New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1915-09-11
BAYOU COURTABLEAU AND
THE TECHE.

The mass meeting held at thu
town of Washington. in St. Ian
dry parish last Wednesday in thu
interest Of taking up the WORK
of inducing Congress to make the
necessary appropriation for con
Meeting the two streams, was one
of the most enthusiastic ever held
in that section. There were dele
cations of the most representative
citizens present from New Iberia
Loreauville, Arnaudville, iPreauS
Bridge, St. Martinsbille, Opelou-
sas and other points all of whom
had gathered to hear what Sena-
tor Broussard and Senator Rams
dali would have to say about the
question that means so much, not
only to the people Of the upper
section who wish to have their
stream connect with the Teche
but with all who live upon the
banks of the Teche and hope at no
distant dav to see fresh water
continuously flowing in that
stream. The meeting was called
to order bv the Mayor of Wash:
ington and invitations extended to
all of the Mayors of the different
towns who were present to take
seat upon the stage. Hon. Edwin
Rroussard was the first speaker
to address the large audience and
he assured those present that the
people of Iberia realized the i'm
portance of getting back Of the
movement and everything they
could do to assist the Congress
men and Senators at Washington
would be done He was followed
by Mr.. Brown of Port Barre who
confined his remarks to the high
rates of the railroads in handling
traffic from that point to the east
ern markets. Mr.. Brown is big
shipper Of moss and made COM
parsons between the water and
railroad rates that astonished the
audience. Senator Broussard next
spoke and in a few minutes he
explained how he regretted the
opposition to the movement a
number Of years ago when the
people of st. Landry expressed
their opposition to it, because Of
the great project then on foot to
build the Schel Canal in that par
ish. However, he did not blame
them as they were the judges of
what they wanted or did not de-
sire. He promised, with the as
sistance Of his colleagues to bring
up the matter to get the appropria-
ton, if the engineers made a fav-
orable report upon the PROPOSE
ton. This was one Of Mr.. Brous-
sard S hobbies when he first en-
tered Congress and there is no
better posted man in the State
on the necessity Of the connection
Of the two streams and the i'm
portance it would be to all of the
people who want water transpor-
tation. Senator Ransdall also
made a splendid talk on the i'm
portance of navigation and i'm
pressed all with the fact that un-
less the engineers would recon-
mend the improvement, there was
but little hope to get the Act
PASSED by Congress owing to the
influence of the railroads and the
further fact that many of the
rivers are not used after they are
dredged. He stated that in some
instances even after hundreds of
thousands of dollars was spent by I,
the Government on waterways
there was not single boat haul
ng merchandise plying the waters ]
and no further improvements !
would be made where such condi- /,
ions existed. He promised how !
yer. to work with the Congress- t
nan in getting this appropriation
which to his mind meant so much q
ellef to the people residing along s
is shores. He was in turn fol- :
owed by Mr.. Lazaro, who repre- t
ents that District in Congress u
nd the meeting was then adj
burned to some future date.
We noticed at the meeting the
o1low,,D ro-nau4x.