New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1902-08-23
$3.50 per Annum
EDUCATIONAL.
GULF BIOLOGIC STATION, |
CAMERON, La, I

| In the year of 1898, the General AS
sembly of the State of Louisiana author
| lied the creation and establishment OF a
Biologic Station upon the Gulf of Mexico
to be within the confines of louisiana
! At this same time board was appointed
consisting of the leading educational men
of the State, who were to have complete
control of the station. In 1900 this act
was amended, adding the President of the
Southwestern Industrial Institute to the
the Board of Control. This Board was
granted the power to accept and use any
donations for the benefit of the station
to acquire lands upon which to build the
Station to receive all money appropri-
ated by the State, or donated by private
parties.
In fact they were given all power and
authority to carry out the purpose OF tins
institution, in investigating the Fauna
and Flora of the gulf and its adjacent
| waters.
In 1899 committee of two, Prof. B. c.
| Caldwell, President of State Normal
School, vice President of Biologic Station,
and Prof A. A. Morgan, Director of the
Biologic Station, were appointed to visit
the coast to select a suitable site for such
Station.
A desirable location at the mouth of the
Calcasieu river in Cameron parish was
selected
The late Hon. S. P. Henry, who is said
| to have been the originator of this great
movement, and through whose influence,
interest and determination the bill was
passed, donated ten acres of land, the
amount necessary for the building and
grounds.
| Prof. A. A. Morgan, we can truthfully
state, has the welfare of the parish at
heart His great interest in the erection
of the building the many kind words and
acts only go to testify that Cameron is
fortunate in having this station on her
coast and so influential man as its di-
rector.
He is doing more than is generally
known. The citizens of Cameron parish
appreciate his worth and l know will
meet any demands that may arise.
The parish of Cameron came to the
front by donating $500. Calcasieu nobly
assisted her sister parish by contributions
of money and lumber-money amounting
to $500 and lumber, contributed by the
lumber companies, approximately, &c.,
900 feet.
The Assembly were then asked to ap
propriate $4,000. Owing to the scarcity
of funds, only $4,000 was appropriated
The building has been erected, and it is
a structure the State can be proud of.
1t is massive, well ventilated, and built
to resist storms. The rooms are 20X34 I.
and open into one another, so that the
light and ventilation can be we'll regulated
from above as well as below.
The foundations are magniffcently con
structed.
| The building is thoroughly braced by
means If iron rods, which are fastened t.
the base of the foundations, below the
ground, and the floor above. The inte
rior has not been completed, but the exter
ior has.
The total disbursements amounted tt
$5241.46 leading a cash balance of onl,
$758.5O.
The needs of such station are many
So that you may better appreciate thu
financial embarrassment, will state need
necessary to carry on such an institution
| Boats, for shallow and deep water in
vestigations laboratory equipments, sucl
as microscopes, instruments, seines
dredges, nets and shelving for labor
atory.
Cultural experiments, ponds, jars TO
breeding, pumps and labor to carry OF
the required experiments.
To procure these necessities $11 1885 i
needed.
;. The Assembly cannot be expected t.
meet all demands without the aid of tn
people.
What | want to emphasize is this
Louisiana has 1850 miles of coast line un
studied.
Nine of the parishes border Oh the gull
and are to be benefited by this station
If the Police Jury of each Of these parishe
which are to be so benefited by such al
institution would appropriate $3.50, maxim
total of $2250 towards the purchasing Q
needs for the Station, the central an
northern parishes would more willingl
come to our assistance.
The money for these needs should b
appropriated, some may say. Very true
, But we must not forget one, and tn
most important fact, that is: capabl
men must be paid to carry on this gran
work. By assistance, the needs may b
purchased, and men secured for tn
work.
When once the station is thorough
equipped and the study of the life-cycl
and habits of the oyster once begun, on
cannot imagine a greater inducemen
to offer capitalists who are interested i
the marine resources of the state.
Our State will then be the banner State
4 fol every mile of coast line contain
4 mines of wealth ond hidden treasures fe
= the student Of the sciences.
Large collection of marine plants an
animals are to be, and are now bein
made and properly classified, preparator
for future work.
Having visited the Biologic Station,
0 can truthfully state that the teacher WI
!. is not interested, or makes no effort t.
ward grasping. the opportunities soon
s be offered by the state, by spending tf
!, summer months studying and collectir
marine life is making great mistake.
The teacher is not the only loser. Thin
i. of the amount of information gained Fl
:, the science work, to be used in the e
! suing term.
All scientific problems, in reference