St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1911-01-21
SCHELL CANAL WILL BE
READY BY March lST
Positive Announcement Is Made to that Ef-
feet. and Work On Project Bears II Out.
GREAT ACTIVITY In WORK
Ten to Twenty Five Thousand Acres OF Land
VIII Be Watered This Year irrigation
for Cane, Corn and Vegetation.

The Doubling Thomases who
are doubtful of the successful ter
mination of the Union Irrigation
Company's canal should visit the
work being done in the final COM
pletion Of the first installation.
That visit should convince them
that the canal is not only assured,
but that it will be ready for next
seasons crop.
It was the pleasure Of the
Editor of the Clarion to view the
work now being done on the
canal. Great gangs of teams,
scrapers, men and other pare
phanalia necessary to the con-
struction of such a gigantic
canal, are at work, and there
seems to be no lack Of either
money or material for the quick
completion of the project.
The automobile trip to the pre-
sent head Of the canal was taken
last Monday evening, in company
with Messrs. Schell, the promoter
of the enterprise, Col. Frank
Randolph, of the Crowley Signal,
and Mr.. Constance, in charge of
the construction work.
Mr.. Randolph's deductions are
as follows:
"P sitive announcement is
made that the famous Schell ca
nal project in St. Landry parish
is nearing completion and the
great pumps will be in operation
about the first of March. From
10, 900 to Is, 900 acres of land will
be watered this year and the
plant will have a capacity for
watering a much larger acreage.
Eleven miles of main canal and
lateral have been completed and
several miles more will be finish
ed in time for this years plant
ing. 1t is probable that about
10, 900 acres of rice will be wat
cred this year and irrigation will
be applied to cane, corn and veg
etables.
The actual installation of the
Irrigation Company's
plant began just three years ago,
although the project was set on
foot by J. Franklin Schell about
eleven years ago. The Union
Irrigation Company has a capi-
talization of 81, 10000 and the
completed plant will cost in the
neighborhood of half a million
dollars. The pumping plant in
stallment h a been completed
and all that remains to be finish
ed is the intake from the canal
leading from Bayou Courtableau
to the pumps, on which ITS men
are now at work. This will be
finished before March 1st.
The Union Irrigation Com
pany's main canal is $50 feet
wide and will eventually extend
across St, Landry parish, from a
point just south Of Washington
to the western boundary of the
parish. Wide laterals will ex-
tend south to t h e Lafayette
boundary and to Acadia Parish.
The main canal will have a sue
cession of reservoirs and the to-
biography of the country is such
that relifts will not be necessary.
The main canal will be able to
supply water for half a million
acres Of land. The present in
stallment will be able to furnish
water for $4,000 acres.
The people of St! Landry
parish feel the utmost confidence
in the success of the Schell canal.
J. Franklin Schell, the promoter,
has personally supervised the en-
| tire construction, from the be-
ginning, and local investors in
! the stock and bonds of the COM
pany who have kept close watch
| of the enterprise say that the
work has been accomplished at
surprisingly small cost.
THE opening of the canal in
| March will mark a new era in
the history of St. Landry and
| Southwest Louisiana gri C u /
+,,rn !;