The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1900-06-23
THE CORNER STONE
Ceremony Il Brilliant A6air-The
Program Carried Out With
out u Hitch.
Over Four Thousand People Par
tiSipate in the Exercises
Notable Addresses.


Thursday was Il red-letter day in
the history of the parish and town
of Lafayette. The corner. stone OF
the Southwestern Louisiana Indus
trial Institute was laid with appro-
pirate ceremonies, witnessed by
multitudes Of people from this and
surrounding parishes. From early
morning Thursday they began com
ing in from all sections Of the par
| ish and later the trains bearing
visitors from other portions of the
State arrived. At the time APP
pointed for the flower parade, the
route of march was lined by large
groups eager and anxious to see It,
The weather was ideal. The
heat of the June sun was cooled by a
refreshing breeze making it pleas
ure for our gallant fire laddies and
the others to participate in the
parade.
The idea of locating an industrial
school in Southwest Louisiana was
conceived in the mind of Senator
Martin in 1896, when he first
went to the State Legislature to re-
present this senatorial district. But
it was not till 1898 that the plan
received executive sanction and be-
came a law.
For a short while our people re-
NAMED inactive and nothing was
done by them to capture the much
coveted prize. 1t was not before
the next year that all our people,
factions and dlssensions disappear
ing for the while, united in one
grand effort to uplift the educational
standard by obtaining for them
selves this everlasting boon.
BY practically unanimous vote,
the people of Lafayette parish
voted to tax themselves for their
own benefit and that of the whole Of
Southwest Louisiana, giving to the
State an example of disinterested
generosity seldom equaled. Then
it was that the Board of Trustees
voted upon Lafayette as the proper
location for the school, and the
earnest endeavors of those who had
worked bard and indefatigably were
rewarded bv success.
Thursday the corner stone of the
first building of that institution
erected on the land SO generously
donated bv Mrs. Nj. A. Girard
and Mr.. Grow Girard, was
placed in its position by Senator
Robert Martin amid solemn
and appropriate ceremonies. The
most sanguine of all could not have
wished for more propitious begin
ming. There, on one Of the pre.tiest
spots in the old State Of Louisiana,
were assembled thousands who had
come from near and far to witness
the contamination of their hopes.
They saw the reverend man Of God
invoke the blessings of the Almighty
upon the edifce and heard words
of congratulation and welcome
from men who have shown by their
works their heartfelt sympathy with
the cause Of education and the up
lifting of the youth of the land.
Lafayette, town and parish, did
themselves proud on that day, the
beginning of new epoch in their
history.
The members of the bicycle, fire.
men and flower parade assembled
at the court house square where the
grand marshal, Hon. Chas. y. CAT
fiery, and his assistants placed the
men and carriages in position for the
march. First in order we're the
three companies with the chief, DR..
F. E. Girard, mounted on a hand
some horse and energetically
marshaling his men. First came the
sturdy warriors Of No. with their
foreman, Paul Castel, in the lead.
Then followed with graceful tread
the ever vigilant boys of Home
Company under the Leadership of
Foreman J. Alfred Mouton, and last
but not least, marched the true and
staunch soldiers of the Hook and
Ladder Company with their faithful
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