St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1913-09-20
MELVILLE CITIZENS
Al | OPTIMISTIC
st. Landry Town lis On The
Boom And Doing A Large
Business

1ne HEGIS EOWH OF MeIVlIle, Sit
uated on the banks of the pic
turesque Atchafalaya River, is
on the boom, and a spirit of OPP
timism prevails among the in
habitants of the once flooded
town.
Houses for rent are at a prem
ium and the leading citizens Of
Melville feel confident that their
town will keep booming up as
fast as it has been doing, in the
last few weeks. DIR. Joseph, u
prominent physician, at that
Iplace, as well as the young and
popular Mayor, Dr.. Lester
III. Williams, are among the most
EoptiInistic. In fact, when inter-
viewed by a Clarion representa-
tive during the week. both of
these men were so jubilant over
the present condition Of their
town that they spoke with d
heart as light as those of little
tots. who have just been granted
/ a favor by their parents.
1t is not only talk with the peo-
pie Of Melville, but there is a
good deal of action, and, decisive
action with them. They are
booming up their town with the
proper spirit, by putting down
public, as well as private, ira-
provements.
Among the most important inn
provenents is the laying of q
mile and a half of cement side
walks, which goes to show that
though Melville is not as large as
some Of the towns of St. Landry,
the larger places have nothing
on it. when it comes to progress
siveness.
The High School under the
principleship of Professor Stoker
| a Z. S. e. graduate, has been
prospering rapidly since its open
li ing day, two weeks ago. The
teachers are working hormon-
iously and the enrolment is larg-
Ter at present, than ever before,
being over two hundred. People
living in the surrounding coun-
| try began pouring into the town
| in order to send their children to
that school, until several families
had to return to their farms and
employ private tutors, ais there
were no houses to rent.
The town has a payroll Of over
$4,000 month; the Standard Oil
Company is laying down pipes ait
that point, the levee contractors
are busy building and repairing
several million feet of levees, on
both sides of the Atchafalaya,
United States Engineers are also
I in Melville, all of which lend con-
lsiderably to the business of the
town.
The many business houses,
from the Clarion representatives
view point. seem to be doing
splendidly. He had occasion to
saunter into one of the frst-classi
drug stores, whilst in that pro-
Igressive little city, and noticed
the great business carried
on by DIR. Williams drug store.
The pride of this establishment
lis t h e modern and up-to-date
soda water fountain, which was
recently purchased and which
will vie, with the best in the
state, outside Of New Orleans.
His efficient druggist, DR.. Chis-
Elon1, is a most accommodating
person and a Ids greatly to the
popularity of that drug store.
The hotels In town are all
crowded and one has, literally
speaking, to wait for his turn ait
/ the table.
The assessment of Melville has
| been increased, In the last year,
from $50. 600 to sits, 600. The
election to vote a tax for the
purpose Of putting up a water
work and electric plant was car
Iried. and it is expected that it
Twill not be long before that
town will be illuminated and the
citizens furnished with good
water.
/ The Texas and Pacific bridge,
/ which spans the Atchafalaya at
that point, is being raised above
the high water mark. This is
la great engineering feat, as the
work is carried on, whilst traffic
| is not interferred with.
| With the spirit of optimism,
which now exists in Melville,
! that progressive town promises
to be one Of the principal towns
lin old st. Landry, and the floods
| OF 1912 have not impeded the
i progress of its Industrious citi-
j zens. They have conquered the
hard times" and encouraged
by the fairly good crops, espe-
cialIy the large yield of cotton,
i surrounding the town, Melville
lis no longer in the back ground.
4 MIR. Noise Lafluer and Mrs. Dr.1
Lafluer we're visitors TO this city on