New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1921-01-22

| III ShN dyS. HIS was uOHe dl tc
mature thought and deiiberatiol
tecause we realized that it wou.t
| r7lv be a matter Of time, due {,
the high cost of gravel and to tn,
| high cost Of transportation of thi
gravel. The materia! which W,
advocated using is within a ston,
throw, so to speak Of our City
they are out in Vermilion bay il
unlimited quantity. As to tn,
value Of these shells for this pur
pose. as we have on numerous oc
casions stated, we again state that
several parishes in this State. TO-
day, and have for years been Us.
;n@ them with very satisfactory
results. We might cite in partlc
ular the parish of st. Bernard
where we understand prac ticalIy
an ideal condition exists as to
roads. I'm MANY parts of the
State. where gravel roads have
been constructed. due to the de-
terloratlon Of the material used,
:.am shells are being used to re-
place. A visit to ST.. Mary parish
will confirm this. Another in
stance where they have proven
very satisfactory is that piece of
road leading out of Boutte on the
south side of the Southern Pacifiu
railroad tracks near New Orleans.
1t is gratifying to us to be IN
position to announce that the
members Of the Police Jury have
last began to realize the futility
of continuance Of the use of the
expensive gravel. 1t would be
only a matter Of time, and but a
short while we believe >~if our
country roads are to be construc-
ed with the material which is be-
ing used to-day, considering It's
high cost. the high cost of trans
,pQrtation. and, the. short Life of its
usefulness when we will fully
realize that we have expended
thousands of dollars with very un-
satisfactory results. We will
acknowledge that clam shells will
not give us, strictly speaking
ideal roads-yet considering their
close proximity and the cheapness
of their removal they are far bet
ter than gravel.
The question naturally arises
bv what means, are we to reach
them, and how best to proceed?
DIR. w. F. Carstens has for several
years, and on numerous occasions
advocated the construction of d
road to the sea, two routes has
been advocated by him, either one
Of which will enable us to reach
the coast. This means a high
dry, dirt road to practically their
location. as these shells are out
there in salt water. The route
winch the doctor seems won over
to is the one along the commercial
canal, as this would not only give
lis a road to salt water, but a |
navigable stream practically to
New IBERIA. By invitation he ad-
dressed the members Of the Jury
during its last meeting, and we
believe fully convinced the men,
bers Of the advisability of looking
into this matter.
They very attentively listened
to him and we understand that it
is their intention in the near fu-
Lure to visit the bay in a body to
investigate. Mr.. Willard also ad-
dressed the members of the jury
On this occasion, advocating the
use Of clam shells in road con-
'truction- and he cited many in
stances in the state Of South Car
)lina. from which he halls, where
perfectly satisfactory results were
lad by their use. He suggested
hat the matter be taken up and a
geodetic survey be made Of our
'oast to ascertain just where these
hells are and their quantity and
le said that he believed that this
urvey would be made by govern
nent engineers at no cost to the
'arish. II
While it is not our intention to
nterpose any objections to what
he Police jury intend to do in
ne matter Of future road con-
truction, vet we believe that this
roposition of clam shells for road
laterial should be thoroughly in
estigated before more money is
Dent for gravel. We understand
rat our gravel roads are costing
rom. $4,000 to $4,000 mile,
q also understand that the long,
4. We can hope for as for a. du-
ltion Of these roads are con-