The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1907-04-13
Return 10 the River.

ton is the order necessity There
was u time. in the past, when the
'v"i vas the great highway Of
commerce ant travel. The bust.
ness man became impatient and
get IN = hurry With all deals. The
traveller had to accomplish in n
day or two what formerly requir
cd week The palacial comforts
CT the luxurious steamer passed
away and wcr. forgotten IN "betli
cnce to the demands Of q hurrying
business world
I line rolled on. The h.~t iron
horse ~as multiplied by thousands.
Ills race courses we're leng thened
into thousands Of miles TIL the re-
mOtcr counties OF the Union were
reached. The resources or hidden
mines and forests, and new fields
were developed like magic. ODl
went the race between tho lOcOmO-
tive aud the producer till at last
the poor SnortiDg Great ute has de-
monstrated it, inability 70 do Il
all.
Commerce itself has come to Tho
point where it IL forced to recog
nize, that articles Of great bulk
and weigh will find more sAtisfac-
tory transportation to distant
points by water than by rail.
Iron, coal fuel oil and lumber
must again seek The water route.
Grain must follow IN great quanti-
ties. The products Of the factory
will continue by rail. The law OF
necessity 10 making its own cIas4l.
icatiOn and will force certain com
nOditie5 to water transportation.
Even the gra.l'ing railroad mag
nate - disposed 10 recognize the
igns Of the future. lie sees that I
he river must relieve where be 9
t-nOt accomplish the demands Of :
raflic. That in the river there 9
i'll be more just and equitable q
ate regulation than in statutes or 2
odes Thatthe people will be pla :,
ated, for time ut least. aud the !!
em ands If trade accom- plished. y
St Louis has invested ~, 50O. 900
= line Of water-crsft to ply the
vers between St. LOUIS and New
cleans Other gr at lines will u
'|lOw upon the known success Of
'is one The future promised an q
vested capital 10 river property :. !
vallng the record OF the past.
Southwestern Louisiana has =
zen !ODg in coming into its own.
18th an ever increasing demand, q
;ceeding its rail transportation
It would have led the
nntry years ago in resorting to
g river but f0s the want If . safe
ID short connection with the :
atl,er Of waters" In the raterD :
care Of the National Govern. 2
nj given to its magnificent net.
'rk system Of rivers, lakes, and
y; Ia the opening Of Plaqueminr :.
d tho creation Of the great in- e
coasts al canal; Ia th~ deepening n
the Atchafalays Bay Channel
I the opening Of y waterway 10 :,
} Mississippi. through the La ::
'chc, ~ see the signs Of the
m Of = new era with many new
aud opportunities. -
New lberixns must bring them :
YES into Closer touch with these I
ces for progress. II 10 not 4
'stion Of expcdiency-it ID the
nand Of necessity. The inter.
stall will pass 43 miles away =
. our d0or-the N. /. 50 Canal.
tinued on INTO the Teche, would
g % within one third that lie. -
% to the gres: artery Of com. 0el
o.. The contemplated Boutte
n would shorten tho route to
quemine from la miles By the
'ent route, to 81 miles. This
u would also put New Orleans
,in Ito miles Of this point.
two canals creating . new r.
mel for tho traiIlc OF the inter. men
81 mns>A1