The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1899-08-05
SCHOOL.

'oSuc VI the Z2nd, OF la
month under the above heading.
stated that the average farmer Il,
ing in the Parish of Lafayette with
IN 8 or 10 miles from the tow
will receive more benefit and mo,
real wealth in the rise of value /;
his lands and other property tina
the average citizen living in town
provided the industrial school
located there; and in order to prov
this to every reasonable minde,
man, will give you a true an,
fair parallel case to Lafayette at tn
present day.
When was a young man.
was located near a small CITY O,
town about the size in population
to Lafayette called little York. I,
was considered at that time an in.
land country town. There were
no railroads nor r. RS. kings in
those days. The town was what
might be called poor for the want
ofpublic improvements, education
al institutions, manufactures and
railroads.
But they had one of the finest
and richest agricultural country for
hfteen or twenty miles around
them that could be found in the
country. The country being new
and a large proportion Of the
lands wild and belonging to the
government without any improved
roads to get to them was sold
cheap.
The sons and daughters from
older settlements rushed in and
bought or took up lots of 100 and
200 acres wherever they could
find them regardless of bad roads
The majority OF them only having
money enough to make the first !
payment on their lands, get them
an OK team, build a log house and
cleared up IS or 20 acres.
About this time there was a
raiIroad company gotten up to
build road from a navigable river
some twenty miles North of the
e
:ity to a lake South OF it, but they
wanted bonus of $50, 900 from
he parish. This set the popula-
ion Of the whole parish on its tip
oes. The village was nearly un-
'nimous in favor of it and they !
Yearly out-numbered the rest Of
he parish.
A large majority of the farmers
'ere against it especially those
nat lived ten and twelve miles out
{ the town. They said they knew
would build up the town, but !
'ould not do them any good, they !
ould not pay the bonus or .
ouldn't. Rut there was quite a
amber Of the oldest and most ex- y
farmers who were in fav-
Of it. They held meetings in q
'ery school district. ). the excite
ent went up to boiling heat, the
ection came off, the bonus was
lrfied by snail majority. K
In less than a month the town 81
olsed as though it had doubled II
population. The railroad COM o
my had rushed in hundreds of e.
en-, carts. wagons and teams and ia
her materials for building the m
ad. Several large manufacturers p
10 had been waiting to see if the nj
nus was carried were rushing in
IN and material to put up their =
ildingx. { The town was fall Of is
ospcctors looking for 4 chance G.
start new business.
There was man by the hamc
Tom Jones who lived about ~
les from the town. He owned
Q hundred acres Of the very best
q which he bough, cheap, it G..
ing back from the main road n,
, had a very comfortable log 2
use, : ayoke ol oxen and cart and Fl
2ut twenty-five acres Of cleared
d. On account Of bad roads O
] = slow tean, he only managed in
get into town four Or five times off
'car. He voted f6k the bonusl 70
y reluctantly and got the iIl-will h;r
great number Of his neighbors. r.,
five o. SIX weeks aftef the bonus q,
passed, he hitched up his NJ
e g his cart and went to lovsn.I
|en be- got there he sls asloa-