The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1916-09-23
SPANISH TRAIL BOOSTERS.
Cordial Welcome rendered Tourists
During Stop Here.


Cordial Welcome rendered Tourists
During Stop Here.
The party of good roads enthusiasts
from Houston, Beaumont, Orange,
Lake Charles and other points who
made the run into New Orleans over
the route of the Old Spanish Trail,
lived at Donaldsonville at $50
O fo% tuesday, evening, on schedule
time or five cars containing
local autSfEsssile owners and citizens,
headed by Mayor Walter Lemann,
met the tourists at the Ascension par
ish line and escorted them into tile
city. They were first taken to the
Hotel Donaldson, where accommoda-
tons had been reserved for them.
After supper they proceeded to the
Elks' Home, where they were tender
ed an informal reception followed by
& dance.
Prior to the dancing meeting was
held in the lodge room OF the club,
at which short talks were made by
Mayor Lemann, Secretary H. L.
L'Hommedieu Of the Orange Chamber
Of Commerce, and George Hathaway
of Jennings. Mayor Lemann welcom-
cd the visitors to Donaldsonville, told
them it was pleasure to have them
as the city's guests, and on behalf OF
the people of the community extend
ed them the hospitality of the city
and parish. He urged that Donald
sonville be placed on the permanent
route of the Old Spanish Trail, point
ing out some of the many reasons
why the highway should pass through
this city, instead of traversing the
comparatively barren and unpopulat-
ed section extending from Thibodaux
to Des Allemands.
In responding, Mr.. L'Hommedieu
said that at no place along the line
had the party been as warmly wei
coined or as delightfully."- entertained
as at Donaldsonville. He said they
had no diea they would find such
splendid little city here. The roads
leading into Donaldsonville were as
good as any they had encountered,
and on all sides they found evidences
of prosperity, progress and pubic
spirit. The trouble with the people
here. he said. is that they do not let
the world know what they have.
Orange people begin boosting their
town at daybreak and leave off only
at night, and then they talk about the
place in their sleep. At that they
haven't near as much to brag about
as Donaldsonville has. Their town
isn't as we'll situated and doesn't be-
gin to have the advantages enjoyed
by the Ascension capital. The people
here, said the speaker, should let their
light shine and their voices be heard,
and it will not be long before Donald
sonville will begin to realize some
measure of the manifest destiny IN
store for her.
Mr.. Hathaway made a clever little
talk along humorous lines, taking oc-
casion incidentally to say something
nice about Donaldsonville and its
people, and expressing appreciation
for the courtesies rendered the
tourists during their stay here.
A feature Of the dance which fol-
lowed the speechmaking was an ex-
hibition dance by Mayors Sealy of
New Iberia, Harmon of Thibodaux
and Lemann of Donaldsonville, who
had as partners Miss Ethel Park of
Donaldsonville, Miss Lillian Kessler
of Belle Rose. and Mrs. Trahan of
White Castle. algly novel steps and
original moves were introduced
by the graeef executives and
their charming partners. Mayor Lee
mann and Mrs. Trahan carried off the
honors of the contest. Refreshments
of punch and lemonade were served,
and music was furnished by the IA
nous Claiborne Williams orchestra.
The tourists departed at 6 o'clock
Wednesday morning for New Orleans,
crossing the river here and making
the run into the metropolis on the
east bank of the river. Mayor Wal
ter Lemann accompanied them on the
/ last lap of the journey, returning to
Donaldsonville by rail Wednesday
night.
Composing the party of boosters
were the following:
Houston, Tex.-George w. Ora
ham, C. B. Gillespie, C. J. Kirk, B. X.
Coghlan, E. G. Pike, D. Barker, 2. l..
Maxwell.
Lake Charles-D. M. Foster, Jr.,
| N. E. North, H. B. Bayliss, William
| E. Krebs, George West, c. L. Loree
| I. A. Landry, Mesdames c. E. Briggs
IT. A. Dees, and c. L. Briggs.
Dallas, Tex.-C. H. Abbott.
| Beaumont, Text. R. Taylor, wife
and two children, B. L. Turnbow, FL
w. Reed, j. F. Keith, Eugene Tucker
i Orange, Tex.-H. L. L'Hommedieu
L. H. Saxon, c. w. Higgins.
| Liberty, Texas-W. A. Sargent, A
J. Splane, VIII Worthy.
Jennings-George Hathaway, H
r. Proctor, A. C. Wilkins.
New Iberia-Mayor Fl. S. Sealy
Fred. Patout.
, Mayor Frank Harmon and severa
citizens of Thibodaux joined the part.
at that town and accompanied then
to Donaldsonville. They returned
home after attending the reception
and dance.