St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-02-20
FINE PROGRESS in Big
IRRIGATION CANAL
,.sselal wsisreoufss that Will IrF!ssla
ThsusanGs d AsFss Of Land.
sgHEu LEAVES FOR EAST
!. II sim odd Carloads Of Machinery for
III Ranl~COntfacls for OpsIOusas and
vile Platte Liberals.

News Of the progress Of the irri-
cation canal Of the Union Irrigation
~. one Of the biggest schemes Of
the sort ID the South, is Of the
nost encouraging kind, and there is
Mi 4 man in the parish that will not
hail With q high degree Of gratifca-
tion the ultimate success Of the
energy and brain Of its promoter and
manager, Mt. J. Franklin Schell.
Complete and detailed plans Of sur
vavs Oh the Opelousas and Vile
platte IateraIs, the Washington Prog
ress informs us, have been submitted
d contractors for bids on the con-
etruction Of these laterals and the
COMPLETION Of the first two miles of
the main canal. All this work will
Be done by outside parties, and will
b begun before March 10th, and
completed by June LIST.
But for the bad weather that set
d, Tile excavation work in the founda-
Hon BIT would have been completed
ths week, and the work for the lay
ing If The concrete foundation for
aa big pumps and retain
rg walls commenced at ever.
ones. The delay will be short, how
Tie dimensions Of the pit at
lie bottom is 4Ox5o feet, making one
Il the largest excavations that has
eyer been made in this State.
Tho Washington Progress says:
Eft. ]. Franklin Schell, who has
bad The work under his immediate
supervision, evidences the fact that
BE- Is equally capable to supervise the
mechanical part Of the company's
construction work, as that Of the
business end: and much credit il due
hin. Mt. Schell states that more
excavation Of dirt is necessrey than
hs been estimated, owing to the
feet that a strata Of sand three feet
ID depth, vas encountered at the
grade Of the retaining walls which
bad to be removed to reach a perfect
ioanaation Of hard blue clay. This
sEtra work and the extensive net
sork 0f supports necessary to sup
port The pit walls have somewhat de-
hyed the completion
AZ expert mechanical engineer
iion The company which built the
p7adsFous engines was expected there
as Rsek, to assume charge of the
pumping plant, including the con-
eIsts Rork, the construction Of the
alaing and the installation Of the
machinery.
NJ. Schell expects to leave imme-
aaieIy after the arrival of the ex-
psEt fof the company's Eastern offices,
ad While ID the East will begin the
aipnents ot the sixty odd carloads
q machinery tor the plant.
0Fer two miles Of dredging in
sag'a Carron has been completed by
~ mammoth dredge boat, and less
aaa sFo miles remain to complete
Y channel that win let the Courta-
ssaa vaser to the pumping plant.
10y Will Be completed, It IS almost
ii ample time.
aAs completion Of this canal
a'oagh : rich portion Of St. Landry
E4E1AA sta = IKE L
~ VII be the means Of reyoIu-
.'alaag agriculture in the sections
asaated by il. II is most oppor-
@ coming 81 this time when the
''aa q the boil weevil has made
salsqfal conditions most changed
strenuous. With the canal it
4 possible to make this section
slth prosperity by the cult
W. q rice, one Of the big money
With rice as a ready money
.ss'eF Y . large portion Of the
li aad diversified farming radi-
\. throughout the country, this
.a VII prosper as it never has.
$50 - Foseate view Of the situa-
s.,.a = plain as the way to
&~
ne Refinery Burned.