New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-07-11
WORTHY OF CONFEDERATION



surely worthy Of consideration
1t was originally intended, if
am not mistaken, that this cana
would be all what its name i'm
plies. For lack of funds-the
amount available not being sui
fcient-the original plan was not
materiaIized, and in consequence
We have drainage ditch instead
of a navigable stream, that Is, III
it's entirety. But in so Tar as
drainage goes, it has proven what
can be accomplished. The canal
has materially Influenced the. sit
cation; today no matter how long
the. / ain or how hard, water is mot
in sight, while in the past, after
an ordinary rain, there were parts
of town completely inundated.
so while we did not get exactly
what We voted for, what we did
get has been for the good of the
community.
But why cannot we get some
thing more from this investment?
1t has been worth to us, its true,
all that we paid-good drainage
is worth any price. AS you sug-
gest, however, at our very doors
is an opportunity to enjoy al
that Saht Water and Sea Breeze
permits, inaccessible, however.
on account Of an incompleted
undertaking. / understand at an
early date there will be a surplus
from the tax which has been
voted, gradually increasing in
amount-which will enable the
authorities to widen and deepen
the canal should they so decide.
We are only ten miles from the
coast, and the navigable part is
about two-thirds Of the route, so
there is really but little more to
do.
When one considers the little
opportunity given our people for
pleasure, can we wonder at the
discomfort and dissatisfaction III
our midst? It's recognized fact
that all work and no play will
make Jack a dull boy and If
there is any doubt as this, one
has but to look around these hot
days especially OH Sunday. Those
who can afford it manage during
the 6u1fest and warmest days to
get away to the mountains or
some summer resort, but as we
all know the majority Of us re-
main at home and wonder why.
Now with the opportunity at our
very doors to enjoy almost all
that summer resort affords, and
only "the way to get their" MISS
ing, why not get busy? Our
canal completed will enable those
of us who care-and l dare say
that will be the majOrity-to
spend our leisure moments where
mind and body will receive that
which will prove more beneficial
than other measures to which we
resort when we feel otherwise. >
Another view point worthy OF
thought is seen looking at the
proposition from a standpoint OF
dollars and cents. To-day, with
an unfinished canal, no benefit is
derived save that of drainage,
which, of course, is Of primary
Importance, but can one REALLY
estimate what it will mean to us
to have the business which can be
had along the coast? The fish.
oyster, and fur business has meant
and is meaning a great deal to
other places, surely New Iberia
would be no exception. Too,
there is almost an inexhaustible
amount of humber south OF us
" l:ich, no doubt, would come this
wav of it could.
There isn't citizen Of our
town, who wants to remain here,
but what has the interest OF the
town at heart, and the writer,
realizing that it is to the lot OF
all of us to do what we can to
help, has permitted himself to
pen his views in regards to what
he thought would prove beneficial.
Considering that the amount nee
essary to complete this project
a project for which the tax was
small when compared
to the largeness Of the good that
would accrue, he would like to
suggest that steps be taken at the
earliest opportunity to give us
the canal, and that will mean
Sol+ Water and Sea RrpeZp