The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-01-25
Opportunities in Louisiana.

The report of the State Bank Exam
iner shows that the banks of Louisian;
have increased their resources owe
$25, 900, 900 in a period of a year. Thi
is surplus money, and during the com
ing year a great part of it must fine
investment. The Building and Loer
Associations Of New Orleans repor
more funds on band for loaning purpose
than at any time in their history. Thi;
money must find investment. The Pan
American Life Insurance Company re,
ports the most successful year in its
history It's growth has been healthy,
its progress almost phenomenal. It's as
sets are invested in this market
This idle surplus money should mean
tremendous development and progress
for Louisiana. The prospect is made
more pleasing because the neighboring
state Of Mississippi has kept step with
us in the accumulation of surplus
wealth.
Every cent of this money should go
into improvements here at home. If
we should make money every year as
we have made it this year, and were
to invest it all at home for twenty
years, would We still live in a partially
developed section. We differ from other
parts of the United States in that we
have this great home market for in
vestment.
Where should the money go?
First, into buildings, first-class, sani-
tary, up-to-date homes for our people
Next, into sewerage, water drainage
in cities and towns which lack these
facilities. Next, into good streets and
good roads. Louisiana and Mississippi
could each spend $25, 600, 900 immediate
ly for good roads, and be richer for the
Then we should clear up
our cut-over lands and drain our wet
lands. Twenty-Five or fifty millions of
dollars could be invested in this devel-
opment with profit. We need to stamp
out the cattle-tick and improve our
livestock. We need millions # dollars
invested in improved farm equipment.
We need to build factories for max
ing tens Of millions of dollars of added |
wealth out OF the by-products of lum-
Der, which now go to waste. We need
chemical factories 10 use our gypsum,
our sulphur, our salt and our Oil.
We need to invest in building a great
'ity at New Orleans-moneyt or addI-
.lonal WharVes, docks, warehouses,
hipbullding plants, steel plants, great
actorieS, great Office buildings, new
,toces, and new houses to take care of
he business If greater city,
We should see to il that the State
II Louisiana has schoolhouses every
where, and good public institutions OF
Ill varities.
Money is only useful when it is put
o work. IL benefits our people only il
Employed in productive channels. It's
,reat benefit Is than it cal give en-
'loymenU TO people. We talk much OF
1t is mos. desirable. But
ur real greatness will come from the
eVelopment OF our own people. Let
S never forget this.
Los Angeles has grown from town
f few thousand people to a city OF
lmost million sonls, Outsiders made
nat city, bringing to it their energy
nd their wealth. There are old peo-
.e in Southern California who have
we'd there all their lives and have re-
eived little or no benefit from the vast
evelopment around them. The same
true Of Chicago and of New York.
he reason is that the home people
ere not fitted to take advantage of !
leir chances.
Let us not repeat this with the boys {
nd girls of New Orleans, of Louisiana
nd Mississippi We have an empire {
natural wealth greater than any =
hich has 2een given to any people in
merica. This years profits from this i
=ar's business is but a beginning.
,em. .