Tuesday, July 23, 2013

***EARLY LAFAYETTE GENERAL GROWTH/IMPROVEMENTS.

New Boarding House.

I have opened a boarding house at the residence formerly occupied by Dr. P. M. Girard, and solicit the patronage of the the public.
T. S. SINGLETON. Lafayette Advertiser 1/6/1904



 Mr. T. S. Singleton has moved into town and is occupying the Dr. P. M. Girard residence. Mr. Singleton has decided to take boarders, as will be seen by a card elsewhere in the paper.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/6/1904.




Three white families arrived here from the Lafourche country, last Wednesday, to locate on Col. Gus A. Breaux's fine farm near the town. We learn that these people are experienced cane growers who have come to this parish specially to cultivate that crop. They have heard much of the great fertility of our lands and the peculiar adaptation of this soil for sugar cane, and , no doubt, will reap abundantly from their labors. Lafayette Advertiser 1/6/1894.






Selling Rice Mill.
In another column appears the advertisement of Mr. F. G. Mouton who offers to sell his rice mill. As can be shown to the mill's business is in a prosperous condition and a splendid opportunity is offered to anyone with a little cash. Mr. Mouton wants to sell because he wishes to retire from the business. Lafayette Gazette 1/7/1899.




Work on the Doucet brick building  corner Lincoln avenue and Garfield alley is progressing fast. Laf. Adv. 1/11/1905.


The High School.

 The High School this year has a larger enrollment from the country than ever before. The total enrollment is 105. Of this number 42 are from the country, some from Pilette, some from near Scott, and others from various parts of the parish. This shows clearly that the High School is not and has not been only a town school; but that its benefits are being received in large degree by the people of the this parish, and proves the wisdom and forethought of the school board in establishing and maintaining a central school of high class for the benefit of the whole parish.   Lafayette Advertiser 1/11/1902.


We are glad to note evidences of prosperity and improvement springing up in every direction in our town. Lafayette Advertiser 1/11/1890.

 The Lafayette Clothing House has leased the Bacquet building near the Century Club building and will open a shoe store there in the near future.
Laf. Gaz. 1/12/1901.


To Promote the Cane Industry.

 A corporation has been organized with the purpose of building a tramway through the parish intersecting the Southern Pacific near the refinery and running North and South from this point. Active steps have been taken to obtain the necessary right-of-way from the farmers whose lands the proposed road will pass. Such a means of easy transportation of the cane crop will undoubtedly develop that great industry in Lafayette parish. During the out-going season the cane raised here was not adequate for consumption of our local refineries. A great deal of it was shipped to other parishes. The road will run to Carencro North and in the direction of the Verot place South. We do not know the exact directions but were informed that the above would be about the sections visited. Our soil is unsurpassed for the cultivation of sugar cane, and this undertaking will, we hope, prove beneficial both to the farmers and the company instrumental in its organization. Lafayette Gazette 1/12/1901.


Work is under progress on Lacoste's immense warehouse, making that Hardware establishment when completed, one of the largest of the State.
Laf. Adv. 1/12/1901.


 Contractor Ross will soon complete Mr. J. A. Roy's handsome residence.
Laf. Gaz. 1/12/1901.

The enterprising citizen, Mr. J. E. Trahan, will soon have a dwelling house erected near Mr. Joseph Ducote's residence. We understand that Mr. L. P. Serrett will occupy the new building. Laf. Gaz. 1/12/1895.



New Cottage. - Mr. Pelham is building another cottage, in McComb's addition, just north of Henry Church's residence.
Laf. Adv. 1/12/1889.



Brisk Business.
Our lumber yards are still doing a rushing business. We notice that frequently they have to hire extra help to handle their lumber. This shows that there is no cessation of the improvements going on in our town.  Lafayette Advertiser 1/12/1889.

Progressing Well. - The work of moving back the houses along Pierce and Jefferson streets is progressing well. Yesterday the moving of Prudhomme & McFaddin's store was completed. Contractor Thompson states that it will take about three weeks more to finish.  Lafayette Advertiser 1/13/1904.



