New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1899-03-25

She also controlled large cattle trad,
from Texas and adjacent territory. 1t wa:
at this juncture that she assumed com
mercial supremacy over st. Martnvillt
and Franklin.
In 1867, a second visitation of yellow
fever came to mar her prospects Ever,
inland town in Louisiana fell It prey tl
this epidemic. 1t prevailed with great
virulence i'll the neighborinS towns of St
Martinvllle, Lafayette and AbhGville
New Iberia was fortunate III escaping the
scourge that affected most other towns in
1852, 1854, 1878, 1897 and 1898. Owing
to these exemptions, she has been less
impeded in her prosperity.
The bright future depicted by me for
New iberia in this article, does not mean
that her citizens shall remain dormant,
and do nothing towards fostering her nat
ural advantages. Following the exam
pie of our early pioneers, we should in
sist, for commercial purposes, upon the
early completion of the Plaquemine locks,
and in connection Herewith, the locking
of Bayou Teche and its tributaries, so as
to secure slack water navigation to Alex
andria, as provided in 1856, under an act
of the Legislature, passed in obedience to
the recommendation of State Engineer
Louis Hebert. In addition, we should
for hygienic and commercial purposes, fol
lowing the example of the early pioneers,
cut a canal from the crest of Bayou Teche
to tide water, at least one hundred feet
in width. This would secure a system of
drainage that would secure the agricul-
tural interests Of Iberia against such fail
ureS as resulted from excessive and pro-
lOnged rains during the last year. Capital
invested in agriculture and trade in Ibe-
ria Parish, has been sadly direlect in the
essential of drainage. The want of pro-
lection from this source has made some
thirty thousand acres of land, adjacent to
New Iberia unproductive, thereby entail
ing heavy losses upon the farmers, as
well as the manufacturers engaged in the
production of sugar Besides, this partial
failure In the sugar industry has entailed
a depression, and want of confidence in
our principal manufacturing industry, de-
pressing to capital wishing to embark in
it.
To overcome the difficulties signalized
from commercial, as we'll as hygienic
standpoint; there should be determined
effort, on the part of the citizens of Iberia
Parish, to reclaim ut any cost, every acre
of land, from the accumulation of pluvial
waters, by the most effective methods.
With the known appliances of to-day, such
an undertaking will be easy, as compared
to the work done by the original settlers,
with their crude appliances. The thorough
drainage of 10000 acres of land, repre-
quarter million in agricultural products
+ -
twenty dollars per acre of land equal to
six millions of dollars. Other improve
ments, would follow the completion of the
canal, that would lead to other
too numerous to consider.
1t would add to existing industries, as well
as contribute, to the development of new
ones.
Having looked backward as well as
forward, at every thing, connected with
the welfare of New Iberia, within my
sphere of observation, rs connected with
the past as well as the future of New Ibe- !
ria, will close my lengthy ard somewhat
narration of events connect
I'D with my native town and Parish, by
what l deem pertinent admonition. |
Neither the public building to be erected |
by the muniicent contribution of the gem |
oral government, nor the splendid market
house erected by our city council, nor the
;emple of justice that stands in graceful
contrast with the city hall, will make
,ity. Commercial intercourse, for the ex
change of our own home products, will |
llone develop the grandeur Of our city.
n country as rich as ours in agricultur-
Il and manufacturing resources, drainage
o secure the crops against all contingen-
lies drainage, as essential to proper sew
rage drainage, in connection with COM
nercial undertakings now proposed, is all |
essential to the development and prosper
ty of New IBERIA The locking of Bayou
in connection with the Teche
md it's tributaries, should be continuously
lrged upon the general government, as an
ssential to our future greatness. Inter-
communication, by means of
lectric tramways, will soon be found
heaper in the end, than our present ex
'ensive and unsatisfactory system of
Dads. Under proper financial restrictions
hey will, in the near future be found
'roftable, by the concentration of trade
rom neighboriDg localities into our lap.
With well-guided spirit of enterprise,
he future of New Iberia as commercial
enter is assured The monument which
8 soon to follow the appropriation made
" the general government, as well as our
magnificent market, are only forecasts to
ur future development, provided we con-
inue to develop our commercial advan-
ages, in the interest Of our agricultural as
veil as the mineral wealth that underlies
ur fertile soil ALFRED DUPERIER.
N INCIDENT RECALLED BY COL. RICH
ARDSON.
Mr.. EDIToR-In DR.. Duperier's very in