con
demning it in bis peculiar slang, which
is neither " French, English nor good
Choctaw." Next he was an ardent ap
plicant for " Editor of the new. paper,"
not getting which he tutus round in his
spite and commences to throw his filth
at us. It is not strange that this
apologist for Matt Wells and Tom
Andersou ; this Radical and Demo
crat; this advocate and opponent of
the Sunday law, who runs the En
terprise and aspired to edit the " new
paper ; " whose political orthodoxy
changes with the dinner he eats or the
L last man he talks to ; should squirm like
a worm on hot ashes, when lie sees an
honest eff'ort being made to fuse the
Democratic party of St. Landry together
again. He sees the handwriting on the
wall. He knows and feels it will be
an extinguisher on all such as he.
Our readers we hope will pardon us for
speaking thus of him. It is the last
time we expect either to notice him or
-
VOLUME 1.
OPELOUSAS, LA., SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1878.
NUMBER 3.
Parish Expenses, Parish Taxes
We are indebted to the Clerk of the
Police Jury for the following revenue
of expenses of the parish for nine months
of the last year, aud the pay of witnesses
and jurors for the spring and fall terms
of the District Court, for 1877.
These are expenses created not by the
Police Jury, but lixed by the laws of the
State. The only thing the Police Jury
has to do with these expenses is to pro
vide ways and means for their payment.
During nine months of 1877 these ex
penses as follows :
Sheriffs criminal fees $2230 00
District attorneys tees for convictions. 1«50 00
Sheriff and clerks salary by spel act No
165 of 1808
Sheriffs per diem attending District
Parish and Supreme Court
Jail fees
Magistrate fees
Constable fees
Witnesses before magistrate
Expenses witnesses and Jurors -2 terms
1000 00
700 00
2043 00
2294 00
2179 00
840 0i
District Court
3716 40
\dded together tbese foot up a total
aggregate ol' $17283 40
Expenses are given for nine months
only, because of the provisions of sec
tions 2 aud 3 of act No. 5 of 1877, pro
hibiting the approval or issuance of
any evidence of indebtedness by any
Police Jury after October 1st, 1877, un
less the money was in the treasury for
payment of the same. This year the
Assessor will have to be paid in addi
tion to above, about $1000 for making
assessment.
During 1877, the total parish tax levied
was $48069 90, of this amount as per
report of tax collector, only $36251 37
was collected; the remaining $11818 45
being for delinquents; property bought
by the State and uncollectible.
By this statement it will be seen that
of the amount collected, to wit: 36231
37. $17283 40 was absorbed by claiu»
created by the State and not by ordi
nances of the Police Jury.
The total amount of taxable property
in St. Landry is $2176,600. A tax of on«
percent on this will amount to $21176.
Suppose this had been the rule of taxa
tion in 1877, aud the delinquent aud un
collectible tax had amounted to $11,818,
45, we would have had left $10357 55, or
a little more than enough to have paid
one-half the amount of expenses sad
dled on us by the State, leaving nothing
for contingent expenses, outstanding
indebtedness, internal improvements
and other expenses of the parish.
The figures and facts here given speak
for themselves. They demand that
some action should be taken and atouce
to remedy this state of affairs, and we
specially call them to the attention of our
Senators and Representatives in .the
Legislature. .
Were the State to assume payment of
these expenses now saddled on the
parish, then there would be no trouble
iu getting along on one per cent of as
sessed value of property. There is not
a member of our Police Jury, but pays
taxes, some of them very heavy ones.
They have been as economical as possi
ble as the law stands. Any measure of
our legislature, looking to a saving of
expenses aud consequent reduction of
-taxation will be thankfully receivedand
acted upon by the Police Jury.
The Eastern War.
The war between Russia and Turkey
we take it is about ended. As a matter
of course Turkey has got the worst of
it. As heretofore in wars betweeu these
powers at the outset the Turks got the
best of it. Their successes however were
momentary. As soon as the Russiaus
had sufficient time to concentrate and
bring up their reserve troops, reverse
after reverse overtook the Turks in
rapid and bewildering succession. For
tified towns were carried by assault or
starved into submission ; the passes of
the Balkius were forced and the Rus
sian legions poured like an avalanche
towards Adrianople. Suliinan Pasha,
with the last organized Turkish army
was overtaken on his retreat, his wagon
trains and artilery captured and his
army cut in two. When the Russians
had reached Adrianople the English
fearful of their future control of the
East began to exhibit symptoms of un
easiness and last week it looked highly
probable that old England would again
iiave to stop the career of the Russians
as in 1829, when Diebitchs onward
march to Constantinople was so sud
denly stopped, to the amazement of the
world, and not explaiued until years
afterwards it was revealed by the pub
lication of dispatches of the English
Government, to their naval commanders
in the Black Sea and Mediterranean to
take part, at once with the Turks, if
the Russians advanced further.
