The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1912-05-11
MANY DISTINGUISHED
srn Neuvnane, rnio, News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
New Orleans.-The Louisiana Cen
tennial celebration was celebra ed
here with appropriate ceremonies Tor
the occasion.
The doors of the city and state We're
trown open to the world. Many
prominent and famous personages
were present and made speeches.
The guest of honor for the occasion
was Philander C. Knox, secretary OF
state, who repres sented President TAFT.
In one respect the affair took on
military aspect there being so many
soldiers and sailors present The fed
eral government had assigned ships
of war to New Orleans during the cele-
bration and the officers and men of
the ships participated in the events.
The ceremonies of the day started
with a reception by the mayor at the
city hall Speaking and the flag rails
ing ceremonies were held later on the
scene of the first flag raising in 1872.
The flag raising was pretty feaure
of the day, and as the beautiful flag,
representing the colors of 1872, slow
" arose there was tremendous cheer
ing by the children and rush to the
square. The flag was raised by Miss
Clarisse Claiborne, great granddaugn-
ter of the first governor of the state.
Secretary Knox in his speech gave
a brief history of Louisiana.
men-When our forefathers in their
wisdom formed "a more perfect
union," the domain Of the United
States was bound on the west by
vast empire belonging to the SOW
erignty of Spain, which was trans
ferred by Spain to France in 1900.
Looking with far-sighted vision into
the future and with keen apprecla-
ton of the Importance of having an
outlet to the sea for the settlers and
for the produce of the Mississippi val
ley. Jefferson, not without a misg1v-
ing as to it's constitutionality. seized
the opportunity presented by the ex-
igencies of European politics to &C
quire this immense territory by the
treaty of 1903 with France. Thus was
consumated the cheapest real estate
transaction recorded in history, and
one which in it's results has fulfilled
the prophecy Of the French negotlator
that the cessation of Louisiana Gin
| terests vast regions that will become
| by their civilization and power the
tury passes Well might Robert r.
| Livingston exclaim after the sigma
ture of the traety. We have lived
long. but this is the noblest work Of
our whole lives" At the time Of this
cession the population of the United
States numbered less than 100000
souls. Today more than 100000
find their homes within its confines
Out Of the wilderness acquired from
France have been formed thirteen
great states, having by our last cen
sus an estimated population of nearly
100000 against an estimated popu
lation of $4,000 at the time Of the ces'
sion. Not the least of these states
and the first to be admitted as state
into the Union is the present state OF
Louisiana.
During the Spanish rule OF Louisiana
immigration was restricted rather than
encouraged. SO it is not a matter OF
wonder that at the time of its acquisi
tion by the United States the favor
ably situated city of New Orleans had
but 5000 inhabitants. So soon as the
annexation to the United States took
place there was a notable emigration
| to Louisiana from other parts of the
country. With an equable climate and
a fertile and alluvial soil, nearly all Il
which was capable of cultivation, the
state Of Louisiana afforded unusual at
| traction to the planter and the agri
! culturist. Within its borders could
! be raised not only sugar cane, cotton
/ tobacco and rice, but fruits and Der
| ries. wheat. corn and truck and forage
crops. It's forests. said to be today
| the best and finest of their kind re
Baton Rouge.-Dr. G. E. Nesom, ex
| 5;~o,+or of tha dapartmenf Of agricul