New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-12-02
THE TROLLEY LINE.

We had a pleasant call last
Monday from President F. w.
Crosby and Mr.. A. g. Barrow OF
the Southwestern Power and
Traction Company, domiciled at
New Orleans. According to these
gentlemen everything is in read
mess now to proceed with the
! work, thirty foot right-of-way
, to our sister city of Jeanerette
, has been procured and upwards
of $4,000 were paid out last
week to the owners of small tracts
along the proposed route, the
I large property holders donating
, the necessary land for the pro-
iect. Labor being very scarce in
this section at present 1t was
deemed best to commence the con-
, struction of the big power plant
as early as possible and do all
other necessary preliminary work
until the sugar planters are prac-
tically through their grinding ope-
rations in this Parish. While the
tax voted by the town of Jeane-
rette has not yet expired yet the
franchise has and Mr.. Crosby
will put up forfeit to show good
faith as was done in New Iberia
some months since. thus attestlng
the sincerity of his Company in
building this important trolley
system connecting the adjacent
towns. The Item of December
1st contained the following:
"Work on an interurban elec-
trio line in central Louisiana, 120
miles in length. will be started
in few days, or as soon as equip
ment and labor can be placed in
the field.
The Southwestern Power and
Traction Company. with a sub
scribed capital of 100000. has
perfected plans for the building
Of the line from Berwick to La
fayette. through New Iberia. The
line will extend east from New
Iberia to Lafayette, the whole
mileage being about 100 miles.
A French syndicate. through
local financiers. has bought the
entire bond issue. but all Of the
officers and directors of the COM.
pany live in Louisiana, only two
of them living outside of New
Orleans.
This enterprise has been on the
tapis for many months and work
would have been in progress now
but for the fact that the Southern
Pacific company enjoined the
electric road company in the
courts of iberia parish and ar
rested operations in that manner.
The bonding company Immediate
ly cut off the negotiations and
until settlement of differences
could be agreed withheld any
loan.
Local Bank Interested. |
A few days ago the Southern
Pacific company withdrew the
suits and the representatives Of I
the French syndicate then agreed
to take the matter up The re-
suit was that all Of the $6,000,O 900
in bonds was taken by the French
syndicate and the money will b..
advanced to the builders Of the
line through a New Orleans bank.
The report that the Morgan syn
1icate was in control is emphati-
sally denied by interested parties.
1t was'at first planned that the
electric line should handle freight,
express and passenger traffic. An
lgreement, however. was reached
~ which the electric road will
'nlv do passenger and express
BUSINESS. 1t is stated positively
hat the company is absolutely in
dependent of the Southern Pa {
ific company or any of the rail
Dad lines operat 'ng in Louisiana. t
The electric line Will traverse !
he cane belt in the central Sec !
ION of the state and tap such
hriving towns as Berwick. New n
IBERIA. St. Martinville. Breaux r
ridge, Jeanerette and Lafayette. t
he equipment is to be of the |.
ost modern type and the speed a
lual to that of any steam road. $
ne power plant will be located @
New iberia. The cane belt is II
e most th;ckly populated section Il
the state, barring Orleans par
h.
The company has offices in the
'dchaux building. The officers
e: F. w. Crosby, New Iberia,
esident; Lawrence Blum. New q
leans, vice-president; R. E. L. =,
Ries. New Orleans, secretary
They are also MEM "
IS Of the board Of directors. The at
Ter members Of the directorate ne
!: A. G. Barrow. proprietor Of in,
New Alma House. New Iberia do
!. Hyman. Irving R. Saal, law .r.
timer of Senator Foster and ni'
Wolf of Orleans. and Mr.. wa
es Dreyfus. of New iberia" LIE
rr-,,c :. .s~..--, lau1