The leader., 1900-04-25

Oc'vOer go. .... 2,13o,o5l 49, O5, lgj
ana sdS knowing that a like Increase has
takeh place, II Is no wonder we say that
no man can say where IL will end
ne lmproya ment along educational
hnes In southwest Louisiana has also
preh gratifying. Louisiana is so far be-
nlnu northern states in its school sys-
tenn aud In the amount Of money il an
PIoprlates Tor the education of its chill
uIeh that any comparison made with
other commemorative would be greatly
~ ouE disadvantage, but the Louisiana
OF to-day Is so far ahead of what ii was
Yen years ago that those who are inter
ested IN educational matters are feel ug
seatiy encouraged. Ten years ago there
schoaIJ IN acadia parish twelve public
senoois, with $50 scholars enrolled, with
= ualiy average attendance of 100. The
sSHOOis were In session on an average of
thIee months in the year.
o, az the present time Acadia has near v
1pVO scholars enrolled, with an ayera ge
udIIy attendance of 300 Schools are
inaIhtalned eight months In the year
We nave htty public schools and are EN-
20! ing nlty-hNe teachers, at from SIS to
80 per month. In addition to this there
are some ten or fifteen private schools in
800 pupils
rasn E are , unable to give the progress and
SdIcasleu parishes, but know that the i'm
proNement has been large,
Oue OF the sureSt indica lions of prog
Us "a country is an improved condl-
GJti, Va sAe puDIlc roads. The planters and
BUSINESS gus men of Acadia have already be.
gun 10 hgure upon the cost of hauling
tHt4I pfouuSts TO market and
now now much they lost by dragging them
w IN jug me mud. In no country in Amer
Ita IS me problem of good roads solved
easier than here in southwest Louisiana
our hard and compact clay making a
perfect rOadbed that no amount of bauI-
ny ny eHects when they are graded up and
ultGneI "A. 10
the water. Before the march of progress
udu struck these prairie parishes there
were no roads. There was little or no
naunng 10 be done. no fences In the
Went y, anu me native people usually
"eIl on horseback or drove over the
prairles at random. Since all of the
iahds are fenced up, however, people
nave begun to see the importance of
20 lS"u I,t 2ullging and already over 500 miles
VI splendid roads have been graded up
IN THIS parish and are today in splendid
condition. There are four or i've of the
laleSt improved Austin and Champion
stauefs owned in Acadia, and 1t Is a
rainy day when they are not at work
some where IN the parish. The Sixth ward
OF TINS parish, which includes the town
OIL crowley, last year voted a special D
nun TAX Tor road purposes; every dollar
OF this money has been expended upon
the roads in this ward The residents of
othtr portions of our parish, seeing the
good effects Of this move, are seriously
considering the ACCESSIBILITY of doing like
| wise. We expect to see this movement
soon spread all over southwest Louisiana
Inc new association of rice mills was
| one OI the most important steps that has
| been taken for years in the protection
| OF the rice Industry and the planters
| themselves. Many of the planters are
| men who came to Louisiana with little
| or no means; they have had to buy
! lands, machinery. horses and mules, buy
seed and build homes. This has placed
! doh 'ltaFa hot rg.a To ,,.fl Ial
| their creditors want their money The
| management of the different mills who
| have advanced them money want their
| money TO advance 10 some other planter
| to secure the milling of his crop, hence
| all of these things have acted as a lever
| which the wholesale buyers of clean rice
| have used against the farmer. Especially
! has this condition acted unfavorably
| upon the lower grades of rice An asso-
| citation of nearly all of the country mills
| was formed at the beginning of this sea-
! son, with Its headquarters al Crowley.
| The best talent and experience TO be
| found was put in charge of the business,
| who in company with an executive COM
| mittee, appointed by The association, fixes
| the price and values Of the output of all
| Of the mills belonging to the association.
! This association has made It a special
| business to maintain a just parity be
| tween the different grades and uphold
| prices. They have been able to In a large
measure hold the different interests In
! line and to prevent the disastrous cut
ting of prices that have occurred in for
| mer years
In former years man having 20oO bags
| of rough rice, milling 1000 in one mill
| and 1000 in another, samples were sent
out by both mills to northern markets,
each sample going Immediately into com
| petition with the other. Under the oper-
| alton of the association the same value
| would be fixed Oh both samples, and no
| cut in prices would be made. 1t Is to be
| hoped that this organization will be
| strengthened and maintained.
c. l.. CRIPPEN.