The Donaldsonville chief., 1915-01-09
4 RECORD OF RESULTS.
Notable achievements of chamber
of Commerce During Past Year
Many Valuable Movements Con-
templated in 1915.

Many Valuable Movements Con-
templated in 1915.
Donaldsonville, La, Dec. 81, 1914.
/ To Members of the Chamber of Com
merce and Other Citizens, Greet
ing:
As the old year draws to a close
and we approach the threshold of
the new, it may be well for the
! Chamber of Commerce to review
| briefly the result of it's past activi-
ties before formulating plans for the
| future In spite of the fact that
our operations have been greatly
| handicapped because of very limited
and inadequate means, We believe
We can point to results accomplish
ed and projects under way that more
than justify the existence of this or
ganiZation.
/. Our persistent efforts to force
the leVee boards to fulfill their
contract to place a lock at the head
of Bayou Lafourche @nally caused
the federal government to take Of
fetal cognizance of the matter, with
the result that an appropriation was
included in the recent rivers and
harbors bill to cover the cost of
survey and report by federal engi-
neers. This item, which was lost
among many other appropriations,
has been restored in the bill now
pending in congress and there is
good reason to believe it will pass.
As this survey would probably be I'M
der the direction Of Major Schultz,
the q. S. A. engineer stationed at
New orleans, who is a firm friend
of the locks, a favorable report
could be reasonably expected. This
followed. by prompt action on our
part should result in securing an ap-
" commencement of work on this
project, SO vital to the prosperity OF
our city and adjacent country.
2. Although the idea of monthly
market day did not originate with
us, ours was the first Chamber of
Commerce in the state to appreciate
the Importance of the Dalrymple sug-
gestion and to translate it into &C
ton Our first market day, notW1th-
standing unfavorable weather, achleY-
ed a sufficient measure of success TO
justify our confidence in its value,
and encourages us to believe that it
will become a permanent institution
and. by bringing the producer and
consumer into closer relation, fur-
nish in time a sure and regular mar
ket for all surplus Aearm products
and at the same ii materially re-
duce the cost of liVs.
8 It was only n extension of
the market day nd ement for the
Chamber of CommNke ke to take up
the question of inatslrating regular
shipments of truck, eggs and poul-
try by parcel post between this city
and New Orleans. We have already
taken steps toward supplying pri-
vate households in New Orleans with
whatever they may need in that line
for their Sunday dinners, with
view to gradually extending the SER
vice until such families as so desire
may be able to receive from Donald
sonville regular daily shipments of
absolutely fresh eggs, vegetables and
other truck at prices as low or low
.er than they now pay for inferior
grades of similar articles.
4. Another project undertaken and
which should soon be completed, is
securing sufficient number of
names on a petition directed to the
postoffice department asking for free
rural delivery from Dona1dsonYille
to Hohen Solms and return by way
Of Barton. The completion of gravel
ed roads over practically this entire
route, as well as the wishes of
majority of the people residing there
on, lead us to believe that when the
petition is forwarded to Washington
it will be promptlyA and favorably.
acted upon. Not oAH would this i'm
provement be of Sect commercial
benefit to this city ut by increasing
the stamp sales on 5his postoffice to
more than $4,000 \ Vnually, it would
make this city eiigNe as a site for
a federal building, long-deferred
dream of our people.
5. Through our congressman, the
Hon. Lewis L. Morgan, We have tax
en- up the matter Of free city de-
livery for postal matter, and he ad-
vises US that he is exerting every eff:
fort to secure favorable action from
the postoffice department.
6. The fact that Donaldsonville,
because of it's central location, is
natural baseball center, led us to
propose to neighboring towns the
formation of siX-team league. The
suggestion was favorably received by
the managers of the st. James, Pla-
quemine, Napoleonville and Labadie-
vile teams, and conference called
for Sunday, Jan. 10, at this place,
will be attended by the above mana
gers for the purpose of discussing
the proposition and formulating rules
for the guidance of the league. In
the meantime we trust to hear that
Lutcher or P1attenviIle will also be
represented at the above meeting.
Z. Since the closing of two of our
banks, which has greatly curtailed
the banking facilities of this section,
the establishment OF another bank
has very generally been regarded
as a pressing need. Furthermore,
the opportunity opened for such an
institution, especially one that would
embrace several parishes in it's
scope, has been quickly recognized
by financiers both far and near, and
after tentative negotiations with
several individuals and institutions,
the Chamber of Commerce expects
soon to be able to announce the ear
ly opening of a national bank in this
city with a capital of $4,000. such