 The City Council this week purchased from C. D. Caffery, I. A. Broussard, Dr. F. E. Girard, Felix Demanade and Wm. Campbell the two lots of ground situated near Castel's bakery for $2,100, for such public use as may be determined by the Council. Geo. A. DeBlanc accepted the lots for the town.
Laf. Gaz. 1/17/1903.


The Insurance firm of Parkerson & Mouton will soon be located in the building lately occupied by the Lafayette Gazette. Their office will be handsomely furnished and will be be up to date. The firm is doing a very prosperous insurance business and they represent the strongest companies of the world.
Laf. Adv. 1/17/1903.


THE LOUISIANA CENTRAL RAILROAD.
PROMISING OUTLOOK FOR ITS EARLY COMPLETION.
[From the N. O. Times.]

 Concerning the anticipated action of the Northern capitalists, who have undertaken the construction of the Louisiana Central Railroad ti extend from Vermilionville to Shreveport, and thus creating an unbroken line of railroad communication between New Orleans and Texas, it will be a cause for public gratification to learn that recently received dispatches from Mr. G. B. Ward, of Detroit, Michigan - the leading spirit in the enterprise - work on the road will be commenced forthwith.

 On the 6th inst. Governor Kellogg received the following.

         DETROIT MICH., Jan. 5, 1874.
Gov. Kellogg:
   Will immediately commence and complete road according to terms of charter.
                                   G. D. WARD.

 Gov. Kellogg telegraphed back that the bill had become a law, and received the following in reply:
                                     DETROIT, Jan. 7.
Gov. Kellogg:
   Am much gratified by your action. The people of your city and State will heartily approve. Will comply with terms of charter. G.D. WARD.

 From the N. O. Times and in the Lafayette Advertiser of January 11th, 1874.



The Gazette wishes to compliment Dr. Mudd upon the splendid streets he has opened in Mudd's addition. The streets are all sixty feet wide and well graded. The grading was done by J. C. Nickerson, the real estate man, who is agent for Dr. Mudd in the sale of lots. We undertand that several new homes will soon be built in Mudd's addition, which is already one of the most attractive portions of the town. At its last meeting the Council recognized the growth of that neighborhood and decided to run a water main to the end of Sterling avenue. Lafayette Gazette 1/18/1902.


New Office for Gus Lacoste.

 Mr. Gus Lacoste is having an office built for Dr. J. A. Martin on Jefferson street opposite the Jefferson Theatre. It will be 12 x 20 feet. Lafayette Advertiser 1/18/1905.




Evidence of Progress.
 Mr. Ed Vordenbaumen, formerly of this town, but now of Shreveport, was in Lafayette this week on business connected with his lumber yard. Mr. Vordenbaumen was pleased to note the many evidences of progress in Lafayette. Lafayette Gazette 1/19/1901.



  TIME FOR ACTION.

That Lafayette should have one or two refineries it is clearly evident to all all who appreciate the serious predicament in which many of our cane-growers are at the present time. The great loss, (and in some cases the total loss) sustained by the cane-growers shows most conclusively that no one can plant cane with any degree of safety unless there is a refinery in close proximity to his field. During the last year two or three movements were on foot to build a refinery in or near Lafayette, but due to some cause or other, they were not carried to a successful termination. But because we failed last year should not prevent a more determined effort this year. Now that the people, the merchants and business men of the town as well as the farmers, have been forcibly impressed with the necessity of a refinery, it is hoped that every person whose success depends upon the prosperity of the whole community, will be more than willing to do his share, however small that may be. The situation is indeed serious and unless the people get together and decide upon some plan of action to build a refinery, the fact is painfully apparent that cane growing in Lafayette will have to be considerably decreased if not entirely abandoned. The loss in cane alone this year, we believe, would be nearly enough to build a refinery, and yet a movement last year having that purpose in view met with very little encouragement. Another loss like the one sustained would cause irreaparable injury to the general trade. Our merchants and other business men should concentrate all their energies to secure the capital to build a central refinery in or near Lafayette - it matters not on whose lot. In the language of the street, "get a move on yourselves," gentlemen. The time is ripe for action. You must do something to help the farmers, and by helping them yourselves. Their prosperity means your prosperity. Their ruin means your ruin.  Lafayette Gazette 1/19/1895.










