St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-07-31

gone faster, why more progress has
not been made. I am satisfied as far
as I am concerned, that all has been
done that could be done and this is
the only enterprise that | know Of
that has not been shut down during
the panic.
When | 90 home I am supposed to
make a report and tell what I think
about it and I am going TO tell them,
Mr.. ScheH has not told them the
truth, that he has done a lot more
than he has ever told them. I am
amazed at the progress he has made,
at the pumping plant foundations
land I am familiar with that line of
work. at the construction of that
plant, and tell you, you can not
realize the obstacles that had to be
overcome for the construction Of that
plant. He had to go 40 #. TO build
the foundations and 60 through
quick sand, and quick sand has broke
more contractors than anything else
on earth. When he got his founda-
tions in as they now are, | say to
you he accomplished a grand piece
Of work and great credit IS due Mr..
SchelI. 7 am going to tell that to
the nannle in the North and they will
believe me.
Irrigation looks to me exactly like
insurance. Every man in the North
insures everything. We insure our
lives, insure against fire, against ac-
cident, and this canal is nothing more
than farmers insurance to me. #
you have land and plenty of water
you are insured against a loss Of
crops, your crop is a dead sure
thing. I do not suppose there is any
doubt abont every farmer along the
line Of canal, who will not take
water. It is true they arr raising
Providence rice and Providence is all
right, but God says He helps those
who help themselves and if they Dc
not take the water when it is brought
to them and thereby insure their crop,
Providence will not be with them.
There is no question about this being
q paying institution, I believe it vii
pay Us all money
It looks like a business proposition
/ was in some years ago when
started in Lancaster. / took az
EngIishman in with me, who in hi:
own opinion knew more than any.
body else. He knew everything
We started to manufacture umbrella
handles. He said it could be started
for $4,000. He hadn't any none!
and didn't have much more. VI
got two rooms on the second floor 9.
a building. / put in $1,000, and hat
bis note for $1,000, discounted at th'
bank We worried along for abou'
two months and accomplished nothing
I borrowed a couple thousand dollar
more and we sunk back, we couldn'
make it pay and I found that n,
partner who knew so much, knew
nothing. | went to him and told hin
we must get some body who know
about this business. You know
nothing and we must get the ma
who understands it, even if we mus
pay a big price for him. I had the
$4,000 in the concern and It vas
case Of have to 20 on with it.
hired a first class platter and a fore
man. We got goods out. We ia
to. I was busted and my partne
had no money. After a while order
, began to come in, then they came i
faster than we could Eli them. W
rented the entire second floor instea
of the two rooms and had one bur
J bred and fifty men at work. IN
business was paying. One Of n
friends called one day and a7ked #
|, didn't want to borrow some none
for my business as he saw we wei
j working hard. | said no" didn
need any money. Orders came !
faster and we had to work nigE
work. The business was close to th
depot and people say the lights an
/ knew we were busy because we Ia
t to work nights to keep up with th
. orders. Another friend said be Ia
/ a son he wanted to put into our bus
0 ness and he would like to put SON
8 money into it, but we were gettin
along fairly well and did not nee
any money. / was asked again by
friend who said be saw we wei
b working day and night and wanted
know if | did not want some none.
Z The point I want to make is this, jus
/ 3s ag as we were WORRYING alon!
hstine our fnpflry anil borfusia