The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-07-24
AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

According to q previous call there
was q large meeting of those who are
deeply interested in the erection of 8
Central Sugar Factory at some conve.
nient point in this Parish. Those who
were present were intensely in ear.
nest and will contribute as far as they
can in making the enterprise success
Many of the farmers in conversation
tbemselves as absolutely
with the raising of cotton,
and their only hope was the erection
of a central factory. There was pres.
ent at the meeting almost every sugar
planter in the Parish, who evinced a
deep interest in the project, although
they are entirely independent of it.
At IL NJ, in the large school room,
which stands as a monument to the
untiring exertions of the ladies OF
Cheneyville in its behalf, the meeting
was called to order by Capt. Barstow
and Judge Blackman called to pre-.
side over the meeting. The Judge,
in a plain, terse and bdsiness-like way,
explained the object that prompted the
call, and was grateful that so many Of
the farmers, planters and merchants
had responded, and were present to
give encouragement to q project tina,
would enable them to diversity their
crops and insure a greater success in
agricultural pursuits.
From information received he
thought there would be no doubt in
obtaining the cooperative aid of CAPT
talists that would insure a success,
provided all of those interested would
do their part. Capitalists, said the
Judge, are always cautious and con-
sentative, and there must be such
pledges on our part as will guarantee
to them that it will receive the sup.
port and aid of our farmers and land.
owners by taking such an amount Of
capital stock, and by the planting Of
an acreage in cane that will give as
surances of our earnestness and good
faith in the enterprise. 1t was not
and could not be expected Of us that
we would by subscriptions raise the
needed capital for this purpose. This
section of the country had suffered
much in the last three years by loss of
crops, and if it continued exclusively
in the cultivation of cotton the pros
pect for prosperity would be anything
but pleasing.
In speaking of Bayou Boeuf, the
Judge said it was possible, with not a
very large outlay of capital, to make
it navigable all the year round, and
this alone would afford sufficient trans.
portation. A Central Sugar Factory
established on It's banks at some con-
venient point in this neighborhood,
would have an area of country in cane
in the near future, that would
supply factory Of more than six mil
lions pounds capacity.
While on the subject of slack water
in Bayou Boeuf, the Judge
called the attention of the people to
the danger of allowing Bayou Lamou.
rie to take off such an unnecessary
share Of water. Bayou Boeuf was
filling up, and the late droutn wit.
messed lower stage Of water than had
ever been known in the bayou. That
no injury could result to Bayou La
INQUIRE by preventing such waste Of
water, and that unless it was speedily
attended to Bayou Boeuf in a few
years would he in the same condition
that Bayou Robert is now. The at
tention of DR.. Meeker, member of the
Legislature, was called to the fact,
and whatever Legislation was necessa.
~ on the subject should be attended
to at the next session of the Legisla-
ture. There was lock in Bayou La.
INQUIRE, erected by the State at the
cost of ten thousand dollars, and it
was probable that if this lock was fix
ed it would accomplish all that was
necessary, and satisfactorily to the
people on both streams. That some
thing had to be done was obvious to
every one. Action on this important
matter could not longer be delayed
without danger of great injury to 80
Or 100 miles Of country on the banks
Of Bayou Boeuf.
In conclusion the Judge said that
we needed the development of a CO.
operative public sentiment, greater
tolerance, more liberality and unity of
action, that would result in great good
# it existed to greater extent.
After the adjournment of the meet
ing, subject to the call of the chair
man, the two committees appointed
met, organized and mapped ont line
Of policy for their guidance. These
committees are composed of active,
energetic and live men, who will at
once enter upon their work with de-
termination to do all in their power to
crown the project with success. This
The first step has been taken in this
enterprise, and we hope the grass will
not grow under the feet of its proiec-
;ors until the corner stone is laid and
he factory an accomplished fact.