New Iberia enterprise and independent observer., 1918-12-14

make one feel lHole IHdh c'eA ~
urgent need Of a main thorough
fare in our little City that VII
enable our citizens to navigate I;
anv part of the shopping dlstrlc
without getting their shoes be
smeared with mud, like the.
would were they passing through
a field. or following back OF
plow after a soaking ram. Whel
New Iberia was selected as the
right spot to build up a town
we are sure the good lnhabltants
here in those days, least thought
that after a generation the same
conditions would prevail! II
such ideas had Of entered thell
minds they would have settieo
elsewhere, and left the plantation
that existed here at that time, un
disturbed for the tillers of the
rich soil and bountiful crops OF
cane, corn and cotton would still
be seen on the land now used Dy
our inhabitants as a City. The
streets of New Iberia should have
been improved a score years ago
and it is a pity the more progres
sive ones here at that time had
not made this provision for some
of our present citizens, who Il
seems do not care whether they
use mud streets the remainder OF
their natural lives or not. Twen,
ty years ago New Iberia was con,
sidered the third City Of the
State, ranking you might say,
next to Shreveport; Alexandria
and Lake Charles ranking after
us, insofar as population was
concerned, and we have let them
out-grow us 100 per cent. because
Of our Indifference to internal
improvements, and our unwilling
ness to pull together like our SIS
ter towns.
Now, after many years of aglta-
ton on the part Of the more pro-
yressive citizens, and the insist
ence of DR.. Bowling that We build
modern sewerage system, New
iberia lays claim to one of the
best sewerage plants in the South,
for a town the size of ours, and
many Of the property holders are
making connections as fact as
mechanics can do the work. Now
that this, one of the most essential
internal improvements for the
general health of the citizens are
concerned, is completed, let us
pull together for paved or gravel
streets before the year 1919 has
passed into history. The bonds
can be sold and the taxes are
voted; it remains now for the City
Administration to consult with
the citizens as to what kind of ma
terial they wish put down, and
how soon, because after all, they
are the ones to settle the bills
when the work is completed. The
sentiment is here for gravel
streets, the only obstacle being
the disposal Of the bonds.
In the next thirty or forty days
the Police Jury will have ne
gotiated for the sale of some $780,
600 worth of bonds, Or certificates
to take up outstanding warrants
of the Parish and then the Parish
will operate on a cash basis. |
From what we learn the same pur-
chases will take over every cent
Of the municipal bonds Also if the
matter is gone at in a business
like manner. There is no use 10
tarry any longer than what is ab-
solutely necessary, now that all
obstacles have been removed. Let
the streets of New iberia be paved
during 1919, just so long as it is
properly done, and the taxpayer
receives one hundred cents worth
of work for every dollar ex-
pended. After the streets are inn
proved if done properly-we can
then lay claim to inviting strang-
ers to settle amongst us to invest
their capital. Until then we have
no reason to expect outsiders to
east their lot with us to make
their home, although we have the
prettiest location for a City in the
South and the most hospitahle
PEOPLE in the world. Give this a
Thought dear citizen and lets al
pull together for better New
iberia.
Wv. S. S.
49,.