The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-04-06

been diverted by washings from the
Cote Gelee hills and now ran north
over a very shallow bed. A canal
would divert food water from the
Vermilion and in dry seasons the SUI
plus from the Atchafalaya could be
used for ~irrigating the rice fields
along the proposed route. The ca
nal would open up a direct Win
the finest timber section OF the state
and to cheap and easy communication
with New Orleans and the traffic OF
the Mississippi river. Danger from
overflow could be safe guarded by
food gates along the route. The Sen
ator impressed the great possibilities
Of irrigation, navigation, and drain
| age and the resultant reclamation and
DEVELOPMENT of a vast area OF the
richest and most productive section OF
the state. The people of st. Martin
were anxious to cooperate with their
n~eighbors in any plan for the COM
mon good and were willing to allow
the use OF their drainage. machine to
the people of Vermilion and Lafayette.
Senator Liable showed that railroads
were not opposed to canal and water
way development and quoted Jas. D.
Hill to this effect. He appealed to
Supt. Shackford, who was present for
v%erifcation Of this attitude by the
railroad companies.
Mr.. Charles D. Gallery responding
to request, gave his views on the pro-
position in and assuring the conven-
rion that the people Of Lafayette were
heartily in favor of any scheme for
the upbuilding of this section m ar
guing strongly in support of the pro-
posed canal. The Vermilion river was
the logical route for the Intercoastal
) Canal and construction could be done
at much less cost by making use of
the channel of this and other streams
, across st. Martin to the Teche, thence
across the Atchafalaya swamps, the
> Plaquemine river and locks into the
Mississippi. The scheme for this great
, waterway with the ultimate develop
q ment of a system of lateral and inter
secting canals was grand in concep-
8 ton and its full realization, depended
alone on prompt action and full co
operation. The general government
r had spent millions in improving the
north and the east and still further
4 vast sums in developing and reclaim
ing the arid plains Of the west, and il
certainly behooved the authorities tC
give some little attention to the mos,
fertile country to be found in the NC
ion. The enthusiasm of this conven
ton and unanimity manifested by al
assured the success OF the plan.
Senator Gueydan here announced
that he had received Information tina
the great dredge now at work on TIL
.l~i.ntoastal ca1.:1. between Vc.mil
ion bay and Mermentau, was progress
ing at the rate of 1000 feet per day
This intelligence caused loud az
at plause.
ir D. L. Mcpherson, of Vermilior
4. spoke of the magnificent results Gel
n. tain to flow from the completion {
in the canal and pledged his parish t
ig assist in every way. He dwelt upo
the possibilities Of development alon
p industrial and agricultural lines an
asserted the proposed cana! would r
volutionize this entire section by il
re irrigation, transportation and drainae
re- features. The development Of a sy
In tenn Of tributary canals together wit
be the streams interesting the main c
mt nal would afford communications al
he water facilities that must result in Il
lot grandest realization of wealth al
re- prosperity.
he DR.. D. C. Liable moved to appoint
ed committee composed Of three fro
is. each pasish to draft suitable articl
in Of organization. The chair appoint
uc- the following gentlemen on this co,
mittee: Lafayette--M. Billeaud, J
zee F. v. Mouton, DR.. A. ]. Burkette; VI
EN- milion-C. C. Broussard, R. J. No
are tagne, Adolph Brasseaux; st. Martin
&C. G. D. Domengeaux, F. T. Guilbeau.
un- J.. Burdin.
the Superintendent Shackford address
hi. the convention by request and gave
and surance of the Southern Paciac's be
will ty endorsement of the canal probe
Of showing how such improvements b
is Gifted railroads in the general de,
10 opment of the country. The succ'
and Of this scheme depended simply
carrying out the details of the p
BOX. as all concerned were so thoroug
the in accord. Engineer Babin and Mi
rder we're asked questions as to the wa
pro- levels in the Teche and Vermil
the and promised to give all informal
/ Of necessary. Senator Gueydan drew
into tention to an adverse report submit
several years ago by w. L. Mars