Many New Buildings.

The number of buildings going up in town and the continuous demand by people who want to rent dwelling houses, may be taken as a sure sign that Lafayette is forging ahead very rapdily. Lafayette is the coming town of Southwest Louisiana. There isn't the least doubt about it in the minds of those who take notice of current events. It isn't McKinley's spasmodic wave of prosperity that has struck us, it is a healthy, steady and substantial growth that Hanna himself couldn't stop if her dared. Lafayette Gazette 1/21/1899.





Quite a number of our citizens have been renovating and cleaning up their premises during the past fortnight and as a result our town looks brighter and cleaner. If more would only follow the good example set, and introduce some of the fences and out-buildings to Mr. Whitewash Brush, Esq., and encourage an intimacy between them, our town would present a still better appearance and create a more favorable impression on strangers visiting us.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/21/1893.

The building to be occupied by the Hoggsett telephone line as a central office is about completed and ready for occupation. Lafayette Gazette 1/21/1898.
  
Mr. Leopold Lacoste is having the old Hebert stable building thoroughly repaired to be used as a hardware store. Graser Bros., will construct an imitation stone front and the building will be one of the handsomest in town. Lafayette Gazette 1/22/1898.



Rigues Hotel Out, J. B. Leger In. - We are happy to see the spirit of progress in our midst. Where once stood the Rigues Hotel, is now to be seen growing up a shop of most respectable dimensions, to be occupied after its completion by our friend J. B. Leger. Within that shop will soon be found Mechanics of No. 1 ability, ready at any time to do all the work presented to them, such as wheelwrights, carpenters, carriage makers and trimmers, painters, etc. The shop under the able and energetic supervision of Mr. Leger will make a most valuable improvement to our town and community and we sincerely hope that it will be liberally patronized.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/23/1869





Push It Through!!!

 The Business Men's Association held a meeting last Monday night to take action on the proposition submitted by McKinney, the general agent of the Emigration Bureau of the Southern Pacific and Illinois Central railroads, that his bureau would distribute free of charge fifty thousand booklets or folders describing the natural resources and advantages and educational facilities of Lafayette town and parish. There is to be no expense whatever attached to the service rendered by the bureau, but the community, is expected to furnish the advertising matter, which can be obtained at the trifling cost of one cent per copy for a 24 leaf folder or pamphlet, provided not less than 50,000 copies be ordered at one time.

 The bureau in question operates through nearly 700 agencies scattered throughout the north and, east and middle west and each agency is in command of the very best facilities for distributing advertising matter in a thorough and effective manner. Through the personal efforts of President Stephens of the Industrial Institute, Mr. McKinney, the chief of this Emigration Bureau, was induced to spend a short while in Lafayette last Saturday and explain to a number of our citizens who were able to meet him on the short notice given, the best means by which Lafayette town and parish might reap some of the advantages of the general emigration movement southward being stirred up by the united efforts of the Southern Pacific and Illinois Central railroad companies. Mr. McKinney's suggestion that we adopt the plan of Iberia and other parishes in Southwest Louisiana which have entered in this movement, met with the approbation of those who happened to be present when the plan was explained, and it was decided to bring the matter before the Business Men's Association for final action. Recognizing the advantage it would be to the town and parish to present to the people of North, East, and West, in a practical and effective way, the vast undeveloped resources of this section and extending to these same people a cordial invitation to come and join hands with us in development of these resources, the Business Men's Association endorsed the movement on behalf of the community and appointed committees to raise the required amount of $500 by popular subscription, and the expectation of reasonable appropriations by both the City council and Police Jury, inasmuch as the establishment of a cotton mill, furniture factory or similar industry in our midst, for which we have an abundance of raw material, would redound to the great and general good of the town and  parish. And the Business Men's Association is convinced that if the subject is presented in the intelligent and forceful manner now contemplated, to 50,000 people interested in buying homes and making investment in the South, that the $500 it is proposed to spend in the effort, will bring certain and handsome returns.

