New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1919-03-22
communicated.
SOME COMPARISONS BE-
TWEEN THE PARISHES OF
IBERIA AND ST. MARY.

New iberia is on the eve Of Il
nambcr Of public Improvements.
Some comparisons between the
! arish of Iberia and the nelehbor-
mo parish Of st. Mary'WiIl not re
untlmeiy.
There was sorcalled model
road constructed in the Parish be
tvs cen New iberia and Jeancrette
nj cost Of Sc. cnty odd thousand
dollars. how far it proved to be Il
model road. only those who have
Travelled over it can tell. The re
mains have been taken in charge
bv the g0 eminent. The MAN
artery Of the parish of st. Mary
WA graveIled at 10 extra cost to
taxpayers. cost being betrayed
out of the general fund. This road
passes through the town Of Frank
lin which is one of the most a.
tractive in Southern Louisiana.
After the heavy winter rains and
traffic this road is in excellent
condition.
When cement Sidewalks were
laid in Franklin the town paid for
brick curbing, property owners
paid for walk. In New IBERIA the
entire cost was paid by property
owners. Cement walks in Frank
lin are kept clean. In the busi
ness district Of New iberia some
walks appear as if never swept
All lateral streets in Franklin are
being shelled at no extra cost to
the people.
The public buildings Of Frank
| lin. court house, public school
| town market. etc. would be cred
table to a city. Franklin make
no such pretensions. though th'
! strangN might mistake it for one
instead of New Iberia which claims
+, 10 be a city. Franklin has a very
attractive park with fountain and
other embellishments. New lberi;
has no park.
There are few vacant stores il
Franklin. Consider the amour
Of commercial property in New
Iberia either vacant, or yieldin,
such low rent as to be loss
rather than a profit to owners
Tax rates and valuations bein!
very much lower than New 1be
ria. though the prosperity o
Franklin is apparent.
Franklin has q mayor ant
town council, the mayor receiv
ing o nominal salary. The mayo
having done so much for the town
ras recently been appointed roat
overseer Of the parish. All sal
aries have been raised in New
Iberia. though we have regret
fully witnessed constant exodu
Of laborers and many of the mos
desirable citizens. Rents of com
mcrclal as well az residential prop
ertv are lower than fifteen year
ago when it modestly called itsel
town.
The power house Of Franklin j
equipped with two upright oil
burning DIESEL engines bought at
cost Of 10000 each mine thousand
one engine furnishing sufficien
power, they are used alternately
or in case Of emergency. Two an
one.half barrels Of oil are cor
Isumed daily.
Machinery runs smoothly wit
no perceptible noise or vibration
| Premises clean and orderly
Water is pumped from Bayor
Teche by electric pump to stan'
pipe at power house which is no
on Main Street. but in the rear o
town Mt least four blocks back O
Main Street. Three men opcrat
| the plant. There is also an al
tesian well. The charge for light
/ is ten cents per killowatt. Til
consumer Of light in New Iber;
pays twelve cents a killowat
The oil-burning Snow engine
still an unfinished chapter in tn
history Of New Tberia's public &,
J periments.
The question arising in tn
minds of thoughtful people j
how has st. Mary accomplished $
much with moderate taxation an
iberia 50 little from excessive Ia,