The Donaldsonville chief., 1913-05-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The Chief is not responsible for the
views expressed by correspondents
An Excellent Suggestion.


Donaldsonyillle, La, May s, 1913.
Editor Chief:
l desire to offer a suggestion which,
should it commend itself to your IA
vorable consideration, I trust you
will communicate through the me-
dunn of your columns to the good
people Of Donaldsonville.
The voters of this town, by a most
substantial majority, recently adopt
ed the commission form of govern
Inent Later, by a still more decided
vote, they elected the three commits
sioners who are to manage the af-
fairs Of this city fo- the next four
years. The change from the alder
manic to the commission form of
government has proved an epoch in
the history Of many cities. There is
no reason to believe there will be
any exception in the case of Donald
sonville. Therefore, | believe the
date of the formal change from the
old to the new form should be made
a gala occasion, not only to cele-
brate the progress and prosperity thas
should ensue under more modern
and scientific form Of municipal
government, but to extend formal
and proper thanks to the efficient
and honest administration that is re-
tiring from office after having render
ed lasting and valuable service to
the community
l would suggest valedictory adj
dress by the outgoing, and a saluta-
tory by the incoming, mayor. They
are both gentlemen in the finest
sense Of the word. They are both
substantial citizens. They are both
representatives of all that is best
in the business and social life Of
DenaldsonVille. They have both
sdIven for tse same public end,
namely, the Welfare and prosperity
Of Donaldsonville. There is nothing
| to prevent, on such an auspicious
occasion, the most cordial exchange
/ OF courtesies, mutual appreciation
speaker with a state or national rep
utation, more especially one who has
scme practical knowledge Of the
working of the new form Of govern
nent and with the power to instil
some genuine public enthusiasm, could
also be invited to address the meet
/ ing.
Furthermore, and this is the ker-
mel Of my argument, the occasion
fcould and should be made a get-to-
/ gether, harmonizing occasion, when
/ all factional differences might be
/ buried and everybody unite in de-
| Termination to lend their best efforts
/ to the upbuilding of Donaldsonville.
A city, after all, unlike a poet, is
made and not born. Further, it is
man-made. It may be endowed with
certain natural advantages, but un-
less thaH advantages are appre-
ciated aid utilized, it will be out
| stripped by some lesser rival whose
citizens have that common spirit Of
/ civic pride, energy and ambition so
i necessary in the larger growth Of
any community AS an Illustration,
raj lts very properly point TO those
srassgie cities of the western prairies,
Forth Worth and Oklahoma City,
whose marvellous growth has been
/ due, not SO much to the natural adj
yantages of location and soil, such
as are possessed by Donaldsonville,
but to the splendid spirit, energy
and unity CT their people.
Donaldsonville, as well as other
cities of the sugar belt, stands at
the parting CT the ways. She must
! perforce conform herself to new eco
ncnic conditions and the sooner she
i realizes this the better; but in my
opinion these conditionc will be a
blessing il disguise and prepare her
fpr an era Of prosperity such as vas
;5dever possible under the old re-
| gime. It is the history OF this as
well as every other section, and, in
deed, Of every other country, that
general prosperity is always precar-,
ious when dependent on a single
crop. Only in diversity Of crops
and industries is there uniform and
permanent prosperity, and whenever
the south, and Louisiana in particu-
lar, accepts that idea. it will mean,
with our splendid soil and climate, af-
ter the necessary re-adjustment and
reconstruction has been undergone,
both the rejuvenation and regenera-
tlon of our sectRn.
Hae opportunitS to have most sue
cessful celebration on the occasion
referred to is especially favorable
The date could be made contem-
splendid new building of the Elks.
the installation of the new light and
water plant with it's modern Diesel
engines, and the completion of the
new amusement park. All these last
named events will draw numerous
visitors. The occasion could and
should be utilized to sink all fac
tional differences in an organized eff
fort to show the outside world that
Donaldsonville possesses a citizen
body of harmonious, progressive and
optimistic ideas; that it is a town
of splendid natural advantages, a.
town that believes in itself, its fu-
ture and the future Of the country. |
R. S. VICkERS.
A CARD.