However, judging from the tone of
the dispatches, this time it will not be
necessary for England to interfere.
The Turks have concluded, it seems
without delay to take peace on such
terms as the Russians will grant them.
The war has been short, sharp and de
cisive, as all wars must necessarily be,
where both parties use modern artillery
and breech loading rifles. It has been
conducted with savage fury and bar
barity on both sides reminding one of
maidievil times when the horrors of war
had not yet been tempered with the
mercy of Christianity and civilization,
of the days when the Cresent and the
Cross struggled for the mastery of
Europe.
It is-** strenge notion to advance
against the prosecution of crime that it
will purthe cou u try at cost, If that not.
tion is to prevail, let us abolish the
whole system of law, and save the sat-»
aries of judges aud officers of courts.
If the laws are cot to be enforced be
cause there is expense involved, why
not at once do away with the whole
machinery of justice and let everv man
be a law onto himself? That is the ine
vitable conclusion. Could a more mon
strous proposition possibly be brought
forward?—£Ei.
Attention, Deer Hunters.
Section 1 of act No. 60, extra session
of 1877, reads thus: "That it shall be
unlawful in this State to catch, kill or
pursue with such intent, any wild buck,
doe or fawn or to have the same in pos
session, after it has been caught or
killed, between the 1st day of February
and the 1st day of August of each year,
under a penalty of $25.00, for each
offense."
Hence after to-day (Thursday) the
deer are under the protection of the
law until the 1st day of August and oui
deer hunters for the next seven months
will have to turn their attention toother
game. Deer are now reported to be
unusually abundant in the eastern part
of the parish. The law so far as re
gards our swamp deer, should be changed
so as to terminate the 1st of November,
instead of the 1st of August. This
would give adequate protection to the
fawns. As the law now stands it ter
minates too early. When does are
killed in August, the fawns are left
motherless, too young to take care of
themselves. There was tint one convic
tion under the statute iu our District
Court last year. The law was heartily
acquiesced in by our hunters who all
desire to see deer protected, that they
may increase in number.
Mr. Editor .—Our people must un
derstand by this time that planting cot
ton ou a large scale, and depending
upon the merchant for meat aud bread
won't do. If they have not reached
that conclusion, experience can never
reach them anything. Immediately
ifter the war the high price of the staple
induced many to try to make money in
its production. It was not long how
ever before it began to tumble over,
down from 30 to 7 cents a pound, and
this notwithstanding the many visita
tions of caterpillars and storms, siill we
ivould not give up the idea that there
was money in cotton, and cotton we
would plant. The consequence has been
exactly what any safe mau could have
foreseen. We have become poorer and
poorer uutil the merchant has well nigh
'■eased to make advances of provisions,
is in days gone by. This may seem to
some as a hard fate. It should be con
sidered only as a good lesson and we
ought to profit by it. In agriculture, as
iu all other callings, no one cau succeed
who will not to a great extent defend
himself. The man who does look around
for assistance, but boldly rolls up his
sleeves and goes to work determined to
achieve success by his own unaided ef
forts seldom fails. My fellow farmers
ought to follow the same rule. Let
each one make sure of raising a full
supply of meat and bread at home. Let
him have his own pork, his chickens,
milk aud butter, corn, rice, potatoes aud
a good vegetable garden and when he
has made sure of all this, if he has time
and room he may plant a little cotton
and take the chances of selling it at
nine cents a pound.
The winter season could be used ad
vantageously in the raising of crops
that would go a great way in feeding
our horses, cattle and hogs, and in
suriug as good a supply of milk aud but
ter as we obtain in summer. Let us
cultivate the rust proof red oats, rye,
rutabaga turuips, &c. Just after the
corn crop is gathered in the month of
October, all these things could be sown.
They need no other cultivation than a
thorough preparation of the soil be
fore dropping the seed. They are ripe
and ready to be gathered by the latter
part of May, in time to plant corn, peas,
sweet potatoes, rice, &c.
There are fanners in this parish, who
have been planting oats for nearly ten
successive years, and who have never
failed to make a good crop every year.
They feed nothing else to their horses.
