The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1912-09-14
THE OLD DREAM.
= Canal, Connecting the
Lakes With the Teche,
Would do Much for New
Iberia Commerce.

/ With grea, canals being cut in al
most every direction. in sections ~
| taF less than hail the promise here
held ont, II does seem almost unpat
donab'e N us t. SO neglect an oprortn
htiy OF such moment as Il waterway
between the Tcthc and Grand Lake.
when and where II could be accom-
plislled Tor so small an OUTLAY The
Houttc canal proposition at one time
awakened interest almost to the point
Of action, VIXEN the preferred right of
WHY was withdrawn S nee then,
practically nothing has been done.
In this city Mr. Stephen Hale, at
considerable expense, erected u small
sawmlll on the fastsidc, Just below
thu bridge Tho distance between the
NH and the raw materials Is practtc
| ally 100 miles Some 81 miles ct this
distance logs have 10 be toWcd up the
Techc from ,ta mouth making tow
bills excessive. IN consequence the
| mil has been shut down for longer
/ periods than Il has been IN operation
The proposed "a, ~ would bring mill
and timber within II or ~ miles of
each other and would render the
handling Of u small tow both advauta
geouR and economical.
Mr.. Hazard Vaughn tried the uthc,
experiment Of building mill close
70 he base Of supply He erected his
mill on the shore of Lake Dauterlve
Ills troubles rest IN getting his whole
out put profitabIy to market He has
another menace the river Hoods
The ovc,ilo. OF this last spring seat
tered 4 large quantity of wood, which
could not be protitably moved. from
his mil to The Cuff With 4 canal III
existence, both these mills might and
would be located within the cnvirons
Of this city. beyond the reach Of river
floods. within practical reach of the
base 81 supply, with Il local market
immediately at hand with a demand
great enough to absorb their utmost
output running full time.
With such canal in existence
doubtless other mills Of similar char
actcr would be built here These
small industries would have to have
pay rolls All such funds would find
their way into the trade Of this city.
Capt Ben Doty, owner aud master
of the Bob Broussard' says the
IGGIlf COlItV NC IIladG SdludlHt
to small craft by such canal. While
the shorter liauls would reduce rates,
this would be more than compensated
hy HE possible greater number OF
trips and he drawing of trade this
way that now goes in other directions
Mr. Hazard Vaughn says the great
cat fishing banks Of Tie lakes is ust
below the point where the Atelafa
lava waters are released from levcc
confinement Therefore, the greatest
tonnage Of fish is taken from the lake
and its tributaries at points about
north east Of this city, fifty miles or
one third that distance from this
place The bulk Of the catch has now
to DC towcd to Morgan City to be pre-
pared for shipment to market and on
its way to its greatest market has to
be hauled back needless - miles
oNc' rails through this city. If the
canal were open, it would afford n
shorter way To market for the bulk
OF this fish through this city, creating
Il new field TOR tabor. 1t would also
give ns a good chance Of going after
the trade of those now engaged in
catching the fish.
Mr.. Jno. Case is of the opinion that
such canal would be one of New !he
ria's greatest highways fo' increasing
the commerce Of this city. II would
bring many new families here to
make their homes, while atiording a
GOOD short avenue to and from their
fields IT occupation