Houma Ceres. [volume] (Houma, Parish of Terrebonne, La.) 1855-18??, 1856-01-03
What 7KOlunaa Needs!


act of incorporation, passed by the Legis-
lature on the 10th of March 1919. II, as
far back as seven years ago, there arose
the necessity for the citizens Of our town.
to establish themselves into body polite,
ergo the reason is still more cogcnt that
that body should exist now, that we have
grown twice as populous and consequent
,ial. 1t is vain far US to ''rest upon our
oars" and endeavor to reason ourselves
into the belief that all moneys levied for
the purpose Of internal improvements
would be SO much thrown away simply,
because Houma will never Use above what
some facetiously term her, ''One horse
town." We must not lose sight of the
advantage which Houma possesses in con.
sequence Of the superiority Of her loca-
ton over that of most towns.
Situated as it were at the junction of
three Bayous whose fertile banks are lined
with rich and productive plantation whose
trade she mostly commands: She ne
cessarily becomes q town of no ordi-
nary commercial Importance. The faci.
lities of the Railroad which crosses this
parish at distance OF twelve and half
miles above this point, has had double
tendency; that of affording q shorter and
more direct communication to New Or
cans, which brings our merchants in more
direct competition with the merchants Of
that city aud compelling them to keep up
a stock commensurate with to the compe.
tition against which they have now to con-
tend, whilst at the same time she retains
the trade which she has always had, BY
affording inducements to planters to con-
tinue their patronage by the propotionate
reduction in the prices oftheir goods which
competition brings about. If we suppos-
ed that the least doubt could be entertain.
ed in regard to the correctness Of the prin-
ciple just advanced sufficiently clear de-
monstration Of causes growing to prove
such result can be made, to satisfy any
reasonable mind.
Toproceed-lt is a fct which perhaps,
is not generally known, that since the in
corporation Of Houma in ls4s, she has
doubled her trade, doubled her population
ind more than doubled ia extent her ter.
retor.al area. II is fact familiar to us
all. that at the period referred to, Houma
''all TOLD, !" consisted but Of Court House,
Boarding House and Store, with per-
hapstwo Or three private residence. How
i.it with her at the present day. We
ave description Of Houma seven years
ack-a small town of little or no note
with little or no commence, and with a
population SO small as scarcely to form a
respectable corporal's guard. To day her
commercial importance has given rise to
three large Mercantile establishments
besides few lesser ones. Her increas.
ed population has brought in resquisition
ands heret ofore valueless, and built them
up with fine residences. The increased
travel here supports respectfully two hotels
and boarding house. Her carriage
mandatory and black smith shops and
Machine shops, are indubitable evidences
that the mechanical art is encouraged and
flourishes in her midst. The moral and
religious tone Of her citizens is ma nife sted
in her churches. Indeed, on every hand
we behold evidences Of her increasing
prosperity.
We may say Of Houma that owing to
the material advantages which she poss-
essed, she was forced to increase in this
manner. Very true still, ifthere existed
in her citizens more ofpublic spirit. Houma
would in short time present an entirely