What is there to prevent every farmer
from trying it on a limited scale. Oats
can be sown till the 1st of March aud
will ripen by the latter part of May.
The corn crop last year, as everybody
knows, was very short. Many farmers
will have none to feed to their teams by
the 1st of March. They will be com
pelled to use the uew corn as soou as
it. is hard enough for food. The result
will be that a larger supply will be re
quired to meet the wants of this and
next year. Plant oats and you will
have them to feed until late in the
winter aud thereby save the corn raised
this year for next year. We must get
out of the old ruts. Farmer.
The Returning l $oar «t Trial.
?
Messrs. Wells, Anderson, Casamave
and Kenner the late Returning Board of
the State charged wifli altering and
forging the returns of election from
ernou parish, at the election in 1876,
were called for arraignment in the Su
perior Criminal Court last week.
They interposed a special plea in bar,
hieb was overruled by Judge Whita
ker. Subsequently the defendants filed
a motion accompanied by their affidavit
asking for a transfer of their case to
the United States Circuit Court. This
was argued and overruled on Friday
last. Judge Cullom, one of their at
torneys then moved the Court for com
missions to take the testimony of wit
nesses in Alabama, Illinois, etc. This
wasj likewise overruled. Judge Whita
kerthen announced that he would pro
ceedSrith the trial on the merits, at 6
o'clock E. if., and discharged the jury
until that tin?e. For what look place
on the reassembling of the Court, we
refer our readers to the following ex
tract from the Picayune of the 38th.
Last evening, when the superior
Criminal Court was called to order for
the trial of the Returning Board case,
it was found that none of the four ac
cused bad appeared is The
names of Wells and his confreres were
severally called, but no appearance was
made. Accordingly, on motion of the
Attorney General the court ordered the
bonds of the accused forfeited, and
capiases were issued for the arrest of
the main parties—Wells, Anderson and
company. The bonds originally stipu
lated by the c;mrt were $5000 for each
of the accused. Oscar Hunsacker and
Charles Hill severally went on the bonds
of Wells and Anderson for $2500 each,
Jas. Lewis bailed Louis M. Kenner at
$5000, and Paul Boissonier guaranteed
the same sum for G. Casnave, the other
member of the Returning Board, mak
ing in all twenty thousand dollars.
This was forfeited by the ruling of the
court yesterday, owing to the failure of
the accused to appear, though it has
been lately hinted that these bonds
would have been found worthless had
the test been applied. ■ The parties were
either insolvent or owned nothing
taugibly seizable, and therein resides
the idea that, from a money point of
view, nothing material would be likely
to emanate from a forfeiture of the
bonds aud a failure to capture.
On the issuance of the capaises the
Sheriff proceeded to commission an in
creased number of deputies. Visits
were made to the domiciles of the four,
but no account of their whereabouts
was obtained. Indications finally poin
ted to the Custom-House as the place of
abode, and the increased vigilance at
the entrances, together with othei cir
cumstances, convinced the Sheriff that
the quartette had sought shelter iu
what is called United States territory,
to wit: the Custom-House. They were
evidently there, and it is known that
telegrams were sent requesting either
Judge Wood or Justice Bradley to re
pair to New Orleans to issue out a writ
of certiorari transferring the records to
the Uuited States Circuit Court. No
answer was received last night to these
dispatches, and the accused kept within
their retreats.
A watch was kept up by the Sheriff
and his deputies all night, but no sign
of the appearance of the accused mani
fested itself. Should they hold out
further the Sheriff «ill to-day report to
rhe court asking if he may not enter
the Custom-House and there arrest the
parties. Nous verrons.
In execution of the capiases placed in
his hands, on Saturday the 26rh Sheriff
Houston proceeded to the Customhouse
to arrest Wells, Anderson, Casanave
and Kenner. Arriving there the Sheriff
aud his deputies found a guard of U. S.
marines posted in the main corridor,
leading from the collector's offices, and
at the head of the broad staircases of
the Customhouse. Tiie collector's pri
vate offices were locked and bolted and
in charge of an United States Deputy
Marshall. The Sheriff having explained
the purpose of his visit, announced that
if the doors were kept closed against
the authority of the State, he would be
compelled to force an entrance. At this
stage of the proceedings Deputy Mar
shall Wurzeburger came forward and
arrested the Sheriff. He carried the
Sheriff before Judge Billings, who re
fused to take cognizance of the arrest,
as it was not done by any process issued
from his jurisdiction. He then carried
the Sheriff before U. S. Commissioner
W. G. Laue, where Deputy Tomlinson
made an affidavit against him foi op
posing and interferring with him as U,
S. Marshall, aud attempting by force
and violence to break open the doors of
the Customhouse. Lane released the
Sheriff to appear on his own recogni
zance ou Monday. It was then ascer
tained that the Deputy Marshall had
acted on the orders of Geo. S. Lacy, U.
