New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1903-10-03
Subscription, $1.5O per Annum
AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.

Be it known to all those whom it
may concern. that the Valley of the
Teche is in a very grave and critical
position. 1t is my impression that a
great injustice is being don" to said
community.
The Atchafalaya Basin Levee Dis
trict Board is building powerful levee
along the east side of the Atchafalaya
River from Point Coupee down Ever
year said river overfiows, on both
sides. the larger volume of water flow
ing to the lowlands of the east side,
where the natural slope is.
Imagine levee encircling that vast
territory east of the Atchafalaya and
opposite the parishes of Avoyelles, st.
Martin St. Landry, Lafayette, Iberia
and ST. Mary Where will the enorm-
Gus quantity of water which annual
ly visits it go after the levee is com
pleted? Alas! on the west side of the
river and all over the Valley of the
Teche.
1t is evident that the overflow
caused by the construction of said
levee will result in the complete ruin
alton of the parishes named above.
The Valley of the Teche is now the
best country known to men of moder-
ate means. Labor of all types and
classes is available to all and respect
ed by all There is no richer soil i'll
the world No matter what is put
into it's green bosom, profitable re-
turns are certain.
We have everything with US. The
winters are short and comparatively
mild, therefore, the winter does not
consume the vast products of the
summer.
In many other places the inhabit
ants must suffer to see their bounti-
full crops swept to the ocean by the
angry waves of cloud burst or torn
to pieces by the battering of hail
storms, or sometimes completely up
rooted by violent earthquakes. We
on the Teche have never seen any OF
these, and for that reason it will per-
haps be somewhat difficult for some OF
us to realize the imminent danger
which threatens us.
On thousands of acres the grass
grows on a smooth surface under the
waving branches of noble trees; the
fat herds grazing On these prairies
helping in giving finishing-touch to
this magnificent landscape scenery.
Think and try to draw for yourself
a mental picture of all this beautiful
land covered with many feet of water.
What will our now priceless lands
be worth? How will all they manage
to live? Can we afford to let our love-
ly country be devasted every year?
No! 1t is too rich and beautiful and
we love it too much for that. The
following is tongfellow's description
of the Valley:
Beautiful is the land with it's
prairies and forests and fruit trees.
s'Under the feet a garden of flowers
and the bluest of heaven.
Bending above and resting its
dome of the walls of the forests
They who dwell there have named it
the eden of Louisiana.
Our farming opportunities are very
diversified. The quality of our rice is
very fine, and as this crop can be pro-
duced here at little expense, the plant
ers have new source of wealth. The
settlers from the west, therefore have
introduced wonderful spirit of en-
terprise on the Teche.
The Acadians themselves who have
generally been slow in accepting i'm
proyment, are now initiating their
western Dlethern and are trying new
mot 6rra,sfs si8f.ssricF lture. As result
| 8-sg1 'fse =, ~; 9
the assessed value OF prsi'y N '''is
portion of Louisiana has trebic.., =. a's
ing the last few years.
No better fruit country is known;
Oranges, Plums, Pears, Peaches, Ap-
pies, Grapes, Figs, Strawberries and
others, fully mature Pecans are also
very plentiful.
Everything produced elsewhere can
be grown more abundantly in this cor
ner, the garden of America Truck
| farming is a success, as products be-
ing early on the market command
high prices.
How can we afford to let the beau
ties and riches of the Valley of the
Teche be represented on the annals of
history and not in reality.
/ spoke with the Secretary of the
Atchafalaya Levee District Board i'll
Baton Rouge, last week. He says
that. he understands orr situation per-
fectly, but that he cannot do any
thing to help us. The people of said
district have handed in numerous Pc
tit1ons asking for perfection and they