***EARLY LAFAYETTE DRAINAGE

Police Jury. Mr. Spell reported the condition of drainage of the public road in the second ward near the land of the Guidry heirs, and recommended that the drainage be made on the south side of the road as better results would be obtained.
Laf. Adv. 1/11/1905.



Police Jury.
The question of drainage of the public roads in the vicinity of Chas. Darby's land was referred to the parish attorney. Laf. Adv. 1/11/1905.

A large drain pipe is being laid from the Gordon Hotel south along Jefferson street to the big ditch. It is to carry off all waste water from the hotel and is being put down by the hotel owners. Lafayette Advertiser 1/11/1905. 




On last Wednesday night we were visited by a heavy pouring of rain and on last Thursday morning making an inspection of our streets we noticed that all of them are perfectly drained. Laf. Adv. 1/13/1900.

Police Jury 1/6/1898.
A petition from the citizens of the first ward relative to completing a certain drain was read and laid on the table.
Laf. Gaz. 1/15/1898.



Work on the streets is progressing, the grass and weeds are removed from side ditches, and thrown upon the road bed, making the center higher, which will create a natural water drainage. If a heavy roller could be used, so as to pack this loose dirt, it was save us a great deal of mud, should the weather change to a watery spell. Laf. Adv. 1/15/1898.

The Mills Pond. - Several of our citizens residing in the neighborhood of the pond in the Mills addition have complained of the unhealthy conditions resulting from a stagnation of water together with an accumulation of trash in the pond. It is believed that the natural drains are obstructed, and several days after a heavy rain the water remains in the pond, which is made the dumping ground of an assortment of tin cans et cetera which does not in the least add to the salubrity of the surrounding atmosphere. We would ask the City Fathers to investigate this and act in the matter as soon as possible. Lafayette Gazette 1/17/1903.

Notice. - Persons cutting ditches across the sidewalk to drain their yards are compelled by an ordinance to bridge of box the same.
The attention of the public is also directed to the ordinance against the placing of all kinds of trash in the streets. These ordinances will be strictly enforced.
ALPHONSE PECK, MARSHAL.
Lafayette Gazette 1/20/1900.



Quite a new idea was ventilated in our sanctum, while we had a flood in miniature. To require the Water works to lay a net of suction pipes from the streets into their resorvoir so as to take up the surplus water that our sewers are unable to carry off.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/22/1898.

POLICE JURY.
By motion of Mr. Brown the Police Jury resolved to take immediate steps, to establish, drainage districts throughout the parish and Messrs. O. C. Mouton, C. C. Brown and R. C. Greig, were appointed to draft suitable enactments for adoption in the premises. Laf. Gaz. 2/3/1894.


Letter From A Citizen.
To the Editor-Laf. Gazette:

 In your last week's issue, I noticed that you have touched the question of the old pond in Mills addition. Not enough has been said about it, because you could not say too much.

 Not later than yesterday I made an eye survey of the drainage, and for hardly any cost could be done, removing a great danger to the public health. Not only the water stays in stagnation, but all garbage is dumped there, which makes it very sickly - even dead animals are seen floating on the water.

 Our City Fathers are doing good work in town; let them not stop, let them keep things going, and a little attention in the direction of that pond will make them act.

 We, citizens of that neighborhood are paying taxes for water works and electric lights, and neither we have, so for a little consideration of a few dollars in work on the drainage of that pond will satisfy every one and all in that neighborhood.

 Thanking you for the space given me in your columns.

    I am yours,
               A. CITIZEN.

Lafayette Gazette 1/24/1903.



The Weather. - Considering the long spell of cold weather, accompanied by blustering winds, and the fact that fires have been kept up constantly in all dwelling houses, Lafayette is particularly fortunate in not having a single conflagration; in fact, such a thing has not occurred for several years.

Tuesday night a heavy rain set in which lasted until Wednesday afternoon. Our ditches were sufficient to carry off the water, and to-day the streets are in good condition. Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1891.