S. District Attorney and the Collector
of the Port. Finally a parley was had
until the Attorney General of theUnited
States could telegraphed at Washington
City, aud consultatiou had with the
law officers of the Government in New
Orleaus. About 9 o'clock p. m., in con
sideration of telegrams from the Dis
trict Attorney of the Uuited States the
U. S. Marshall and marines were with
drawn and Houston proceeded to make
the arrest. On gaining admission to
the Collector's office he found only An
derson, Casanave and Kenner, Wells
wasgonp. Anderson and the two col
ored returning boarders, were taken
iuto custody and incarcerated in prison.
Whither Wells has goue has not been
at this date (Thursday,) ascertained.
The Sheriff has made vigilant but in
effectual search for him. Some think
he has goue to Washington, others that
he is in city and others still that he has
gone to the Pinewoodsof St. Tammany.
Monday morning Andersou, Casanave
and Kenner were brought into Court
for trial. A severance having been
granted the State. Anderson's case
was first called. He asked for a change
of venue. This was overruled and the
case proceeded with.
Anderson's bond was fixed at $2000,
Casanave and Kenner's at $500 each,
Casanave gave bond on Monday eve
ning. The trial will be one of the
causes celibre of our day. The State
is represented by Attorney General
Ogden, Assistant Attorney General Egan
and District Attorney John J. Finney.
The defense by Cullom, Castellavosand
Jno Ray. We will give further details
in our next.
" On Tuesday morning," says the N.O.
Democrat of the 30th, '* the court room
was again crowded, the talesmen sum
moned to appear iucreasing the assem
blage. Anderson came to the bar look
ing slick and nice, improved since yes
terday, and beside him sat his son."
The organization of the jury was then
proceeded with and completed late in
the evening. It is composed of G. M.
Bayly, jr., J. R. Daily, N. E. Bailey, E.
W. HerricK, J. K. Reuaud, W. P. Con
verse, Jr., R. Dumestre, Conway Boyle,
Jerermiah Lincoln, Jas. Prince, L. L.
Montplaisir, Richard \yehih—ten white
and two colored. It being too late to
proceed, Judge Whitaker adjourned
court till Monday morning at JOo'clock,
locking up the jury, remanding Ander
son to Prison. Wednesday ' morning
the testimony will be opened, and the
case probably closed during the week,
perhaps by Thursday. Wells is still a
fugitive. We hope the old sinner may
be picked up. Whatever may be the
result of Anderson's trial, it seems gen
erally conceded that Wells must be
convicted whenever he is brought to
trial.
New Orleans Pacific Railroad.
A bill providing for State aid to the
New Orleans Pacific road was intro
duced in the House of Representatives
on the 24th inst., by Mr. Kelly of Winn.
The aid contemplated is in the nature
of a loan of ten thousand dollars ou
each ten miles of completed road, se
cured by first mortgage bonds of the
company. Under its provisions says
the New Orleaus Democrat, the State
seems to be fully guaranteed against
loss. We hope the bill may pass.' It
will hasten the completion of this great
work of internal improvement,destiued
to play so graud a part in the develope
mentof Louisiana, aud the restoration
of commercial prosperity to New Or
leaus. The road will cross Bayou Petit
Prairie at Capt. Carmouehe's plantation,
about nine or ten miles from Opelousas
on an air line. When completed the
buildiug of a branch to Opelousas, will
be the next thing. If we are not mis
taken, about 1870 Gen. Crose, connected
with the road at that time, offered when
the road was completed, to I build a
bianch to Opelousas, if the parish would
subscribe $57,000 in bouds of the parish,
running twenty years, bearing eight per
cent interest, the bouds to \«e issued
aud delivered wheu the branch was
completed. The matter was talked ol
considerably here at the time, but the
Franco Prussian war coming on, the
matter of building the main line was
abandoned, owing to financial derauge
meuts consequent theieon. i
To show our readers the progress that
has been made iu this work, tflie coun
try it will penetrate, the traije it will
opeu up, &c. We> reproduce ffroui the
New Orleans Democrat of the?25tli inst.,
the report of the cotton exchange com
mittee, appointed to confer «with the
New Orleans Pacific Railway pompuny,
relative to its work expenditures, pros
pect for completion and financial status,
with the remarks thereon of Mr. Clarke,
general manager of the Ne\| Orleaus,
St. Louis aud Chicago railroad. Perry
Nugent, President of the cotton ex
change presided and the following re
port was read by Henry G. Ilister, Esq :
To the President and Directors of the
New Orleaus Cottou Exchange :
Gentlemen —The undersigned ap
pointed a committee uuder your reso
lution of the 9th inst., to confer with a
committee from the New Orlefius Pacific
Railway Company, as requested by the
president of said compauy, respectfully
submit this their report : :
We met the président andi board of
directors by appointment, whfcu the ad
vantages of the road, to the Jeotton in
terests of the city, were explained, and
a full aud free exhibit made «f the pro
gress of the work, the condition on
winch it is being done, the|assistance
already received, its present fuecessities
aud prospects.