 The Advertiser is thoroughly in accord with this movement for the upbuilding of Lafayette town and parish, and concurs in the opinion that good results will follow the plan it is proposed to carry out for advertising in a special way the advantages and the needs of our section of country, at a time when the railroad companies we have already named are busily engaged in arousing an active interest in Louisiana and Texas among many thousands of good people of intelligence and capital who are desirous of changing their homes to a milder climate, or who wish to invest their money in the development of the boundless idle resources of the country.

Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1903.   


Mr. Flavius Thompson has nearly completed a very neat cottage in Mills addition. He will occupy it himself. Laf. Adv. 1/24/1891.




We noticed several droves of mules passing through our town during the week. This indicates that there is a growing demand among our farmers for better work stock, and a determination on their part to do better cultivation. We may look for better results, if we have a good season next year.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1891.



FIRE ALARM SYSTEM NEEDED.

 The fire Wednesday again emphasized the urgent need for an electric fire alarm system. Immediately upon the alarm being given everybody began to ask where is the fire. People stood uncertain which way to go. Some firemen ran to the hose & cart house and started with a horse pulling the cart - for the depot. Why? Because the wild cat whistle blew and they guessed the fire was down towards the railroad. They hoped by the time they reached the railroad to find out the direction of the fire. All along Jefferson and Lincoln avenues the people stood on the sidewalks or in their doors and yelled to the onrushing hose cart men, "Where is the fire". "Don't know" and on they went rushing to the depot.

 This was a striking illustration of the delay which can not be avoided where there is no fire alarm system. And delay, in case of fire is a very important matter. A question of a very few minutes often decides whether a house and contents shall be a total loss or not. If you happen to be insured (being one of the fortunate ones who can pay the exorbitant and robber rates of the insurance companies), you can possibly stand being burned out, but if you are not insured and lose all you have, you will find it hard that the Council did not provide the town with an alarm system that would have prevented the delay that cost you your all.

 Lafayette is now too large to depend on guess work to locate fires and it covers too much territory to permit delay in locating them. This fact should be realized and a unanimous demand made upon the Council for an electric fire system.

 An electric fire alarm system may be somewhat costly in installing but the cost will be more than saved to the tax payer in reduced insurance rates and the certain saving of property from burning because eliminating the delay in fighting fire.

 The time has come for us to make an improvement in our method of handling fires. Lafayette covers too much ground and the houses are too numerous to longer risk delay. A fire that might be extinguished if reached in time many now easily on a windy night not alone burn the building first caught, but sweep on the other buildings and destroy thousands of dollars of property. Without a certain system of fire alarms, the kind to have with an electric fire alarm system, the delay is sure to exist and every day such conditions exist is a menace to property.

 To save this unnecessary risk and to reduce the high rate of insurance at the same time, a general demand should be made by the people on the Council to put in an electric fire alarm system.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1908.     



We Must Meet the Issue.

 In all seriousness, the people of this country are about to enter upon one of the most trying experiences it has been their fate to encounter for many years. A chain of circumstances for which no one in particular is responsible had brought about a condition of affairs that has served to throw the entire country out of joint, and, as men, everywhere, look the issue squarely in the face they cannot but feel apprehensive of the future for some months to come, at least. It is but natural, then, that in a contemplation of the unusual demands each one fears may be made on him by this new condition of affairs, everyone should be planning temper the wind of the approaching storm.

We, of Lafayette, form a part of the vast universe affected by the present order of things, and must submit to the common lot philosophically, if not willingly. One of the most bountiful harvests of which we have a recollection has brought money into our country, and in certain instances has been the means of plunging some of our people into debt. Whilst the resulting condition is not one of actual want, yet it presents an outlook that is far from being encouraging, and even when viewing the subject in its not darkest light, we feel called on to give a most careful consideration to the "what's to be done under the circumstances?" How can we best lighten the immediate burden as well as bring about an early and permanent improvement in our condition? That is the problem each one is now revolving in his mind, in the hope of discovering a logical solution. Men are so sensible of the gravity of the situation that they assemble in conventions to exchange views and make be undone, and without endeavoring to explain what causes may have operated to culminate the condition now calling so loudly concerned are satisfied to deal with the condition itself, and, accordingly propose certain plans appearing in their very nature capable of affording relief. One of the suggestions in the interest of the Southern States now largely devoted to the raising of cotton, is to make a positive decrease in the acreage for the crop of 1895, so as to reduce the world's supply of cotton and cause an advancement in the market value of the staple on account of its greater scarcity.