Our Late Flood.
Various persons have tendered us their opinion for the cause of our recent flooded streets.
We thought like everybody else that the quantity of water that has descended upon us was the only cause of our flood, but after investigation we found that we were mistaken. At the time, we had called the attention to our sewers but we ought to have said our ditches. These latter ones are the main cause why our streets were transformed into bayous. We took a survey of the drainage water ditches in some portions of our town and we find them in a deplorable condition, especially would we call the attention of our street committee to the ditch which is located on the upper side of Mr. Chas. Caffery's residence. This ditch is entirely out of date for this section where the quantity of rain is far above the average. It ought to be broader, deeper and some means could be devised to keep it from caving. If planks were not sufficient to protect its banks from caving in, bricks ought to be used. At the intersection of this ditch and the one running in front of Judge Parkerson's house is almost all level with the street; going by the judge's house we found this ditch filled up with obstructions of various kinds and to our mind a cleaning up is greatly needed. Crossing, Lincoln Avenue, this ditch is continued through a channel which is too narrow for the quantity of water it is expected to carry; this continuation is like the main part of the ditch filled with obstructions of various kinds, old cans, etc., etc. We hope our street committee will look after this matter, without delay, and a general overhauling of these ditches and others prevent another flood in our streets.
Lafayette Advertiser 2/5/1898.


City Council of Vermilionville.


Session of January 16th, 1869.

Members present: R. Dugat, President, B. A. Salles, Henry Landry, G. C. Salles. Absent: Ed. Pellerin.

 On motion it was resolved, that the Collector proceed immediately to the collection of all taxes due the Corporation for the years 1866, 1867 and 1868, and also all Licenses due for 1868 and 1869.

 On motion of B. A. Salles, it was resolved that a committee of three be and are hereby appointed to examine the streets of the town for the purpose of draining the same and report at the next meeting of the Council. The president appointed Messrs. G. C. Salles, H. Landry and F. Martin on said committee.


 On motion it was resolved, that persons residing within the limits of the Corporation and having hedges growing near the street, so as to obstruct the sidewalk in any way, are hereby notified to trim the said hedges, within the ten days next ten days next following the publication of this resolution; otherwise the same will be trimmed at their expense.

 On motion it was resolved, that all persons are hereby notified and forbidden not to obstruct the side walks in any manner, under penalty of a fine not less than five dollars; to be recovered before any court of competent jurisdiction.

 On motion the Council adjourned to Wednesday the 20th. inst., at 3 p. m.
W. B. BAILEY, Secretary.
R. DUGAT, President.
Laf. Advertiser 2/6/1869.


Police Jury.

The drain through the fields of Messrs. Osma Boudreaux and Dupre Landry was discussed at some length, and Atty. C. H. Mouton was called in and asked his opinion as to the Jury's rights under the law. Upon his advice Roadoverseer Alce Dugas, of the third ward, was instructed to open the drain.

 Another question similar, that of a dam on Mr. Louis Cunningham's place which prevented the water from flowing off from the public road was brought up and considered at some length. Upon Attorney Mouton's advice the Jury resolved to notify Mr. Cunningham that he must remove the dam.
Laf. Advertiser 2/10/1904.



POLICE JURY: Messrs. A. Judice, Alex Delhomme, Sr., N. P. Moss and L. E. Patterson here appeared and complained of certain dams across Bayou Queue Tortue, obstructing said stream and flooding the lands in the western portion of the parish. By motion of Mr. Mouton, President Billeaud appointed Messrs. A. Judice, M. Broussard and Aurelien Olivier a committee to investigate the complaints and thereupon if justified to present due information to the Grand Jury at its next session of any violations of the law respecting obstruction of natural streams and drains.

Mr. Judice on behalf of the committee also prayed for an appropriation of $75 to aid in the construction of a canal to drain the lands in the western portion of the second ward. No action.
Lafayette Gazette 2/14/1903.



POLICE JURY;
By motion of Mr. Broussard, Messrs. Numa Breaux, Clemile Cormier and L. G. Stelley were appointed a drainage committee for the 6th ward.  Lafayette Gazette 2/16/1901. 




Want Drainage.
To the Editor of The Gazette.

 We hope that the committee lately appointed by the Police Jury will give due attention to the volume of water in the Scott road coming from the north side of the Louisiana Western Railroad. Heretofore this has been criminally neglected. The water can easily be made to run in its proper channel which is north and not south of the railroad.

 We trust the committee will give us relief as soon as possible, as we cannot travel this piece of road without running the risk of breaking our necks or greatly damaging our vehicles. Let us hope.
                           TAX-PAYERS.
Lafayette Gazette 2/17/1894.  




CITY COUNCIL.
 By Dr. Martin -- Be it resolved, That the Council give special instruction to the street committee to give the canal in Mill's Addition and the big ditch needful attention, the contract for same to be let to the lowest bidder, any and all bids subject to rejection and that the mayor be added to the committee for this special purpose. Laf. Gazette 2/19/1898.