The first point we will not jiuow elab
orate, as no doubt each meinler of your
board is already convinced <jif the de
sirability of railroad connection with
Texas. Already 150 miles aire graded,
comprising the heaviest portion of the
route, leaviug 100 miles to rei'cli Shreve
port, or 115 miles Marshall, 'fexas. Of
this latter 115 miles, Marshal* agrees to
giade, bridge aud cross-tie? 28 miles,
Oeiug the distance from Marlihall to the
State line. The work is being done by
Penitentiary convicts, aud, perhaps, ou
more favorable terms thau i#uy similar
work was ever before undertaken. The
company contracts to cloths and feed
the laborers, to pay the salaries of the
necessary guard aud allow the coutrac
tor a sum that barely suffice^ to support
his familyj the balance of tile pay to be
settled With first mortgage bonds on
completion of the contract. Culverts
have been built as the work.progressed,
aud all bridges on the route^can be built
at light expense on piles, exi-ept the oue
crossiug the Atchafalaya. j
The amounts so far subscribed are
$356,900 to the capital stock=aud $96.000
to tirât mortgage bonds, together $452,
900, of which lias been collected $392,
855, leaviug a balance of $ß0j)45, of which
$13,000 to $15,000 is uncollectible. The
only iudebtuess, besides wlfat is due the
contractor on the completion of the
road, as before stated, is §15,000 bor
rowed of the banks,
There are, at present, 700 laborers
employed ou the road, requiring an ex
penditure of $13,000 or $141000 monthly,
and ou a failure to meet this require
ment they would necessarily be removed,
in all probability, not to be again en
gaged on the same favorable ternis.
It is estimated to take $600,000 to
grade, cross-tie and prépaie the road
bed for the rails, and shoilld this sum
be promptly furnished, yoifr committee
is well satisfied the work can be com
pleted and the tars running over it by
the first of November next*.
Wheuever a sufficient «tum is sub-'
scribed to grpde aud cross jtie the route
and build the bridges, we lire convinced
the rails and rolling stock .can be had.
The former by purchase u^th first mort
gage bonds, aud the latter»can be pur
chased or rented as may be deemed
advantageous. The present and also
a leading director have lnid assurances
from responsible parties interested in
rolling mills that the raiils would be
furnished on the terms öanied, but it
was hardly to be expecfed that they
would enter into a \yritteb contract to
such effect before the railroad company
on its part could say positively it would
need the rails and when. '
As some persons who would otherwise
subscribe liberally rqay apprehend the
project cannot be carried through and
the'amount of tjieir subscriptions would
be lost to them without'effecting the
object intended,; we will mention that,
in case a conditional subscription list of
$600,000 is gotten np, a bond of indem
nity will be made by respoflMble parties,
guaranteeing the completion ana equip
ment of the road,
We believe the enterprise is entitled
to the indorsement and efficient aid of
the Cotton Exchange, and: that what is
to be done should be dont-* promptly.
In that view we recommend a general
meeting called, when the Subject can be
presented to the member^ by those best
qualified; and further, that a committee
of influential gentlemen be appointed
to make personal application for sub
scriptions. T- H. H unt,
" IL abocisse,
Cha^i Chaffe.
After the report had bien read, Mr.
Uarke, general managet* of-the New
Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago Rail
road, was introduced and>-iddreused the
meetiug at some length. |
He stated that he wouhf not pretend
to go into the merits of this road as the
means of increasing our cetton receipts.
The advantage» of rail cëmmanicntion
with Texas were evidently inipiJsSed
upon the minds ofethe gentlenrFirbeforc
him. He pTo|HH**d more particularly
to go into the merits of the road itself.