The advocates of a smaller acreage know that the cotton states cannot hope to control the world's supply of cotton and do not advise an adoption of the course proposed other than as expedient, and intend that future developments shall govern future action in this regard. There is every reason to believe that, as a palliative measure, the proposition is desirable one to enforce. If it accomplished no other good its adoption would have the effect of placing unused time and land at the disposal of the farming class, to be employed in other ways than raising cotton. The spare time and would be devoted to the cultivation of other crops, or to the pursuit of avocations bringing direct results in cash, or its equivalent. The cotton raiser would learn, under this new policy, the great error of depending almost entirely on the proceeds of his early crop for all the necessities of life. He will know the immense advantage of producing on the farm the commodities of life that, heretofore, he has always deepened on the North, East and West to furnish. Then cotton will be a surplus crop and, as much, can be profitably cultivated at 5 cents a pound, in Lafayette parish if no where else. The needs of the Lafayette Farmer, aside from what he can readily raise of produce of home, may be supplied without and great strain on the purse, and it is this end he should direct his mind and energies.

While it is our purpose to make no reference to the disastrous experience lately suffered by this industry, we proceed at once to the discussion of that feature of the sugar interests on which its emancipation from present thraldom principally depends. And again, we intend that our remarks shall find our most direct, if not exclusive, application to our immediate section of country. Naturally we feel a strong sympathy for other people in distress, but our own requirements have a first claim on us, and, besides, a policy that would be of advantage to one locality might not be so applicable to another in affording a remedy for a common evil. As regards sugar the problem confronts us: Is it possible to produce it at a profit, if the industry be stripped of every vestige of protection? Purposely, we take an exterior view of the subject. It is conceded on all sides that a bounty will never again be placed on sugar by any political party. It is contrary to American sentiment. And protection by tariff may not be of long continuance, although there is a general impression that sugar, being the ideal article for raising governmental revenue, will not be removed from the dutiable list by succeeding administrations. It will answer our purpose best, though, in the present consideration of the subject to treat of freesugar. It is maintained by persons of long and practical experience that under economical management and the system of factories, the culture of sugar cane can be profitably carried on in the sugar district of Louisiana, without bounty or protection. We have undoubted assurance that cane can be cultivated in Lafayette parish at a minimum cost. Central sugar factory facilities, then, is the only essential requirement to place can safely on a paying basis in Lafayette. That is the great desideratum, and it is a plane that can be easily attained by the co-operation of the business men and sugar planters of the parish.

We conclude, then, with the many things in our favor, we, of Lafayette, have much reason to base hope for better times. The hard lesson of the present is not void of redeeming features. If light is to come our of darkness, as there is every indication will happen, we will owe a large debt to the conditions we now bewail so loudly. The times have set us to thinking in a way we have never been compelled to do before. From the train of thought in which we find our mind engaged, fruitful action should result. The period of transformation should prove a rather trying one to the people, but the lesson learned will be of inestimable value hereafter. Our lot may not be such a bad one after all. Let us look at the bright side of it and act with intelligence and good will for a stable improvement in our ideas and our methods, and we shall not be disappointed in the end.


 Lafayette Advertiser 1/26/1895.  


Mr. F. Lombard is having a new floor laid in his saloon, and other reparations done in his woodwork of the interior of the place. New plank and cinders, he has also employed to good advantage, on the side walk lining his property. Laf. Adv. 1/26/1895.



The natural advantages of soil and climate of Lafayette parish are bound to attract the attention of people seeking new homes, sooner or later. We predict that ere many years have passed that our town will have outgrown even the expectation of the most confident. Laf. Adv. 1/28/1899.


A Town Pride.

We have noticed with pleasure the organization of a "Gun Club."
(Unreadable letters)..low, let the same the same young men with (unreadable letters)...ers apply to the proper authorities to organize a military company.

It is surprising to us that Lafayette has no such organization.

