New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-08-19
THE ENTERPRISE AND
Observer, Consolidated
N. ". FISHER, Editor and propllstt
LOUISIANA, THE ITALY OF
AMERICA.

! LOUISIANA, THE ITALY OF
| AMERICA.
The Enterprise is in receipt OF
an interesting Illustrated booklet
issued by the Missouri Pacific and
Iron Mountain Railway. advertls
ing the resources of Louisiana
While this road does not pene
trate South Louisiana, much at
tention is given it through the col
l,mns of the booklet. from which
we reproduce a few extracts:
I Story and song associate Louis
llama so frequently with romance
Ethat the alien mind. in forming d
picture of this oft-styled "ltaly
of America" is apt to emphasize
the beauty of the skies. the frag.
rance of the flowers and the mel
ody Of the old plantation chorus
to the detriment Of newer ano
more substantial attractions, such
as the smoke clouds drifting up
wardfrom busy cities, the aroma
of newly-mown bermuda and thu
noise of sawmills. which now oc'
cupy the people and fill the pages
of history
Industrial evidences are in
things material rather than those
written about, and while legend
and history have draped LoulsI-
ana in the pre,tiest tapestries
while the a1"o0 tires of her ex-
plorers are all rue. the stories that
cluster about the gay lives Of he,
French pioneers are plausible, and
while the songs of the old darkies
are still to beheard in the cotton
fields. these are but pleasing tc
the fancy and play no great part
in the problems Of life.
From the records Of the past
there as just one promise of the
future to be kept ever in mind
tn sublime climate and splendid
health of Louisiana winters that
barely mark on the growth OF
vegetation the passing Of the sea
son; summers of cloudless days
cooled by the gentle gulf breezes
these assurances, which the
past has pledged. may be accept.
ed, for they are verified by the
weather and mortuary statistics
of hundred years.
| Political exigency reduced Lou
isiana geographically from ar
empire ITO the smallest one OF
twelve States carved from its
original territory. but the indus
trial energy of a new generation
is rearing on the lower Mississippi
! a domain of more wealth and pow
| ler than was ever boasted by tha
Greater Louisiana purchased from
Napoleon. There has begun
movement, in fact, which plans tn
Iimprovefent and settlement O.
the millions Of acres Of idle lands
the exploration and development
lof unlimited resources, agrlcdl
Itural and mineral, and the bring
ling in Of thousands of new peo
Iple to enjoy the fruits of thi
great wealth. There is new lif'
lin the people, a new spirit abroat
and a new era begun.
Someone who visited Louisian'
and was witness to her natura
lgifts, who saw the great stretche
Of farm land along the valley o
1.-The Mississippi. who saw ne
gardens and orchards in the up
lands. her great forests Of pin
and hardwood, her oil fields an
salt mines. her oyster reefs. ne
great navigable waterways, he
splendid seaport and her exten
|sive system Of railroads; VIII
basked in the sunshine Of he
winter breathed the perfume o
her magnolias and looked upo
1.-THE silvery bayous and moss
draped trees of her landscape
someone who saw all this said tina
| if Louisiana, as it is. was picke'
up bodily and deposited besid
Illinois and Indiana. within
week a million people would rus
there to buy her cheap lands ant
get homes.
Louisiana people believe, how
ever, that their State is more fav
!orably located than if it were il
1.-The center of the continent. ant
thev are letting the world know
lit by demonstrating its superior
lity.
What Louisiana Has.
Louisiana has more rich allus
ial farming land than any othe
State in the Union.
It has more pine and hardwood
timber.
It has more navigable water
ways.
It produces more cane suga
and molasses.
It exports more cotton.
It raises more rice.
Il has more unimproved farl
lands.
It's salt and sulphur mines al
the largest.
It has the second greatest por
It has a greater diversity
crops. !,
It will be the most benefited +
:: fthe greatest projects OF model
3lA: A. br;l1;nr nf tn Pan