The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1917-07-28
THE ROAD TO THE SEA-.

Iberia Chamber Of Commerce
/, President E l.. Estorge presiding
By mutual understanding eth
Road to the Sea- was made tb
special feature of the evening
when DR.. w. J Carstens, the Cit,
Health Officer of this city, was &C
corded the privileges of the floor
Addressing the Chairman, th
members of the Chamber of Com
merce, and the interested citizen
who had gathered for the occasion
he said in part;
"GentlemeD:-I presume yot
know of this "dream" of mine
Both local papers Of late hav,
very generously given it space
and the dreamer himself has moi
been silent. At any rate, some
times dreams come true, and be
lieving this, have exerted a little
energy and spent little time in
endeavoring to induce our people
TO look with favor on a project
which | am sure means a great
deal to them.
"Within a short distance from
our town Is our coast; aud within
but four miles of completed road
Is a point on this coast where
could be constructed resort
which could be of as much value
to our city an any such PROPOSE
ton could be to any place, /
9 ate resort, but | mean "Opportu
nIty.' l mean "advantage.n |
mean "possibility." Within but
fourteen miles of New iberia IL all
that any ordinary summer resort
can claim, and more; because to
us more than pleasure and rest
will be considered cheap sea food
aud business, which will be ours
should we 60 after it.
"The different view points which
can be taken in regard to high
way to the sea from our town are
many. That of health and pleas.
nIe, possibly, should demand our
attention primarily. | know not
one present who has not many
times this summer loDged for a
chance to spend an hour or two iD
a cool, pleasant, enjoyable way,
yet could not because the chance
was not at hand; because the ia
cilitles, for so spending that hour
or two, were on some other states
coast line, away from us. Think
what it will mean to us TO be able
at any time, on any day, to jump
into an auto and within one half
hour be on salt water or in il!
conference.-the means to us all
rest, pleasure, aud recreation; and
II we get these, why, all Of Us will
be happier, healthier and emile
oftener.
y, "BusIness, did you say Yes;
saom that standpoint we can view
she vast multltudes passing over
the old Spanish Trail from East
and West coming this way TO ouI
parish, to our town, to our sum
mer resort They will have mon
ey, and leave some of it here. If
any of you are in doubt of this, go
TO ChaIenton and zee. Yet, that
place cannot compare in the least
with what will be on our coast. |
dare say automobiles by the hun
dreds 60 weekly to Charenton, but
to lberia's place Of pleasure they
will go by the thousands. Busi
ness? How about the fish, oy ster,
and crab problemsi | daresay that
there IS not one present, but
who has heard at home on many
a Friday, "What can we get for
dinner to dayi"And the answer was
900 to the contents of tin.cans;"
and this, all on account of the
fact that no seafood reached town
Most Of our fish and shrimp and
oysters, as you know, come from
Morgan City, Houma, or Calves
t0n-anyh0w, away from here
Yet, within but few miles is an
opportunity to get oil of these
cheaply and quickly. Businessg
The Intercosstal Canal Will pass
through the southern part Of our
parish, and should this highway
be built, the canal will cross IL
about three quarters of a mile
from the coast This will mean
we will be IN touch, by road. with
a body of water which bids fair to
improve any opportunity. am
sure we would take advantage
of it.
"Lastly: Under this head of
"business," l would mention the
shells, clam shells, which are ours,
just for the moving of them.
Could we not shell our streets
with them cheaper than with any
thing elsef These shells are out
there by the hundreds Of thou.
sands of barrels.
"Gentlemen-I don't want to
take up any more of your time,
but | would ask your support OF
this scheme, because 1t means to
New Iberia and our parish, and by
that | mean our people, more than