We can't plead that it is a lack of material; as we possess a strong, healthy set of young men such as not any town many towns can boast of. Then what is the reason?

Is it a lack of spiritedness? We can't think it is, but we are rather inclined to suppose that it is unconcerned.
And yet a military company is one of the greatest benefits for the development of young manhood.

In a town where gymnastics are unknown, the military company lands in its stead.

But as we have many reasons to bring this subject before our young men, and foremost we would say that it would be quite an honor to the town to possess such an organization.

It would teach our young men endurance, forbearance, military obeisance, firmness, quickness and a great many other advantages that can be only gotten by military discipline, without discounting the smiles and marks of approbation that our spirited ladies would bestow upon our soldier boys.

Then a more forcible reason comes to our mind. Reviewing the early history of Southwest Louisiana we found that some of our ancestors were soldiers, not only of great renown, but filling important posts in the military hierarchy.

If our memory is not in fault, we have read somewhere that a gentleman named Broussard alias Beau Soleil was captain-general of the province of Acadia under commission of the King of France.

Applying the old french proverb of "Noblesse oblige" such a "company" ought to have been organized here a long time a ago under the name of "Broussard Guards" to perpetuate the memory and the valiant deeds of our ancestors.

Then last but not least, "In peace, we prepare for war." It may be that we shall be spared the horrors of a war and that our "guards" will never receive the "baptism of fire," but who can tell what the future shall bring forth.

A day may come when we might need such an organization, and if we don't, we would enjoy to see our young men "play at soldiery" and hear the measured cadence step on our streets.

Let's have the "Broussard Guards" or the "Lafayette Invincibles" etc., etc.

And we will see that the "Company" shall have a brass band to enliven camp-life with martial music.

Where is a spirited young man that will lead the movement? Our columns are open to him for any suggestions, plans, etc.Lafayette Advertiser 1/29/1898.




THE ADVERTISING CARNIVAL

 Is an Assured Social and Financial Success - Preparations for Its Presentations Proceeded Nicely.

 The Advertising Carnival of Trades Extravaganza that is being promoted by Mrs. Hollibaugh, under the auspices of the Baptist Aid Society, is progressing in a most satisfactory manner.

 Nearly a half hundred firms have consented to be advertised and they will be represented by Lafayette's best talent in a way that each feature will seemingly outrival the previous one.

 Everything suggested by this gorgeously beautiful entertainment is unique, original, rare or artistic, hence the audience that greets this meritorious local production cannot fail to be impressed with all the advisers do or say for the benefit of their various firms. One from among many is the ever fascinating "Maypole Dance", wherein ten little maidens trip like tiny fairies around the charming queen chosen from their number, and who has been crowned "Queen of the May" by Mrs. McElroy, of Colorado Springs, as she renders the beautiful solo, "A May Morning". Mrs. McElroy possess a voice or rare sweetness, power and expression. She also leads the "Clang of the Hammer, a chorus in which a score of feminine blacksmiths appear.

 Mrs. L. D. Burnett, a music intructor who has recently become a resident of the this city, will be the piano accompanist.

 To mention every feature in detail would require far too much space, but when it is known that Lafayette's best talent is to appear in prominent parts, it is an assurance to all who may attend that they will be highly entertained at the Jefferson Theatre on Friday night, Feb. 8. Lafayette Advertiser 1/30/1907.



NEW LAFAYETTE NEWSPAPER. - The material and machinery for the new paper, which will be called the Lafayette Democrat, has arrived. The Lacoste Building next to Ruger's jewelry store has been secured as an office. Mr. R. C. Greig will be the editor and the first issue will be gotten out next Saturday, if possible. Lafayette Advertiser 1/30/1907.
            
Pellerin Bros.are having their saloon overhauled, and renovated, and when the work is completed, they will have one of the nicest and best places in town. They are devoting special attention to their restaurant, and are arranging to make it one of the most attractive features. Jack Praeger is in charge and that is a sufficient guarantee that the service will be strictly first class. Special provision will be made to serve lady customers. Lafayette Advertiser 2/1/1902.


A new shingle roof is being placed on the J. A. Veazy residence.
Laf. Adv. 2/2/1895.

