St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-05-01
WILL RAILROADS MIX
IN COURTHOUSE Fight?
New Orleans liens Opel0usss CerrsspOa.
dent Inilmatss that Frisco, s. P. and re. VIII
CHAMPION DIFFERENT TOWNS
Duson, the Haasss and the LeWlsss to Play an
Important Part 10 tte Contest, According
to the Report.

The opelousas correspondent Of
the New Orleans Item has an inter-
esting letter in that paper Of a re-
cent date.
If what he says j. correct-and it
seems to be-there will indeed be a
hot time in November for the cleo
ton for the parish seat Of proposed
new EvangeIine.
The special to The Item follows:
A sizzling hot four-cornered fight
between Vile Platte, Eunice, Mamou
and Pine Prairie for the court house
of the new parish of Evangeline is
now open by The announcement by
Representative Clark Of the candidacy
of Pine Prairie. Clark urges the
claims OF Pine Prairie on the ground
that it is but three miles from the
geographical center of the new par
ish.
It has been long understood that
Vile Platte, Eunice and Mamou would
be in the race.
Vile Platte is the father Of Evan
geline, 50 to speak. For twenty odd
years its citizens have been fighting
for division.
Mamou is Duson town, promoted
for the purpose Of furnishing q site
for the Evangeline courthouse.
Eunice is handicapped by being but
three miles from The Acadia line, but
it is the largest town in the new
parish.
It is evident that the three big
railroad systems will take part in the
struggle; the Southern Pacific, the
Frisco-Rock Island, and the Texas and
Pacific.
Eunice is on both the Rock Island
and the Southern Pacific lines. The
Southern Pacific line will also shortly
run to Mamou, the roadbed having
been recently finished. So the South
ern Pacific will want either Mamou OF
Eunice. It is said that while its af-
lection is divided between Euniee and
Mamou, the Southern Pacific will lean
to Mamou on account Of G. C. Duson,
who has been a lifelong friend and
promoter Of the road. But either Of
the two Southern Pacific towns will
have to divide the territory with the
Rock Island, as the latter road touches
bUth.
The Rock Island has a town not
touched by any other road-Pine
Prairie-and will be found uncompro-
misingly with it.
The only railroad trayersing Vile
Platte to the main line Of the Texas
Pacific road at Bunkie is the Louis
lana East and West, a Texas and Pa
/
cifc branch running from Bunkie to
Eunice. Vile Platte is much pre-
ferable to the Texas and Pacific than
is Eunice, although The latter is Che
terminal Of the branch line, for the
same reason Pine Prairie is more
preferable to the Rock Island than ID
Eunice-that its road there is free of
competing lines.
So the fight as far as the railroads
are concerned is pitched with the
Rock Island backing Pine Prairie; the
Pacific Mamou, and the
Texas and Pacific, Vile Platte.
As intimated, C. C. Duson win be a
central figure in the courthouse fight.
While not now q resident Of either st.
or the proposed new parish
Of Evangeline,s The territory making
up both is his old baliBick, where he
held undisputed sway for sixteen
years as sheriff. His reputation as d
town builder is in his favor, and many
people are inclined to the belief that
Mamou stands a rosy chance just be-
cause Duson is It's Warwick. He is
The father Of Acadia, and when Acadia
vas formed he staked out Crowley in
! bald prairie and made it the county
'eat. He subsequently founded Eu-
nice.
Besides Mr.. Duson, Mamou has the
Haas, the wealthiest men in the par
81, one Of them Or. Haas, presi-
lent Of the St. Landry State Bank,
IS owners Of much of its town prop
'rty and adjacent country. Dr.. Haas
$ also treasurer Of the Mamou Town
lite Company. That influence il is