He had examined carefully into the esti
mates made by Chief Engineer Greene,
and agreed with him that the road
could be built at a very low figure.
Not being aware of the nature of the
country through which the road ran,
he could not speak knowingly of its
local traffic, but he claimed that the
object point to be reached was the great
commercial centre of Tex s. As a pav
ing investment it spoke for itself. If
the trade of northern, eastern and cen
tral Texas was a desideratum ; by con
trolling it, through the medium of this
road a sufficient guarantee of the sol
vency of the enterprise would be as
sured. The distances compare most
favorably with other points, and; nature
itself assures it to be a paying invest
ment. Mr. Clarke stated that, while
the cotton receipts at Galveston, .Mem
phis, Charleston, Savannah anil inte
rior points were more than they should
be, yet he did not feel despondent of
recovering a fair proportion, and he did
not think tlinjt the citizens of New Or
leans should; rest satisfied until they
could justly [claim two-thirds of the
total crop sljipped to t fii-> market for
export. j
At theclospof his address, Mr. Clarke,
when questioned, stated that he would
« illiiitriy suljsci ibe $10,000 to the com
pletion of tliic road.
On niotion:the following named gen
tlemen werelappointed a committee of
seven to report resolutions indorsing
rhe report ai}'d favoring the road to an
adjourned ujeetiug, to be held this af
ternoon, at (3 p. m.: Messrs. Charles
Chaffe, J. BJLafitte, R. M. Walmsley,
Samuel Siiuiisoii, A. H. May, R. T. Buck
uer and L. (J. Jurey.
The meetijig then adjourned.
Afitilicia! Butter.
EXTENT Of MANUFACTURE AND USE—
DIKKEKKxjr KINDS AND QUALITIES—
AVI1AT MAKERS SAY OF IT, AND THE
OPINION (|F BUTTER-DEALERS. ■«
[Fronl tiie New York Tribune.]
From 30,0i>0 to 100,000 pounds of caul
fat aie bnjught daily from the large
battoirs off this city and vicinity to
be tenderers into oil, a considerable part
of which, ii!. turn, is manufactured into
butter. 11| is with reference to this
trafic in artificial butter, or oleomar
garine, thatjii law was recently passed by
the legislature of this State. It is en
titled "An« act for the protection of
dairymen, ;md to prevent deception in
the sales of butter."
Whatevej; may be the merits of
oleomargarine, it cannot be denied that
some persofisare still somewhat squeam
ish about using it, and would not in
dulge half; so heartily were they to
discover that the substance of which
they are partaking "in the semblance
of butter "Ms not the "legitimate pro
duct of the dairy," aud is not "made
exclusively of milk or cream," but is an
article "into which the oil or fat of ani
mals, not produced from milk, enters as
a component part."
In view rft the interest excited in the
subject by the passage of the bill, some
inquiries \tere made by a Tribune re
porter to ascertain the exteut of the
manufacture and use of oleomargarine
in this vicinity, what is claimed for it
by its advocates, what butter-dealers
think of it, and what will be the effect
of the new law. The law provides that
all packages containing artificial butter
shall be plainly labeled with the name,
"Oleomargarine," and that all retail
dealers, when selling it, shall furnish the
purchaser! with a card, also marked
" Oleomargarine."
To ascertain the value of oleomargar-1
ine, two classes were consulted—those
who made! it or the oil from which it is
made, anil prominent butte'™ dealers.
The estimate of these persons seemed
to differ, i" It is a contemptible fraud,"
saitl the first dealer whuse opinion was
sought, "Yon might as well make
butter out of castor oil, no matter what
the soft-headed professors who furnish
them with" certificates say in its favor. It
looks well enough for a while, but in a
month the parts disintegrate and yon
have nothing bu(grease. Butte?dealers
won't have anything to do with it."
Other dealers Were less decided in
condemujiiK it, but all who were visited^
stated that they did not deal in it, and
seemed te regard it as veiy important
to avoid giving the impression that they
had anything to do with it. Some ad
mitted tluit oleomargarine bears a close
resemblajice to dairy butter, and that
it cau no| be distinguished from it Un
less the per cent of oil is very large, and
that it will pass for a fair'quality of
butter, s
The persons who make the oil and
butter were more positive in its favor,
saying: 1' It looks like butter, it is but
ter; its constituents and their relative
proportions, as determined by analysis,
are the sjune as that of dairy butter.
