The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-08-04
SHOULD BE THE SLOGAN OF
PROGRESSIVE SHREVEPORT.
A UNITY OF PURPOSE
The Citizens of All Glasses and All In
terests Should Pull Togther for the
Common Good of All--The Posi-
bilities of the Future.

Chickering's, factional contentious nor
personal dislikes and antagonisms have
never built a city
With all its varied natural advantages
Shreveport today should have a popula-
ton of a hundred thousand people.
Atlanta, Ga, for instance, in 1865, at
the close of the war, was as desert
and the State had been pillaged by van
dals, and woe and want were visible
everywhere.
While Shreveport and this section of
the State were in the jurisdiction Of the
Confederacy the horrors of war were
only incidental In 1865 Shreveport was
in a sense as large as Atlanta, and Dal-
las was not known.
Since 1865 Atlanta has developed into
city Of over a hundred thousand and
Dallas is the pride of all Texans, whose
development has been steady and is stub
stantial
Neither Atlanta nor Dallas posses the
natural advantages of Shreveport.
Why then has Shreveport not pro-
gressed measurably with Atlanta and
Dallas?
There is a reason, and it must be OBJ
vious to the d,illest mind.
Shreveport has within its reach sup
ply of oil and gas which is the marvel
of the world, and yet Shreveport with
all its natural advantages and its oil and
gas fields is scarcely moving onward to
progress.
Shreveport's population today is with
in a fraction Of 10000 inhabitants, when
it should be at least $4,000
But why summarize?
Recently there was submitted at a
meeting of the board of directors Of the
Chamber of Commerce resolution
from the City Council suggesting the
appointment by the Chamber of Com
merce of a committee of three to Co
operate with a similar committee Of the
Council for the purpose of devisingI
ways and means to acquire gas lands,
drilling wells and piping gas to Shreve-
port for the use of factories. On this
committee Mayor Dickson appointed
Counciltnen Lowenthal, Ford and Tho
man. When this action of the Council
was submitted to the Chamber of Conn
nerce it was practically shelved
Since then, at meeting of the direc
tors of the Chamber of Commerce held
on Tuesday, A. Querbes presented and
advocated resolution providing that
the committee on manufactures of the
Chamber of Commerce and committee
Of the City Council, who are to ascer-
tain the cost of building a pipe line of
adequate size to supply the manufactur-
ing and domestic demands of the city,
taking into consideration the future
growth; amount of cost of the laterals
necessary to distribute same; the
amount of taxes that would be required,
and TO provide for d bond issue for the
purpose of constructing a gas line, the
cost of which the city will stand, to-
supply gas for both industrial and do
mestic consumption, taking into account
the necessary sum to provide for the OPP
Grafton, obtaining of right of way and
whatever other cost attached.
In briefer words, the purpose is TO
establish all independent line through
which gas can be supplied to factories
at three cents and to the people at a
lower rates than now prevails.
Ii would seem that this issue has
been connected with politics; at least
the construction placed ON the report of
the meeting would lead to such conciu-
sion. Fortunately emphatic denials have
been given the public by President E. K.
Smith and Mr. Querbes of the Chamber
of Commerce
It would also seem that at this meet
| ing there were expressed words which
were construed as being reflective on
President Smith and on gentlemen con-
Inected with the board who are interest
led in or associated with gas interests.
! All such feeling should be deprecated
Shreveport has reached the stage Of ex-
istence when il must stand still or pro-
gress. To stand still IS equivalent TO
stagnation There is no need nor sense
in pickering. If it be possible to secure
gas at three cents or less for the use
of factories. there should be offered no
inpediment to such enterprise. As a
fact the city Of Shreveport should con
Itrol BY municipal ownership the water
las well as the supply Of gas and electric
lights.
/ On this score the position Of the Cau-
leasian has been well defined and for