St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-02-18

county seat Of one of the richest
agricultural sections in the world,
andas such having vital interest
in the preservation of its natural
waterways. Before the advent
of the railroads it's only trans
portation route was tn O h
the Bayou Courtableau. Owing
to neglect in the past twenty-five
years, that waterway, not now
vitality necessary, since we have
railroads, but necessary in the
control of freight rates, has been
closed to navigation, a condition
that could easily be remedied,
either by cutting a canal two
miles long into the Atchafalaya,
or by dredging a few miles in
the Fordoche. The engineers,
knowing this fact, and having
pressure brought to bear from
interested parties along t h e
Teche, wanted the people from
this section to have an opportu-
nifty of expressing their views so
that they could understand what
the opposition objected to. Col.
Beach wrote the Mayor of our
city to arrange for a meeting and
to send him a list of those inter-
ested in this city that he might
write to them. Among others,
the names of the officers of this
League and their titles, were
sent him, and they received let
tiers from Col. Beach, writing the
League, as well as others, to be
present, and to participate in
the hearing.
The League was also invited
by the Hon. A. P. Pujo, the hon
ored Congressman from this Dis
trict, who requested the Presi-
dent of this League to fully ex-
press the views of the League.
For DR.. Durio or anyone else to
assert that the Progressive
League is over-reaching itself, is
an unWarranted attack on a bust
organization that has a record of
service we'll done; and has been
in the forefront of every move
ment for the betterment Of con-
ditions, not only in Opelousas,
but in the entire parish, and it
hardly comes within the purvieW
of any individual who entertains
an opposing view to question the
integrity of purpose, or the right
of the League to enter this dis
cussion. Realizing that this city
was an integral part of the par
ish, it's business center, the in
terest of one would affect the
interest of all.
Pursuant to the custom of all
civilized communities, it has pro-
vided an organized business body
with which outside business or
CARNATIONS and interests can en-
ter into correspondence. How
well it has succeeded is evident
from the various conventions and
organizations that have met here
through it's efforts-the Farmers
Educational and Cooperative
Union of America, the Press
convention, the Confederate Re
union, the Sanitary convention,
the Postmasters' convention, etc.
its labors the railroads
have been interviewed in the
matter of freight rates, not for
the city exclusively, but for the
The agricultural and in
dustrial agents of the railroads
been induced to extend
their much priced efforts of de-
veloping the industrial and agri-
cultural possibilities Of St. Lam
dry which has resulted in the
establishing of an experimental
farm here, and frequent agricul-
5ural meetings, and visits of
demonstration trains, which have
resulted in great good to the en-
ire parish.
1t is not my purpose to enter
nto the general merits of this
controversy, whether the stag
1ant waters of the Teche pollutes
~ the teeming population and ]
factories on its banks through !,
,arelessness of its people in its
lse, or any other desires of any !
# the proponents of this division !
warrant changing the ancient !
nd natural course of the Cour-
ableau for such purposes, but