St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-04-15
OVER 1000 PEOPLE WITNESS
STARTING OFGIANT PUMPS
Occasion Graced by the Presence of State Notables-
Governor Sanders and Others Take Part in Pro
gram that Covered Every Industry in the
State, Politicians in Evidence.

moment during the three hours
of speaking and singing, but
when the final climax came
everybody was ready for it.
The regular program of the
day was opened by Mr.. George
E Bard, of Pennsylvania, who
felicitouslv introduced Mr.. John
w. Lewis, of Opelousas, as chair
man of the occasion. Mr.. Lewis
in his usual forceful way said a
few appropriate words concern
ing the canal and its builder, and
ended with a neatly turned hom-
age to the womanhood of st.
Landry. The invocation was
rendered by the Rev. Geo. S.
Gibbs, of Crowley, following
which came America" by the
high school pupils.
The first regular speaker on
the program was Senator Lazaro,
of Washington, who delivered a
splendid address Of welcome.
1T is my profound pleasure
and happiness he said, to bid
you hearty welcome. The occa-
sion portends much for ST. Lam
dry and the State at large.
While the scheme was fathered
and fostered here, it is in no
sense local because it means the
further upbuilding of the COM
mon commonwealth. I e
speaker then reviewed the prog
ress Of the State in the matter of
railroads, waterways and recla-
nation and development of lands.
In conclusion he said: This
is the wedding of Bayou Courta-
bleau and the brown prairies OF
the southwest. The canal means
to st. Landry as much as the
Panama Canal does to America.
It means continued prosperity
and shows that Louisiana will
increase. It means that emigra-
ton to Canada is largely checked
as is borne out by the presence
of many settlers in this State.
Let us all all cooperate and in a
few years st. Landry will be the
richest section in this State
When Governor Sanders was
introduced by Chairman Lewis
an ovation was rendered him. In
presenting the Governor, Mr..
Lewis said it was his "distin-
guished pleasure to introduce a
gentleman who stood for much
that was great in Louisiana.
The people applauded and the
Governor smilingly acknoWl-
edged t h e compliment. The
speaker was never in better
voice or presence, and he caught
the crowd at once by his refer
ence to a gentle norther that had
sprung up, saying that it had
been ordered for the especial
benefit of the visiting Pennsyl-
vanians.
t'The building of the canal is
one of the greatest engineering
|feats in the United States said
the Governor, and the people
of Louisiana owe Mr.. Schell an
everlasting debt of gratitude.
His work of the last eleven years,
interpreted with many discour-
aging events, gives us great
heart when we see the actual
achievement. 1t is a lasting
monument to him and his asso-
ciates."
Mr.. Sanders scored roundly
those who had not been faithful
to Ma. Schell when he first
launched his scheme and during
the few years Immediately fol
lowing. THE mar who does
not believe things can be done,
said the Governor, is fast pass
ing away, thank God. Mr.. Schell
has shown that he not only could
make water climb a hill, but
makes it positive that the waters
Of the Atchafalaya will never be
denied the people of st. Landry
parish"
The topic Of the Governors
talk was Louisiana, Its Re
sources and Development. And