The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-04-19
The Intercoastal Canal
Conference.

Conference.
A meeting was held at the court
house In franklin on Monday
evening last In the interest OF that
portion of the Intercoastal Canal
which will psss through the Par.
ish of st. Mary. Mr.. Chas. N.
Frost, president of the Police Jury.
called the meeting to order and
presided. The meeting was we'll
attended by . number Of our rep.
rssentative citizens, composed in
part of planters, business men,
and men of" the various profes.
sions and trades.
Hon. Leon Locke, secretary of
the Inland Waterway Association,
and Hon. II. L. Gueydan, vice.
president, addressed the meet.
Ing, and explained to their
listeners with absolute clearness
the proposed route of said canal,
and tho immense benefit 1t will be
TO the convenience, prosperity and
health Of that portion of the coun.
Try through which 1t will pass.
The ultimate object of this enter.
prise 10 70 construct an inland and
safe waterway passage near the
coast line from the Mississippi
river In Louisiana to the Rio
0rande river on the southern Dor.
der Of Texas. It 10 vast under.
taking, but perfectly feasible and
practicable. When completed it
will open out to the great stretch
Of country between the points
mentioned Q safer and cheaper
passage way for its produce to
these rivers and through them TO
the markets OF the world. It will
be . great artery Of commerce
pulsating with wealth and health
10 the people Il reaches.
The national government 10
committed TO the msking Of this
canal, and they will make it, If
the people along the line Of its
course, do their part materially In
furthering the enterprise. It was
In reference to this point specially
that ueosrs. Locke and Gueydan
sought q conference with the peo.
pie Of this parish. The govern.
msnt will dig and construct the
canal and bear the expense there.
Of, provided the people whose
properties Il will pass will give to
She. government right of way of
800 feet wide, and an . clear
title to the strip Of land on which
the right of way rests. The get
ding Of tho right of ways, the ab.
'stRacting of the titles, and the pas.
ping ef The same, will all be at.
tended with an outlay of money.
The government will not stand
Tor any Of this expense. In fact,
10 will not commence operations
until afteI these titles ere In its
possession free of charges. These
gentlemen therefore ask the Par.
dsh Of st. Mary, as Cslcssieu and
vesmillion have done, to pay the
expenses Of this necessary work
Tor the twenty.one miles of the
canal through Ito lands.
There vac . willing response
from the meeting. 10 Immediately
rot busy with that end In view. |
Mr.. Walter Y. Kenpsr, civil en-.
gineee, and Clerk Of Court Wilbur
ii. Kramer, volunteered their ser.
vices without charge, and were
appointed . committee to take
charge Of obtaining the rights
Of way and making the ab.
stSacts Of titles, etc. Sew.
eral attorneys in the audience
volunteered to give their time in |
assisting these gentlemen In their
labors. A committee was also
appointed composed ofMr. James
A. Petefman ~ Chairman, Messrs.
John II. Gallery, John G. Lewis, |
Paul Kramer eod Willard Ditch,
y confer with the Police Jury, the
City Council of franklin, and
ether towns benefited, to furnish
the means 70 accomplish this
work.
!, The people Of st. Mary are in |
favor Of this canal. They realize
he magnitude of its benefit to |
ham and the country, and will do |
all that 10 expected of them to
bring about Its accomplishment.
What method 10 to be pursued
10 prevent Hoods in the middle
West, such 90 have devastated
that territory and are now threat
rning vest areas 10 the lower Mis.
10 one of the serious
49,