St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-05-12
THE RIVER AND RARBOR BILL
n. o. Picayr lie, May 8.

n. y. Plcdyl 1t, mdy 0.
The river and barbor bill passed the
House yesterday by more than a two
thirds majority, aud our correspondent
pays some very handsome compliments
to MI. Blanchard for his management
Of the measure.
Our people had become very uneasy
about this bill, and the chances fot its
passage through the House appeared
to grow very small. The discourSSying
reports as to the prospects OF the
measure therefore found credence in
some quarters, and those who had
considered the honorable chairman of
the committee, who is from our State,
as not equal to the task Of gaining the
floor of the House TO a sufficient point
to put it on final passage, have found
themselves mistaken.
The triumph of the river and harbor
appropriations in the House after the
experience of the last session, and I'M
der the draw backs at present, is one of
the greatest trlumphS OF the cause
which that bill representative mainte-
nance of water transpo tatiOn as COM
petitor with the great railway systems.
The Picayune bad an abiding conf
dence that the same inspiration which
put the interstate railway commission
in power would also seek to build up
the natural competitive systems of
water transportation and lend the ma
tional aid in their behalf.
The same spirit which sought to con-
the abuses that had grown out
of their monopoly Of carriage coald not
fail to lend substantial assistance in
making the way clear for The water
routes of transportation.
Atall events, new spirit has come
over the National Legislature, which
Mr.. Blanchard and his committee have
judiciousiy handled, and it has enabled
them to put this bill, in which Louisi-
ana aud the Southwest have such a
deep interest, in a position to pass the
Senate, and go before the President in
ample time to have due consideration
and receive his approval.
The critic may carp, and the advO-
Gates OF the railway interests may OBJ
ject, but it is now pretty certain that
the river and harbor bill will pass both
houses and become law.
PRAIRIE HAYES, ACADIA PARISH, La, J
May 4, 1888. :
Editor DEMOCRAT
A much needed enterprise of ST..
Landry and Acadia parishes is a Joint
agi icultural, horticultural and mechani-
cal fair, coupled with a stock show, and
also depal tment recognizing and en-
couraging woman's skill 10 needle
work and her creative powers in the
graceful fine arts, paintings, drawings,
etc. Emulation is the great motive
power to progress. and all the grand
achievements OF life. Steel clashing
on steel flashes forth the fire of that
laudab!e ambition to equal, il not to ex-
cell which Is the inspiration OF soul
that creates and reaches out into the
limtless fields of human attainment
wasre oil things in tho world are made
grand and beautiful It fashions the
horse the nohlest OF animals into the
beauty Of perfect symmetry and match
less speed and power it calls forth in
all the world of domestic animals all
tlatis useful and all that is beautiful.
In man it is the inspiration OF all his in
tellectual greatness and all his grand
CT eative powers it directs the mind
and nerves the ann in the world of
useful inyention it fires the genius OF
the artist uoti lie fixes on CANVASS
images OF perfection and almost breath
ing life, and chisels from the rude stone
forms OF matcLless beauty. Into this
field OF the beautiful many Of the gen
tier sex also nave gone forth, and have
won enduring fame. Moved by the
same incentive many go forth into the
gardens OF progress to cultivate and
care for the flowers, Heavens sweetest
gifts to man prompted by the same,
the hand is directed that plies the nee
die and the most beautiful laces and en-
broidiles ale the result of her skill and
labor. Y nder this inspiration she masters
with the privilege Of sumptuously din
fiuence The horticu!turist produces in
the fields OF ftritaae The most beauti-
fti and iasGloas fruits to gladen our
ttnnat moves forward the planter and the
farmer to the grandest and most salts
factory results Of bis labor. Thus the
yorld OF does march onward to the
highest goal TO atlaiD to which is o
consummation deyoatly to be wished by
all. To encourage aud foster these let
prosperity of our two parishes write,
st~pfb tStIb v wv tNt5 !GQ0d-
able and p, o2ese.gs enterprise for in
this we establish a school of teachers
the most potent aud unerring of which
the world has knowledge, namely ex-
perience, personal observation or per-
sonal contact Tlese vii! give us knovl-
edge, give Us pleasure, give US success,
offering an opportunity for social and
instructive Intercourse among all
classes, enabling each to become a
crown tree oFersiadowing and prpteetv
ing with its friendly branches, his or
her less favored brother. sister or
friend. | think the enterprise could be
made self-sustaining prove sou ce Of
pleasure and instructive Interchange OF
thought, and do more to develop the
resources Of our respective sections, and
induce more and better Immigration
than all the embeIisl!ed newspaper
puds on record. For an ocular demon
siration OF our enterprise aud resources
is worth more to convince tie man Of
business sense than all other proclaims
whatever. Now, il the people aud pa
pers o. our two parishes are sufficiently
interested, let us hear at an early day Of
meeting called to give the matter de-
fninite shape.
Respeotrplly,
ELG ENE 4ioCKADAY.
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