The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1899-03-25
THE .IMDusZRIAL SCHOOL.

Under the law passed through
the efforts of State Senator Robert
Martin an Industrial School is to be
established in one of the three par
ishes composing this senatorial dis
trict. To secure this school GER
tain conditions must be complied
with. A donation of twenty-five
acres of land for site and $1,000
must be made. The rest will be
done by the State.
New Iberia, Jeanerette and ST.
Martinville are exerting themselves
toward securing this prize. Their
people have organized themselves
and are leaving nothing undone to
get the Industrial School.
Lafayette is concededly the best
site for the school. But what has
our people done in the matter9
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. 1t
is true the most enterprising have
INDUCED in some cheap talk, but
talk is not what is needed. Some
thing more substantial is required.
An earnest effort and a willingness
to go down into our pockets. Talk
won't do. If we talk and refuse to
work intelligently in this matter the
Industrial School will slip by US
just as the Abbeville railroad did.
There is only one way to get the
Industrial School. 1t is case of
put up or shut up. We must raise
the money by taxation Otherwise
it will not be raised at all. The town
raised over thirty thousand dollars
to build a waterworks and electric
light plant. Why can't it raise
$40, 900 to get the school?
If this town wants to go ahead it
must learn to help itself. 1t must
practise the doctrine of self clip.
Towns like individuals are the ar
chitects of their own fortunes.
Fifteen years ago Shreveport was
a small town with one railroad.
To-day it is one of the best and
most progressive cities in the South.
Long ago the citizens recognized
that they had to go down into their
pockets. 1t was either that or re-
progression. They chose the for
mer.
In 1888 Caddo parish. Of which
Shreveport is the capital, gave a
100000 bonus to the Vicksburg.
Shreveport and Pacific Railroad.
In the same year the City gave
500, 900 to the New Orleans Paci-
fc.
In 1886 the Shreveport and
Houston Railroad was completed
into Shreveport and for the con
struction of which the taxpayers Of
that city gave bonus of $4,000.
In 1887 the Cotton Belt was bull,
into Shreveport and to this road a
bonus of $50, 900 was given.
In 1896 the taxpayers of Caddo
parish again put their hands into
their pockets and gave $4,000 to
the builders of the Kansas City
Pittsburg and Gulf Railroad.
During the year 1897 Shreveport
gave $40, 900 to the Red River Val
lev Railroad which was built to
Couschatta.
Here we have it that Shreveport
gave as bonuses to railroads alone
$40, 900, more than the assessed
value of Lafayette and nearly As per
cent of the assessed value of Baton
Rouge.
Fifteen years ago Shreveport
handled 90, 900 bales of cotton.
To-day it handles $50, 900 bales.
Fifteen years ago it had one rail
road. To-day it has six.
The wonderful strides made by
Shreveport is the best evidence tina
the town that wants to move along
must practise what MIR. Hargrove
APPLY terms the doctrine of self-help.
Let Lafayette heed the lesson Of
Shreveport. Let its people go
down into their jeans and put up
the money if they want the Indus
trial Soho OIL.