Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1856-04-26
rHG GROWTH OF PLAaUEMnNE.

/ AAV AS1 NA6"0 JSSASS
airy period during that time that has showed
greater evidences Of prosperity than the pre-"
sent. A numberof new corners have settled
amongst us of late, aud new business estab>
Iishments gone into operation. We may all
Jude to the new Boot and Shoe store of Mr..
JOHN L. BALcH, the Millinery and Fancy store
of Mrs. GILL, the Livery Stables of Il. BRoUs~
sARD, IRELAND & ORCUTT and NJ. MARK, the
Grocery Store of Mr.. FIrE, and the Ice House
of Messrs. FLEETWOOD & SALES. All of
these vocations have gone into operation with
in the last two months-the two latter within
the last few days; while we may add that
ReTH & DEBLIEUx are erecting a brick build~
inc for a Grocery store in the rear of their pre-
sent Dry Goods establishment, and that the
bricks are now being made for HART, AUSTIN
g. Co., to erect their contemplated buildings
suitable for their extensive business. In our
suburbs private residences are continually go~
inp up, while the hand of taste is ever embel~
fishing them with beautiful shrubbery and fos
| rest trees, which give such an attractive feature
to country cottages.
All this gives unmistakable evidence Of pro-
sperify, which must be highly gratifying to
every resident and welI-wisher of our beauti-
fnl village.
But these improvements, those of a business
character in particular, are not to be wondered
at when the wealth of our parish and its dense
population are taken into consideration. The
wonder is, that situated in the midst of so
much o%pulence and industry of an agricultural
character, Plaquemine is not much larger and
far more prosperous than it really is.
No town or city can expect 10 grow or -four
ish (save commercial cities) unless a compar~
atively wealthy and enterprising people CONS
pose the county or State in which such town
or city may be located. Our parish is the
fourth in point of wealth in the Srate: these
four parishes are Orleans, st. Mary, St. Lam
dry and Iberville. The first contains the great
city of New Orleans; while it's second in inns
p~ortance is Baton Rouge, situated in a parish
Of far less wealth than our own. We have no
doubt, therefore, that if the same spirit had
been manifested here that has been evidenced
in Baton Rouge, our tow would have far out
stripped that place. w are fully persuaded,
judging from The great and increasing wealth
that surrounds US, as shown at the Assessors
office, that if a spirit of enterprise were to
spring up among orr wealthy and leading citi-
zens, Plaeuemine would soon be the second city
in the STATE.
We have not room in this article 10 allude
to the various enterprises that might be accom-
plished if we had a PIKE. a Rob- or a HART
amongst us. But the man and the hour will
come; and one of the first great works which
he will set on foot will be the building of a
Railroad from this place to the Park or to the
Indian Village, and the running of a day line
Of Mail steamers, carrying the mails for the
coast, the Attakapas and all Southwestern
Notwithstanding New Orleans in The morn
ing, and arriving at Franklin, in the parish Of
St. Mary, via Plaquemine, the following morn~
ing. Mind our propheey-these enterprises uiu
be accomplished; and when they are completed
and in successful operation, they will stimulate
to further and greater undertakings-one of
which will be to continue the Railroad up Bay
on Crosse Tete, and connect it with the Ba~
ton Rouge, Crosse Tete and Opelousas Rail-
road. All this will tend to the growth and
importance of PIaquemine.
Such an enterprise as the first one alluded
to above, we believe is not far distant. Such
a Road could not fail to be Of the greatest i'm
portance to Plaquemine, while at the same
time it would lead to other and greater enter~
prises. And here We beg to remark, that the
people Of our parish are taxed to support pub
lie schools; all right, they feel the benefit of
such a tax, for the State uses the money to
keep up a system of education amongst u.s.
But we also pay several thousands Of dollars
annually as a Railroad Tax Where does
this money GO to? There is not a Railroad
within a hundred miles of US, save the West
Baton Rouge road. Are the funds thus fur
nished by our citizens, appropriated to distant
roads, and the building up of other towns and
districts in the State? No matter how such
money! is appropriated, one thing is certain, we
do not get the benefit Of it and if this results
from our not engaging in such enterprises, it
is best perhaps, if we would save our money,
to engage in them as soon as possible.
Surely, to Gee the town prosper where one
lives should be the pride of every good citizen.
1t affords US pleasure to allude 10 them. when
we see unquestionable evidences of prosperity
amongst Us. Thus far, PIaquemiue has -four
ished almost solely through the advantage of
its position, having derived very little extrane.
GUS aid. But we trust that the day is near at
hand when q more liberal and enterprising spi-