New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-12-21


the public interest, it sometime
becomes the duty Of an editor t.
state unpleasant facts, that thel
recital may awaken the citize'
to betterment Of their sur
roundings. In these days o.
progress, there is no place for the
lagard, be it either the individual.
or the community. If things are
to be accomplished, if results are
to be obtained, intelligent, well
directed work has to be expended
in their interest. The old adagc
''All things come to him WAC
waits" has been exploded. and
the more trite IF you want any
thing, hustle for it, is more in
keeping with the times. Progress
is ever active and on the alert,
nor will it be stayed. If opposed
in one community, it will move
on to the next, where a better
disposed people is willing to adoDt
its rules and yield to its demands.
And, that it remunerates its dc.
voices lavishly is evidenced by
the splendid results in Alexan-
dria, Lake Charles, Monroe and
ether cities which have so far out
stripped us within the past few
years. That We are solely to
blame for this is so patent that it
will not bear denial. Not only
have opportunities been ignored
by us, but industries have been,
permitted to cease operations or
to remove to more live centers. A
primitive system of bad roads
has not only imposed a burden
some tax upon us. but has even
claimed the toll Of human life, as
was the case during the influenza
epidemic when physicians were
unable to respond to country calls.
Indifference in civic matters has
long been the rule and but little
effort has been made to correct
the fault. These are some Of the
unpleasant facts which duty inn
pells us to mention, not to create
the impression that we are behind
times, but rather, as we stated
before, to bring our people to a
realization Of our short comings
and to seek to improve upon ex-
isting conditions.
Daily, thousands Of young men
are being relieved from military
duties. In camps, in environments, !
in foreign lands, these young men
have had their views broadened,
the possibilities Of this country
have been unfurled to them, new
hopes have been bred, new aspi-
rations born, many Of them be-
fore long will be seeking to de- I
velop their new plans Of life, and
70 those communities which have
most to offer, these strong, Wig
orous, clean youths will turn to
become part Of them and to con-
tribute their might and strength
towards their uplift and advance I
ment. II
Nowhere has nature been more
than in this section. I'm.
natural resources sur-I
round us. Mineral deposits butt
await development, broad acres oil t
most fertile marsh lands are to be v
'asily drained and converted into t
be richest Of farms, while virgin j
orests Of hard wood timber hold '
ortunes Tor those who will ex- t
'loit them. navigable streams and v
all transportation insure q ready t
market for all Of our products, s
nd naught prevents the splendid a
utnre Of Iberia Parish but the :
patty Of its own people. Let US !
bake of this apathy! Let us setl|
. work with one accord andl
uild hard surfaced roads lead-
y rom every direction into New
IBERIA! Let us pave the City;
Ereetsl Let us exert everv Ell
PIT towards the civic and mattel
al betterment Of the PARISH Lett
! do these things And then.
4 MS advertise our resourcesilI
ct us tell them in tones and ac-
mt which viii reach all parts oil
e land! Let us extend to. cap
al the proper inducements. and
ldustries and enterprises will
me to us. Our past methods
lTe proven to be bad; let rs
lange them while the time S
ropitions and witness the goodlI
snlts which viii accrue
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