New Residences.
The Gazette is informed that contracts have been made for the erection of four cottages. Mr. D. J. Veazey has contracted with with Mr. B. F. Anderson to build two houses in McComb's addition and Mr. P. B. Roy will build two more houses on the vacant lots near Moss & Co's store. There are more buildings going up in Lafayette than in any other town in Southwest Louisiana. There is no doubt about the correctness of this statement. We are not on a boom, but we are forging ahead at a pretty fast gait. Lafayette Gazette 2/4/1899.

Work at the ice factory is advancing rapidly, and the plant will be put in a first class condition. Laf. Adv. 2/19/1898.




The Building Continues. - There is a steady continuation of building in Lafayette and all over town new houses are going up, among the number being some very nice cottages. There is a good strong demand for lots and and they bring fine prices.   Lafayette Advertiser 2/22/1902.



New buildings in the neighborhood of the depot have been pushed forward rapidly. Schayot Bros. large building, just East of the Racket House, is finished on the outside, and Mr. Beber Eastin has got the first coat of paint on. It looms up well, and adds much to the appearance of the block. Further out, on the opposite side of the avenue, Mr. Degrez's cottage is about completed, and Joe Villere is flopping a brush on it like an Atchafalaya swamper fighting mosquitoes. Laf. Adv. 2/22/1890





Improvements the year 1893 will give Lafayette:

  A New Railroad,
  A Sugar Refinery,
  A Cotton Factory,
  A Street Car Line,
  A Graded School,
  A Rice Mill,
  A Cotton Seed Oil Mill,
  An Ice Factory,
and a dozen minor industries.
Lafayette Advertiser 2/25/1893.


 

Lafayette On the Way.

 here a good many improvements going about our wide-awake city and if our business men keep a sharp lookout they can secure their shares of prosperity. We are glad to inform our readers, that on last Wednesday, a special train from New Orleans, having a board Meesrs. Owen, Gumble, Wessinger, Godchaux and several civil and mechanical engineers stopped at our refinery. The object of the visit was to investigate and formulate plans of the construction of a large refinery, which will have a full capacity and will be furnished with all the latest improvements. The old mill and refinery attachments have been sold to a planter of Lafourche.
Lafayette Advertiser 2/26/1898.


New Technology at Clerk of Courts. - Mr. E. G. Voorhies, our efficient clerk of court, is wide awake on all occasions, especially in matters pertaining to his office. To improve work in the office he has secured a typewriter which writes directly on all books. This will make the records plainer and neater than ever. Laf. Adv. 1/17/1903.



Mr. Ed. Vordenbaumen, formerly of this town, but now of Shreveport, was in Lafayette this week on business connected with his lumber yard. Mr. Vordenbaumen was pleased to note the many evidences of progress in Lafayette. Laf. Gaz. 1/19/1901.


RAIL-ROAD RACKET.

Our aim is to build a branch Rail-Road through this fertile section of the Teche Country and we will not rest until our mission is accomplished, and we hope at no far-off date, we may compliment ourselves in its realization as having contributed in every means possible towards the building of said Branch.

A branch built from here to Lafayette, as we have heretofore maintained, would be more beneficial to us as being a prominent Rail-Road center for going in any direction; but it seems that our our neighbors of Lafayette possess the same dormant spirit as our people, as we have not heard from them since the first article published by the VALLEY OF THE TECHE. We are led to believe that if our good Confreres of the "Gazette" and  "Advertiser" would give us a PULL, that we could by constantly clamoring and calling their attention to this important question, infuse some life into their dormant bodies. We must go at it with vim and force and combine our energies in wrestling vehemently towards the realization of it.

Let our Businessmen call a meeting at once and organize a substantial "Board of Trade" and that this subject be their main object of consideration. "L 'Union fait la Force' ."