It is m<|de from the fat of liewly
slaughteied animals, and as much care
is exercised in. making a puie article as
is used itji making dairy butter in the
best regkilated dairy. Only prejudice
preventsiit fiom being: regarded as a
valuahlcjtood product."
There jire two kinds of oleormagar
The first may be called the origi
nal and genuine; in making it the oil
is adulterated witli just enough cream
to allow pif its being churned, the pro
portion (*f cream to .oil being about 1
to 30. The original and genuine is made
in large factories operating under the
Mege parent. Butter dealers claim to
be able t|> distinguish this article from
dairy butter quite readily, lacking, as
it does, the "texture" of the latter.
The second kind is that in which the
oil has been largely adulterated with
cream—perhaps with 50 or 60 per cent,
of créa life.
This kfnd is made by country dairy
men, andf, it is believed, in considera
ble quantities; and to detect its com
position baffles the skill of any except
the most experienced dealer. The man
ufacture of the " original and genuine"
is still quite limited, and much of it is
exportedj so that the quantity in the
market is really very trifling—a pro
tracted search would be necessary to
find any. At least, those who make it
so represent, To what extent the new
law will protect dairymen, good house
wives aud confiding boarders remains
to be seen.
I he manufacturers of the "original
•WR genuine " _ will probably comply
faithfullyj with its provisions, since the
detection jof violations is, in their case,
easy. Maniy of the retail dealers will,
perhaps, furnish with each puund or
half pound sold a beautifully tinted
card marked " Oleomargarine." But the
dairyman; will doubtless continue to
buy oil, adulterate it with cream, churn
it into " substance in semblance of but
ter, and consign it to the city labeled,
not ' 0. m|,' but ' Choicest Creamery
•; —
The sid* door of a bar room says the
Chicago Kost is like a great many peo
ple's prayfer books—good only on Sun
day. »
School û #r«.
(Harper's Bazar.)
Once more by mount and meadow aide,
The merry bells are ringing,
Once more by vale aud river wide
The school-room doors are swinging ;
Forgotten books win pensive looks.
And slates come forth from cover,
For hand in hand to lesson-land
Go little lass and lover.
Vacation hours were full of Joy,
Vacation skies were cheery ;
Yet days which pleasant tasks employ
Are neither dull nor dreary.
The rvthmic beat along the street
Of feet that dance in walking
Give witness true that three times two
Is better l'un than talking.
WUAt need of bliss were ours, my friend,
If we, like these, were able
Our cares and discontents to spend
In vanquishing a table—
If we could be so light and free
Amid our garnered pleasures
As these who sweet the tale repeat
Of ruuioweights aud measures !
Ah! children dear, our later days
Have brought us wise anointing ;
We see In all your sunny ways
The Father's kind appointing.
Your morning bell is ours as well—
We go to school to Duty,
Whose brow severe from year to year
Wears fadeless wreaths of beauty.
The Lards Prayer.
Our Father
By right of creation,
By bountiful provision,
By gracious adoption—
Who art in heaven—
The throne of Thy glory,
The portion of Thy children,
The temple of Thy angels
Hallowed be Thy name
By the thoughts of our hearts,
By the words of our lips,
By the works of our hands—
Tiiy kingdom come—
Of Providence to defend us,
Of grace to retlne us,
Of glory crown us—
Thy will be done on earth as it is In heaven—
Towards us without resistance,
By us without compulsion,
Universally without exception,
Eternally without declension
Give us this day our daily bread—
Of necessity for our bodies.
Of eternal life foi our souls—
And forgive us our trespasses—
Against llie commands of Thy law,
Against the grace of Thy gospel—
As we forgive those that trespass against us—
By defaming our characters.
By embezzling mir property,
By abusing our person—
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver as
from evil—
Of overwlie'ming afflictions,
Of wordl.v enticements,
Of 8atau's devices, %
Of error's si du <'iion.
Of sinful affections—
For thine is the kingd.m, the power and the
glory forever—
Thy kingdmi overns all.
Thy power si lues all.
Thy glory is . ::ove all.
Amen.
As It is in Thy purpose,
Bo it is in Th\ promises,
Jjo be it in our prayers.
+ * noiishill be to Thy praise.
Front the
1 Infrlicia " ol Ada Isaars
Menken.
Where is the promise of my years,
Once written on my brow,
Ere errors, agonies and fears
Brought with them all that speaks in tears,
Ere I had sunk beneath my peers—
Where sleeps that promise now 1
Nought lingers to redeem those hours.
Still, still to memory sweet—
The flowers that bloomed in sunny bowers
Are withered all, and evil towers
Supreme above her sister powers
Of sorrow and deceit.
