New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1913-01-18
CITIZENS LISTEN TO troll
LEY TALK.

LAFAYETTE, La, Jan. IL
Pursuant to a call by the business
mems committee a mass meeting
was held tonight at the Court
house i'm the interest OF the two
trolley line propositions now pc
fore the people of Lafayette, to-
wit that of the Louisiana Power
and Traction Company, which
proposes to build lines from La
fayette west to the Sabine River,
south to AbbeviIle and north to
Alexandria, and that of the South
western Traction Company, which
proposes to build from New Iberia
to st. Martinvllle, thence to
Breaux Bridge, thence to Lafay-
cite and thence to Abbevllle
Mayor Trahan called the meeting
to order, and he called attention
to certain illegal methods that
had been reSorted to lntlmldate
voters. and stated that if this was
persisted in those guilty would be
placed before the grand jury. lie
appealed to every voter to 90
boldly to the polls and east their
ballots according to their conVlc-
lions.
Attorney Charles d. Catfery,
first speaker explained the two
propositions before the people, IN
volving ] II mills tax levy for ten
years for each line. He was un-
qualifedlN in favor of both prop
ositions. Lafayette would be as
sured of four lines practically.
These roads would increase at
tendance at the schools, and bring
many strangers to TOWN. The
mere construction OF these roads
would involve the expenditure OF
large sums that otherwise would
never see the light Of day. The
tax would not be a burden to the
poor, for it would give employ
ment to many. The tax on $500
assessment would be 81 so per an
mum, as compared with the large
assessment of the big taxpayers,
a large number of whom support
ed both propositions. Mr.. CAT
fery cited examples to prove his
assertions.
The people of Lafayette had
donated the Suthern Pacific Rail
road $4,000 for the Baton Rouge
lise, and it now i'll becomes the
company to oppose the present
move in favor of the two trolley
lines.
Ed. Il. Estorge of New Iberia,
spoke of the good the trolley had
done in his town. New Iberia
had experienced great material
Improvement by the building of
the Southwestern Traction Com
panv line from that town to jean
erette. J. p. COlomb said he was
led to support the roads partly on
account of the opposition now de-
veloping. He advocated the tax,
not only for present benefit, but
for the rising generation, and
cited some of the puerile argu-
ments trumped up against these
enterprises.
Sol Wexler, of New Orleans,
related the history of the South
western Traction Company, now
operating a trolley line between
New iberia and Jeanerette The
company had actually paid into
Jeanerette s treasury more money
for street pavement than the tax
levied In favor Of the road. The
tax bonuses show good will of the
people, and assist much in secur
ing capital for construction OF
the line. Interurban lines will
attract the best class Of immi-
grants, who require that the eoun-
try be modernized, with all con-
veniences and facilities. Natchez
had neglected trolley lines, and
feels the loss. Baton Rouge, on
the contrary, had secured these
improvements, and today is ell
joying a large degree of prosper
ity. Power would be furnished
at nominal cost to industrial en-
terprises. The lines would neces
sarily bring great improvements
to Lafayette.
A motion by Mr.. Gallery, that
it be the sense of the meeting that
both trolley lines are for the best
Al 40,,,,,