St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1916-11-18
'EvANGEL|NE HIGHWAY"
MEETING At COURTHOUSE
LARGE DELEGATION OF "GOOD ROAD BOOSTERS"
MEETING HERE ON THURSDAY IN THE COURT
HOUSE


Of citizens from Bunkie, White
vile, Washington, Opelousas, Crane
Coteau and Lafayette was held in
the Courthouse at Opelousas last
Thursday at ii A. M. to promote
the building of what is known as
the Evangeline Highway Route
from Bunkie to Lafayette to con-
meet the Jefferson Highway and
the old Spanish Trail which passes
through Lafayette from San An
tonic to New Orleans. Mayor Loeb
Of Opelousas, called the meeting
TO order and asked Rev. Father
Grace, President of the st. Charles
College of Grand Coteau TO act as
temporary chairman. Hon. c. ].
Pope addressed the meeting and
stated its purposes, the body than
went into permanent organization
with Father Grace as President
and Mr.. J. G.. Lawler as Secretary
and an executive committee from
each town through the which pro-
posed Highway is TO pass viii be
named by the President in a few
days, thus allowing him sufficient
time 10 confer with those interest
ed and VIII report at mass meet
ing TO be held here at Opelousas In
the Court House on Dec. ilth. at
40 o'clock A. N. This is one of the
gFandest move ever made in this
parish, when we consider what q
model road is doing for other
parish which are fortunate enough
20 have a Highway.
Over q hundred representative
citizens from the neighboring towns
were present at the meeting, in
sluding Bunkie, Whiteyille, Wash
ington, Grand Coteau, and La
fayettee The movement was re-
ceived enthusiastically by all pre-
sent. There is rather sharp rivalry
between Washington, Bayou Boeuf,
Melville and Vile Platte as. to the
location of the road after leaving
Opelousas, and hence the call for
q meeting at Opelousas on above
mention date, thereby giving the
shose contesting points sufficient
time to prepare their claims to
show why the EEVANGELINE
HIGHWAY should pass by their
town.
Among the prominent speakers
at the meeting were, E. B. Dubisson,
President OF the Opelousas National
Bank, a large land owner and an
Attorney Of Worldwide reputa-
tion. Mr.. Dubuisson is highly in
accord with the move and made a
very forcefull address advocating
the same, other prominent speakers
were DR.. Davis Hon. C. J. Pope, DR..
Mathews of Bunkie, Mr.. J. P.
Golumb OF Lafayette, and Mr.. A.
Thistlewaiste of Washington. Mr..
Mathews stated in his short but
pointed address that it was istimat-
ed that Tourist spends at the rate
Of one dollar per mile. For instance
If five passenger touring car
passes trough our town which is say
2 miles long, they will have left
here with US ten dollars and il
three hundred Automobiles passes
our little city they will have left
with us something like twenty-five
hundred dollars however, be that
as it may, should they leave with
as two thousand dollars, per month
and add this amount TO our re-
venues and we will soon realize
what a National Highway means
for locality. Father Grace in ac-
eepting the nomination as perma-
nent President of this Proposed
Evangeline Highway, delivered
mas0erly speech, reciting history
both encient and modern, as a prof
Of what Good Roads have done and
what they do for a country. With
them country will prosper AMI
on the other hald with out them
now they dwindle down and pass