New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-01-28
OPPORTUNITY IS AT OUR
DOOR.

There IS nothing more needed
to insure the rapid development
of the resources Of Louisiana than
the advent Of a sturdy NoemanrN
from the Western States. II
would seem that the opportunity
is at our door to brlng III our
midst such class of people. ludg-
mo from what has been accomN-
Mshod hv the gentlemen who have
had in hand the disposal Of the
Adclipe and Sorrcl Plantations N
ST Mary Parish and the BaNslh"
Plantation in Iberia Parish. IN
an incredibly short Simo all ",
these places have been sold 70
Western farmers. and 70 those
gentlemen who inaugurated TINS
movement. the State Of Louisiana
should be cternally grateful.
Immigration Of any kind IS &C
sjrahlc but the immigration from
the Western States IS much more
a. because il consists OF Amor
cans who have not to he taught our
institutions and our trad1tionS,
and who. On the contrary. person.
fv the American type.
A system of large land h"Idln4
and gang labor Is pernl'l"uS an"
dcmorahzing and a relic Of anoth-
or civilization. and is based on q
false economy. 4 country OF small
farms is a country Of homes and
schools: a country Of small farms
is a country Of Intelligence and
refinement: n country OF Small
farms IS n country Of wealth ana
progress. Into such a country, i
should be the aim Of every pat
riotic Louisianian to strive to con
vert our State.
This Journal is advised that
homcsrokers such as those who
purchased the plantations above
mentioned can be induced to come
10 iberia provided that the pnr-
chase Of lands upon reasonable
basis be afforded them; and II is
matter of such vital Importance
to this Parish to Obtain some OF
these home seekers from the West,
thar we believe that II hehooNcS
the business men Of the community
70 bestir themselves TO the end OF
inducing large landowners in this
Parish TO place their lands on the
market for this purpose. 1t must
be borne in mind. however. tina
the prices to be fixed for lands
should be reasonable. and the
term for payments should be lib
eral: otherwise we cannot hope to
make our Parish inviting TO home
seekers.
Without any reflection upon the
good people of this Parish. we I'M
reservedly say that Iberia like her
sister Parishes is sorely in need OF
immigration: sorely in need of a
people of aggressive and progress
sive ideas; of people that can
demonstrate that the wealth Of a
State lies in its agricultural re-
sources. and who will in great
measure arrest the tendency now
fast prevailing of leaving the
farms to come to the towns to live
useless and idle lives.
We would strongly advocate
that some organized movement b.
launched at once with view OF
attracting Western farmers to
Iberia Parish.
In this connection this journal
believes that the Penal Farm be-
tween New iberia and Jcanerette
should be offered for sale. BY
doing so the State would demon
strate it's earnestncss and SINGER
ity in inviting hmm grafton. and
moreover. the towns of New he
ria and Jeaneratte would be re-
lieved Of a great obstacle in their
development and progress.
This farm unquestionally arrests
the development of these towns
and depreciates hand values. Sit
uated as it is between these tw
towns. ana on the main thorough |
fare between them. it operates
much like the establishment of q
graveyard in desirable residen-
tial locality.
A penal farm should be located
in some remote part of Parish.
and not in thickly settled
neighborhood. where it forces wa
nes to tumble and arrests growth
and development: and to lnflict
a penal farm upon two thriving
towns is unjust and unworthy of
the State.
From an agricultural standpoint,
there are many plantations in the
State as desirable which could be
obtained from the proceeds of the
sale Of Hope and which would not
be amenable to the objections
lodged against this one.
This journal would suggest that
the citizens of New iberia. as well |
as the citizens Of .Ieanerette. ap-
peal to the proper State authorities
10 grant them the relief in til
matter We sincerely hope that
in the next issue of this paper we
will be able to chronicle the fact