St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-03-20
Observation-Disclosures 8B8kSBDEYBSDkE8ESEa

est, heretofore not saIeabIe, which is
nov being fast converted into lumber
to house the bleak homes of the
prairie regions. The above are self
evident propositions. Al parish seat
at Vile Platte, without railway com
munieations with the outside world,
would have wrought slight change.
IL would have accomplished no more
at Mamou, still less in Pine Prairie.
Further examples might be added ad
infnitum, but I shall content myself
with two others.
Why has Jennings prospered2 Why
have all towns along the Southern
Pacific in that parish prospered?
Primarily By reason of the railway
and its immigration system inducing
inhabitants of the frigid Northwest
to make their homes in the Rice Belt
and pine regions. The oil industry
put on the finishing touches to Jen-
nings. Rice and railwaysdid the rest
for all towns up to Lake Charles.
Leaving that city on the Kansas City
Watkins & Gulf, and lumber towns
greet the traveller at every step,
Furnishing like green bay trees BY
reason, not Of. parish seats, but the
ringing of axes and the whistle of
locomotives and saw mills whereby
the pine forests are being manufac-
tured into lumber. I recall after
visits of seven years the following
towns and villages: Massey, DeQnin-
iceY, De Rider, Bon Ami, Rose Pine
and others.
Other arguments of q ridiculous
nature $50 / am informed have been
advanced, but as they were not in
print, I shall not make reply thereto.
I speak from an intimate personal
acquaintance as to the above from
having observed Crowley, Iota. and
other places grow from COW pastures
TO Furnishing centres. / saw Jen.
nings arise from its ashes and bloom
to greater proportions BY reason of
the adjoining oil fields in Acadia par
ish, which helped to keep Crowley
alive when crop failures were driving
d number Of its merchants and farm-
ers into bankruptcy.
In my next communication / shall
produce facts and figures, and give
reasons sufficient why the people Of
the proposed new parish, as well as
the mother parish should not divide.
I wilhdemonstrate who owns The bulk
of the lands out West. Who owns
the Pine forests out West and North.
Who owns the hardwoods out West,
North and East, and will then point
out to my friends the Eagans al
one myself who it is that is boosting
parish division; who it Is expects to be
benefited thereby, and that too at
the expense Of the gaguns1 out West;
the Hill Billy Of Pine Prairie and
Chicot and the farmers Of North and
Eastern ST. Landry. It viii be I'M
teresting reading, I promise you.
Yours truly,
GILBERT j.. DUPRE.
r. S.--What is It has made Mel.
vile, then an impenetrable forest, the
prosperous town it now is? And Pal
metto, and Morrow? Railway facili-
ties whereby its forests are being De.
nuded and the lumber and timber !:
being exported. What is it that Il
developing Port Barre, q place form.
erly with d name only, To IFS present
prosperity? Railway facilities where
By It's timber IS being converted int
lumber and shipped IN the raw anC
finished material. This has gival
life and expansion To LeonYille, Ar
naudyilIe, and every town and village
On the Arnaudvlle Branch Of tht
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