I look along the condemned years
And see life's riven fane,
Just where it fell amid the jeers
Of scornful lips, whose mocking sneers.
Forever hiss within mine ears,
To break the sleep of pain.
I can but own my life is vain,
A desert void of peace—
I missed the goal I sought to gain
And lost the measure of the strain
That lulls fames fevor in thy brain,
And bids earth's tumult cease.
Myself ! alas, for theme so poor,
A theme but rich in fear—
I stand a wreck on error's shore,
A spectre not within thy door,
A houseless shadow evermore,
An exile lingering here t
Tax Parera, Take Notice.
J Bloch
.1 Dubourdieu
EDEstilette
F J Montgomery
F B Smith
S B Harmon
Jas H Houston
'lias S Hollier
Alphonse Levy
Leoiicc Sandoz
Julius Meyers
J P Smith
H A Phillips
H David
Eugene Richard
Lncius David
Addison iJimmick
c M Daly
W L Truman
John I Gardiner
Geo H Gardiner
F A Barry
J L Guilbeau
R Barry
J W Gardiner
J Chretien
Andre D Meche
David Meohe
Jno Collins
Albert Burleigh
Alex Burleigh
TB Dai ley
W R Wilson
C C 8wayze
W M Johnston
R M Davis
OUK TORE 18 HEAVY ! COME LET US CONSULT
TOGETHER.
The undersigned land owners and taxpayers
invite a public meeting of all citizens that have
an interest in equalizing and reducing the bur
den of taxation, to assemble at the Courthouse
in Opelousas on the 9th of February, 1878, to
take suital,le 8t!, ps in furtherance of the object
^bove expressed.
„ DIED t
McCARTY—°n Friday t;, l6 25thi at 7:50 p
'. . «'fy A. Shauglmessy,
^ ife of ThotllH.8 &£Tf J d 31 VA'll'H A
of New Ovleans. H^T remains were
corn ej ed to New Orleans for interment.
JUDICIAL AnVERTISBlENTS.
SHERIFF'S SALE.
DISTRICT COURT. PARIS'! OF8T. LANDRY,
Nos. 10710 iSc 1 .'020.
CELKSTINE 8IMOM ADMX. VS. ALEXIS
LAGUii ET AL.
By virtue of aw of fieri facias Isnued
out of the hounralilt District Court, in and
forthe parish of St. La "try. In theaboveentitled
suit, and to nie directed, I will proceed to «ell
at publie auction, to the highest bidder, at the
Courthouse of said piir'sh. iu the town of Ope
lousas. on 8ATU KDAY, the 16t dav of February
1878. at 11 o'clock a. m ., the following described
property, to-wit :
A Riiw mill with all the apparatus and engine
thereto belonging attached under writ of at
tachment issued in suit No. 120-20 of the District
Court, entitled Celestlne Simon, aduix. r»
Alexis Lague et al„ on 2d April, 1870, aud now
on the plantation occupied or owned by Frerre
Alexis Nezat on the east side of Bayon Tccho
in said parish,
C. C DUSON
feb a Sheriff of the Parish of 8t. Landry.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
To the Officers and Members
of
HOPE HOOK AKD LADDER COMPANY
At the regular meeting which Is to be held
Monday February 4th, 1878, there is to be an
election of officers. A punctual attendance la
required. SOL. BLOCH,
Feb 2 Secretary.
Taken Up!
An american mare mule, brown color, with
saddle and harness marks, about fourteen
hands high, with no visible brand. Bald mule
has been taken up by the undersigned on Bayou
Bœuf. The owner is requested to eome for
ward prove property, pay costa and take her
away. J08. M. ROBERTS,
Jan. 2<-5t
Oakland Sate JUitS,
OPPOSITE WASHINGTON, LA.
I have on hand a chole-e lot of Atchafalaya
cypress lumber for sale, and am prepared to
saw all orders for lumber at the lowest rate»
and at short notice, On bills over 5flO feet
toilage pa ht by mill. S. R. WALKER.
Jan. 19-Sm
JYottce to Gardeners.
Owing to the fact of the country being
flo oded with garden seeds which are put up for
sale on commission, D. Landreth & Sons navs
made a reduction on their seeds of owe hundred*
per ccnt to wholesale purchasers. We are now
selling Landreth's seed at a like reduction at
retail 5 et«, per paper or so cts. per dozen
C. MAYO, A«rt.,
jas-u-tt tit* Big «ort«.