The Cleanliess of Lafayette.
(Communicated.)
TO THE LAFAYETTE GAZETTE:

 When I read the complaints from two citizens and tax-payers of the neighborhood of that disgraceful old pond; and as another tax-payer and resident of that neighborhood, I cannot restrain myself from saying a few words about it, as I have daily occasion to pass right close to it, and often meet strangers who express themselves most indignantly in saying what a shame for a civilized town to have such horrors in its midst.

 Now, members of the city council, excite that dormant pride in your bosoms, and spread like all up-to-date towns the propaganda of cleanliness, and spend a few dollars to help the health of the town. We are not asking for a system of sewerage, but merely a small drain from that pond leading the water out of town, so as to give us residents of that part of town a dry road to go to the railroad track. As it is now, we have to go around four blocks to reach it.

 Lafayette is not like New Orleans, visited by thousands of people, but no matter as to the number of visitors she receives, I fear the conditions of our streets and principally that dirty, unhealthful pond in Mills addition may shock them; otherwise if they should see that disgraceful hole cleansed out, and put in a condition to relieve us of the danger of all kinds of diseases that breed there.

 Now members of the city Council, Lafayette has made such a stride in the progressive world, and with the prospect of being the leading town in Southwestern Louisiana, reflect only a minute; don't let a few dollars for the welfare of the town be in your way, and no more harsh words would be heard against our beautiful little city. Do as much as you can to benefit her and it will be an evidence of its commercial and financial prosperity and progress.

 Now members of the city Council, it is left to you. Do your duty.
           signed, F.
 Lafayette Gazette 2/21/1903.



Our streets are again in fine condition, dry and hard, and driving upon them is a pleasure; owing all to our excellent drainage. Laf. Adv. 2/21/1891.



Some of our streets have been repaired and much improved. Madison street, on which our office stands, is now being put in excellent condition.  We hope the authorities will continue the good work on all the streets and in such a manner as to facilitate rapid and thorough drainage. Laf. Adv. 2/23/1878












We are glad to see that the streets committee of the city council has commenced the work of clearing out the ditches and repairing the streets. They have five or six gangs employed in different portions of the town, and the work is progressing rapidly. The weather has been clear and cool, and highly favorable for this work. Laf. Adv. 4/13/1889


 If our city dads don't look out they will have our ditches so deep that a man will endanger his life by going near the bank of one ;  he might grow dizzy looking down into their awful depths "don't cher know." Laf. Adv. 4/19/1893




A Dangerous Practice.


 We wish to call the attention of our street commissioners to the banquet in front of the property of Mr. Allingham, on Lincoln avenue, north of the railroad track. Two ditches have been dug across the banquette, leading from the garden in the road, for the purpose of draining the garden, probably. The ditches are eighteen inches or two feet deep and uncovered, and are very dangerous. A person walking there on a dark night, being unaware of the ditches, might easily break a leg or arm from a fall caused by stepping on them. The city should attend to this at once, and either compel the owner of the property to put a cover over the ditches or fill them up. It seems to us that some one must be very negligent or their duty; when a man can dig ditches of this sort on one of our public streets with perfect immunity, and in so doing make it absolutely dangerous for a pedestrian to pass after dark. Certainly if our public officers were alive to the responsibility of their office and did their duty, a property owner would not dare to dig such ditches; but it really seems that at present every one feels that they have a license to do as they please, without fear or being called to account for their actions. Lafayette Advertiser 4/26/1893.

A petition was read from residents of the 3rd ward asking the Council to co-operate with the Police Jury in opening a ditch down the east side of the railroad to the bayou to drain McComb addition and carry off water coming from the Torian and Buchanan place. The street committee to which the Mayor was added was instructed to appear before the Police Jury in regard to the matter and also act with a committee from the Jury should one be appointed. A communication from the Fire Department asking that the Council recognize as chief, Mr. A. E. Mouton, and as assistant chief, Mr. C. W. Breeding, whom the department had elected, was read and the Council by resolution complied with the request.Lafayette Advertiser 6/7/1905.


Some good work was done this week in the way of cutting down the weeds that were fast getting the best of the ditches lining some of the streets. We hope to see the good work kept up that the weeds throughout the town may be kept down.
Laf. Adv. 6/9/1894