The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1906-02-24
THE WEEKLY IBERIAN.
Eff. NuLARD, Proprietor.
Established In February, 1898.
Subscription Price, 3l.O0 per Annum'
CITY OFFICIAL JOURNAL.
Railroad Building.

never, Ill Uuc HlS'Oly vi Wv
State, has there been so common
and general awakening OF interest
In railroad building. A large
number of the great common ear
Ter systems seem to be seeking a
way to and terminal facilities al
New Orleans, which indicates tha'
that city promises to be, IN the
near future, one of the greatest
ports of entry in this country ana
among the larger ones OF the
world.
This activity in railroad build
ing in this State is a consequence
of the effort of no one city, nor
solely of the great inducements
offered by the State itself in the
emption from taxation for a
period of ten years to all new
road building. 1t IL rather an ap
preciatiOn Of the fact that New
Orleans will become at once one
of the great gateways to the
worlds markets when the Pana
ma Canal will have been cOmplet
ed. The attitude Of the State
itself, however, has tended to fos
ter and encourage the work of
development. The people of the
larger towns, and even the rural
districts, have We'd with one
another as to which could be the
most liberal in the offering Of sub
stantial inducements.
Some places, which, a few
months ago, gave no promise OF
ever being more than a ''quiet
country town." have developed
wonderful natural advantages 10y
being located in the paths of
railroad projections. Such places
have been brought to public atten
ton in a fOrcible manner and
their future development and
growth is unquestioned. A re
markable illustration Of this point
is the future city Of Okelousas.
The State capitol has long been
regarded as quiet town. 1t wt8
way behind even IN the opportuni
ty of acquiring its first and only
railroad, which was a short line
and offered but few advantages.
Today its future is bright. 1t has
become a prominent '.cross road"
point with the promise of division
headquarters and railroad shops.
While many Of the towns of the
state have offered substantial in
ducements to the roads 20 pass
their way, the greatest of these
inducements have been their loca
ton. Places out of the path of
the road building find that no in
ducements within the means of
the people can attract to them
selves any part of the present &C
tivity.
Our own fair city, New Iberia,
while doubly blessed in matters of
soil, being surrounded by an area
capable Of the greatest diversity
of crops of any section of the
State:unparallelled In fruitfulness,
midway between Grand Lake on
the east and the Gulf on the south
has found that it was. for a sea
son, out of the eye of the locating
engineer. While New Orleans
has been the common objective
point, there has been an effort to
dodge the great sheets of water
and rich tImbered swamps east
Of this city, leading the road
locator far north of us. Notwith
standing the fact that ten miles
of Grand Lake could be crossed
at less than half the expense of a
single bridge over the Atchafa
laya river, the locating engineer
of the hills and plains has pre-
fered the more expensive and, IN
some cases, longer route.
At last we seem to be in the
way. RumOrs are accommodating
of building that is to head through
the Teche valley. Our people
will not repulse this good fortune
oy being slow to do their part.
They must help themselves or be
forgotten. They must encourage
the opportunity now knocking at
the door.