The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1910-04-16
Answers the Board Of Trade.

Dear Sir - In every issue Of the New
Orleans papers of late, wa read editO-
rails and other articles on the Panama
all asking our help to vote a
Tax for the purpose Of raising money to
enable New Orleans to have this expOsi-
ton. They enumerate the Great Bene-
dts we will receive, etc. Which is all
true to a certain extent. The City OF
New Orleans will be benefited thou
sand folds to ours Of the country one.
Still we of the country should 60 ahead
and help New Orleans to get the Expo
sition II possible. But, New Orleans
should and must make up to our and
her needs, and come over to the side Of
great things as she makes so many
brags about.
We must inform New Orleans that we
need protection from overflow. thou
sand times more than we need the ex-
position. Don't kill the hen that lays
the Golden Egg. 1t is we'll known
fact now that the New Orleans Board OF
Trade has placed itself on record as Op-
posing the project of Divorcing the Red
and Atchafalaya Rivers. This Is direct
slap In the face Of progress and further
improvements to the Parishes who are
suffering from the food waters OF the
Atchafalaya. Seventy five per cent OF
these people who live In these parishes.
will attend this Exposition II held in
New Orleans and will spend fifty to one
hundred dollars each which will amount
up In to thousands Of dollars and their
greatest benefit will be empty pocket
book. Money paid for little education
which we can not under the present con-
ditiOns put to any rise.
The question naturally ARISES can we
afford to tax ourselves and be liberal
with our money for the direct benefit Of
the City of New Orleans when she, not
withstanding the recommendations Of
engineers. that Old River can be closed
without any harm or danger to the
lower Mississippi comes out and oppose
US in our just demands for a relief,
which as we are paving for. is justly
ours.
l said before we should help New Or
leans in her fight to get theexposition but
this is said with a large pinch Of salt.
II New Orleans continues to fight us in
our just demands Of closing Old River.
We would be chumps to vote her one
cent. in any way. shape or form for her
selfish benefit save all this money as an
educator, in our fight for protection and
justice.
safety of the City" is one Of their
Slogans, which even to themselves is
bound to appear as rotten as ample pro-
lection will be given the City and every
one on the Mississippi. We are willing
to wait for this. providing this waiting
spell, Is not used as a continuation Of
the unjust methods which has been heap
ed upon US as In the past. Stops are
good for hogs but to we'll thinking and
trusting people they are not. especially
when the people are paying for the
slOps.
In a business sense New Orleans needs
this country protected and reclaimed as
much as we do. She knows ample pro-
lection will be given her. She knows
her business will be largely increased
and it is entirely beyond our cOmpre-
hensiOn to undsrst and her reasons for
the position she has taken.
Is it possible that her adviser, sees the
handwriting Oh the wall. As justice and
common sense is bound to prevail with
the River Commission. And want to
make capital out of the proposition such
as buying up cheap lands or have they
other bug up their steaves.
We hope this is not the case and trust
that her leaders will lay selfishness on
the shelf. Be broadminded and wide.
awake as they are continually crying
and will give this proposition u few
minutes consideration Oh its true mer-
its and we will be sure they will be with
US.
Take into consideration people who
are paying a large levee tax who year
by year see the floods encrOach more
and more on their lands. realize the