New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-07-21
THE HIGHWAY TO THE BAY

W. F. Carstens, and your inter
esting and instructive comment
! on the subject of his article, ar
worthy Of the careful though
and consideration Of the citizen
Of New Iberia, who wish for ever
increasing prosperous condition.
for our City.
There are many things to b,
said in favor of this propose
highway to the Bay, and onl,
one thing against it, and that, il
itself, is really Of minor import
ance, when all favorable result.
are taken into consideration. One
OF the most important of the ben
fets to be secured by such a high
way is the easy and cheap trans
portation of sea-food to this
City. The high cost of living, 81
engrossing and proolematic' in
solution by heads of families OF
all stations, demands that some
thing that will relieve the situa-
ton, even in small degree, be
done. Under present circumstan-
ces and conditions, the cost OF
sea-food to the citizens Of New
Iberia is high absurdly high, when
we remember how near we are
to the Gulf and to the source of
such food. This is all due to the
circuitous route by which sucn
food must be brought to the con-
sumner here. The proposed hign-
way will, in a great measure,
solve this difficulty, land facilitate
the transportation Of such COM
modities to this City.
Another consideration, worthy
of thought, is that such a high
way would be an inducement to
tourists from the north and east
to make this side trip to the Gulf
or the Bay, in their pleasure
seeking, and in doing this, New
Iberia would be the center from
which to radiate on these pleasure
trips. The historic and most
beautiful Bayou Teche is an at
traction within ITSELF of no mean
Importance and influence, and
with this highway open to the
Bay, an added inducement is TO
be had to hold the tourist, either
by rail or by automobile, in New
Iberia for a longer time-and
these tourists leave money where
ever they go.
AS / understand it. the cost Of
this highway to the sea
would be approximately sixteen
to twenty thousand dollars. There
are four miles Of road to be built,
and at a cost of from four to five
thousand dollars per mile. The
Commercial Canal would cost up
ward Of fifty thousand dollars to
complete-perhaps much more.
The highway would have one ad-
vantage over the canal, in it's at
traction to tourists, and we might
say would have another advant-
age in furnishing a driveway for
The automobile owners Of this
City and the surrounding coun-
try. And the number of auto
mobiles in this section Of the coun-
try is astonishing, when you
think about it. Freight auto
trucks are numerous, and would
bring the food products from the
Bay to New Iberia, daily, and in
4 very short .time-not over an
hour for the trip one way. This
would be far ahead Of the speed
If the boats. were the canal COM
oleted. And time, in handling
foods of all kinds, is an important
factor and consideration.
The people of New Iberia would
10 well to give this project their
most favorable consideration, for
he money expended in the CON-
3letion of the highway to the Yer
nilion Bay would be repaid in a |
surprisingly short time, and sucn
! highway would operate in ben
fits to New Iberia. and Iberia |
oarish, in ways that would not
low be thought of. Take it up
md consider it. Everything must |
lave a beginning; every progress
i've and beneficial move must
lave promoter and must inter
st those who will he benefited.
Contributed.
-O-