The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-04-06
TOUR CONCLUDED.
Members of Rivers and Harbors Committee
Conplete Their Inspection OF Louis
iana's Waterways and Vast Natural

Il ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The tour OF Louisiana By delega-
tion OF congressman and other distin-
guished personages, which terminated
at Monroe on Monday afternoon, was
one of the most interesting and.signifi-
cant journeys ever undertaken in this
state, says the New Orleans Times
Democrats. The personnel of the party,
embracing a majority OF the powerful
rivers and harbofs committee of the
house of representatives; the immense
area traversed in the timer ary; the
marvellous resources displayed to the
visitors; the evident impression the
trip made upon them-all these things,
and a dozen others which could be
enumerated, served TO make the tour
distinetively anevent of Importance in
the history of the hecommonWealth. From
the expression of members OF the COM
mittee, hailing from various sections
of the country, Louisiana evidently
made advocates whose powerful infiu-
ence will be felt for years in the delib-
erations OF the lower house of the na-
tional assembly. It is safe to say that
the visiting congressman, surrounded
by every attention and greeted on all
sides with distinguished consideration,
gained very fair idea of the enor-
nous material development of the state
and the immense natural resources that
render possible the widespread pros
perity they so frequently commented
upon.
Any discussion of the trip must nee
essarily be prefaced by commendation
of Henri L. Gueydan, of Gueydan,
and Leon Locke, of Lake Charles, IN.
der whose direction the tour was con-
Quoted. Mr.. Gneydan assumed charge
of the party at New Orleans, remain
ing with it until good.byes had been
said at Monroe. With the assistance
OF Mr.. Locke, he maintained military
precision in all the movements of the
delega alton which assured every section
visited the quota of time snd attention
previously mapped out for it, and took
pains to see that the gentlemen under
his care did not suffer for 8 single
creature comfort. Every waterway vis-
tied was explained in detail with maps
and through the oral testimony OF par
ties acquainted with It's past develop
ment and present requirements; every
natural resource was pointed out and
it's value assayed in dollars ard cents;
every river or bayou was labeled as
capable of carrying so much tonnage,
with so much water and at q fixed ex-
penditure. These were the primary
objects of the trip, and they we're kept
constantly before the eyes of the visit
ors. However, throughout, the mas
terful tact and broad liberality of the
conductors maintained a fawless cur
rent of good feeling, comradeship and
appreciation.
OF the men who composed the party
too much can not be said. All are
what are termed theavyweights in
the lower house of congress. They
are representative men, whose assign
ment to the committee on rivers and
harbors was q tribute to their impor-
tance in the eyes of their colleagues.
The trip did not appeal to them from
any standpoint of pleasure. It was
merely business mission, which they
undertook at the request Of Congress-
man Broussard and the Louisiana del
egation, for the purpose OF viewing
points where immense sums had been
expended, or for which largo appro-
priations have been asked or will be
asked in the future. They were anxious
to see all that was possible, for they
unhesitatingly stated that their visit
would probably not be repeated in the
near future; and while appreeiatiys OF
the hospitality extended them along
the route, they were not prepared to
undergo the fatigue and expense OF
time and money involved il such q
trip unless bona fide and lasting re-
suits could be assured from it.
A tremendous impression was made
on the minds OF the visitors through
the exposition Of Louisiana's wonder.
full resources. The vast farming pop
ulation, immense lumber interests,
unique oil, salt and sulphur proper.
ties. marked growth and prosperity oi
cities aud towns-all these we're bui
significant fnger-points guiding the
minds Of the congressman to the vita
point ct issue: improvement OF the
states waterways.
That the visiting statesmen were IA.
vorably impressed with the showing
| made is evidenced by the following
| resolutions. adopted on the Ouachiss
river trip which marked the close o.
the tour:
Resolved By the members Of the
rivers and harbors committee, Tha
cur thanks are cordially extended X
the Louisiana delegation in congress
and to Civil Service Commissions
John As McIlhenny for the invitation
TO visit this state, which has enables
Us to inspect is waterways, study it
resources and meet its people.
{. We especially extend our thanks b