Changes

In 1946, Mitchell broke with his other council members to oppose a resolution by then Public Safety Commissioner L. K. Barney which ordered vendors off the sidewalks along busy Shreveport streets. Barney claimed that his motion would relieve traffic congestion; Mitchell said that the vendors, mostly small businessmen, could become wards of charity if unable to pursue their livelihoods.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9BkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=H.+Lane+Mitchell+of+Shreveport,+LA&source=bl&ots=KFd6XvHiEO&sig=k_7eglZvzSJ2QvUYUrePkxYIi6c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3rK4U7avA-zisASa_YCQDQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q=H.%20Lane%20Mitchell%20of%20Shreveport%2C%20LA&f=falserl=|title=Shreveport bans vendors from walks|date=April 20, 1946|publisher=''Billboard'' ([[magazine]])|accessdate=July 5, 2014}}</ref>

In 1946, Mitchell broke with his other council members to oppose a resolution by then Public Safety Commissioner L. K. Barney which ordered vendors off the sidewalks along busy Shreveport streets. Barney claimed that his motion would relieve traffic congestion; Mitchell said that the vendors, mostly small businessmen, could become wards of charity if unable to pursue their livelihoods.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9BkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA129&lpg=PA129&dq=H.+Lane+Mitchell+of+Shreveport,+LA&source=bl&ots=KFd6XvHiEO&sig=k_7eglZvzSJ2QvUYUrePkxYIi6c&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3rK4U7avA-zisASa_YCQDQ&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAzgU#v=onepage&q=H.%20Lane%20Mitchell%20of%20Shreveport%2C%20LA&f=falserl=|title=Shreveport bans vendors from walks|date=April 20, 1946|publisher=''Billboard'' ([[magazine]])|accessdate=July 5, 2014}}</ref>

During his thirty-four years in office, Mitchell, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], worked for street and drainage improvements on Youree Drive (named for early city figure Peter Youree), Line Avenue, Hearne Avenue, East Kings Highway, 70th Street, Jewella Road, and Hollywood Avenue. He was instrumental in designating the route of Interstate 20 through Shreveport. He pushed to extend and widen Linwood Avenue, to construct the Allen Avenue viaduct, to pave Bayou Pierre, and to improve drainage in the South Highlands neighborhood. He had [[rose]]s planted along city boulevards. Shreveport became known as the "Rose City"; Mitchell was honored for his efforts by the  Shreveport Rose Society and the Shreveport Beautification Foundation. He insisted on backyard garbage pickup without an additional fee to make litter less likely to land on the streets while being collected. He worked to locate Shreveport Regional Airport off Hollywood Avenue with interstate access. He customarily acquired more land for projects so that space would be available for future growth.<ref name=stimes/>

During his thirty-four years in office, Mitchell, a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], worked for street and drainage improvements on Youree Drive (named for early city figure [[Peter Youree]]), Line Avenue, Hearne Avenue, East Kings Highway, 70th Street, Jewella Road, and Hollywood Avenue. He was instrumental in designating the route of Interstate 20 through Shreveport. He pushed to extend and widen Linwood Avenue, to construct the Allen Avenue viaduct, to pave Bayou Pierre, and to improve drainage in the South Highlands neighborhood. He had [[rose]]s planted along city boulevards. Shreveport became known as the "Rose City"; Mitchell was honored for his efforts by the  Shreveport Rose Society and the Shreveport Beautification Foundation. He insisted on backyard garbage pickup without an additional fee to make litter less likely to land on the streets while being collected. He worked to locate Shreveport Regional Airport off Hollywood Avenue with interstate access. He customarily acquired more land for projects so that space would be available for future growth.<ref name=stimes/>

On March 8, 1955, at the prodding of the new mayor, [[James C. Gardner]], Shreveport voters approved a $19 million municipal bond issue, double the previous bond which passed in 1947. Inflated to 2005 standards, the same bond would equal approximately $124 million. This funding made possible many of the improvements which Mitchell pursued in the Public Works Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ritzpublications.com/1954-58-shreveport-city-council.html|title=The $19 million solution Bond election sets up 1950's Shreveport for growth|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|author=Mary Jimenez|date=March 6, 2005|accessdate=June 22, 2014}}</ref>

On March 8, 1955, at the prodding of the new mayor, [[James C. Gardner]], Shreveport voters approved a $19 million municipal bond issue, double the previous bond which passed in 1947. Inflated to 2005 standards, the same bond would equal approximately $124 million. This funding made possible many of the improvements which Mitchell pursued in the Public Works Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ritzpublications.com/1954-58-shreveport-city-council.html|title=The $19 million solution Bond election sets up 1950's Shreveport for growth|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|author=Mary Jimenez|date=March 6, 2005|accessdate=June 22, 2014}}</ref>