We acknowledge the correctness of the charge made by our esteemed contemporary that we are possessed of a "dormant spirit", and but for this fact it is probable the branch for which Breaux Bridge has been opining so much, would have sprung into existence long ago. However, it is to the future we must look for the accomplishment of this much hoped for commercial link, and so let us not think of what might have been, as that would involve only a loss of time, but let us strive to extricate ourselves from the state of lethargy instead, by energizing this same dormant spirit that has proved such a drag to our progress in the past. How do this? By all pulling together in all matters involving the common prosperity of the country. By active cooperation in every single movement having for its object the advancement of the common interest, and certainly, railroad connection with Breaux Bridge deserves a prominent place in this classification. Whilst the present much disturbed condition of the country is bound to offer material opportunities to an immediate enlargement in the undertaking, it should not deter the citizens of the towns desirous of this condition, from entering on preliminary steps leading to the final consummation of more mature plans. We believe Lafayette will do her full part in laying the foundation now, for future work in this regard. Through a body of its citizens, this town showed an earnest disposition to cooperate with citizens of Breaux Bridge, on a former occasion, in a movement contemplating railroad communications between the two localities. The first effort resulted in failure; let us hope a second trial will meet with a more successful (unreadable word.) Lafayette Advertiser 1/19/`1895.

 



Took a Bird's-Eye View. - An Advertiser man had the pleasure of a bird's-eye view of Lafayette from the roof of Pellerin & DeClouet's mammoth store Thursday. It was a pleasant experience, and enables one to thoroughly appreciate the fact that Lafayette is growing. The view down Pierce street was very attractive, the new concrete walks with the clean looking wide street showing fine and bearing eloquent testimony that "we do move." As the eyes swept over various parts of the town new buildings appeared in every direction, and the bright green of the newly budding trees lent a graceful charm to the houses which seemed to nestle among them. Some of the streets shaded with almost enfolding branches invitingly enticed one to a delightful promenade. Lafayette Advertiser 3/16/1904. 
 


Evidence of Progress.

 Mr. Ed Vordenbaumen, formerly of this town, but now of Shreveport, was in Lafayette this week on business connected with his lumber yard. Mr. Vordenbaumen was pleased to note the many evidences of progress in Lafayette. Lafayette Gazette 1/19/1901.


  
ABOUT LAFAYETTE.
"That Plucky Little City."
From the Baton Rouge Advocate.

Hon. W. W. Heard returned Saturday from his visit to Lafayette and New Iberia whither he had gone at the invitation of the Democrats of that section of the State. Mr. Heard was greatly pleased with his visit and was especially gratified with the warmth of the welcome which was extended to him as the nominee of the party for the Governorship, as well as with the evidences of substantial progress which he witnessed on every hand in this section. He was profoundly impressed by the zeal and public spirit manifested by the citizens of both Lafayette and Iberia in their friendly rivalry for the location of the new Industrial Institute, and he believes that this interest shown in the matter is the best possible guarantee of the success of the school after it shall have been established. From other sources the Advocate hears that the distinguished head of the Democratic ticket met with a very flattering reception at the hands of the citizens of both these enterprising cities, and that the impression he produced upon them greatly strengthened the ticket throughout that section of the State. The selection by the Board of Lafayette as the seat of the Industrial School, Mr. Heard observed, was in no sense due to favoritism or any bias on the part of the board, but it was adjudicated in strict accordance with the terms of the law which required that the school be located at that point offering the most favorable inducements. Lafayette offered a bonus which, it is said, will aggregate a sum somewhere in the neighborhood of $90,000, and this being the largest sum offered the prize was awarded to that plucky little city.
Lafayette Gazette 1/20/1900. 





LAFAYETTE MOVING ONWARD.

The Lafayette papers are jubilant over the success of Lafayette in securing the location of the State Industrial School for Southwest Louisiana. For a great many years back it has been customary in many sections of the State to look upon Lafayette as an old-fashioned non-progressive community which was a hundred years behind the times. The unparalleled pluck which she displayed in giving a $90,000 bonus to secure the location of an educational institution will utterly dispel all such notions and will certainly put to shame many much larger towns which have heretofore affected to look down upon what they were pleased to style her primitive ways. We know of no such progressive spirit displayed by any other town in the South of twice the size of Lafayette, and we are quite sure that the money spent in securing this enterprise will be found to be the most profitable investment Lafayette has ever made. Her public spirit in this matter reflects credit not only upon the progressive population of Lafayette but upon the State as well, inasmuch as it shows the interest which the people in the entire State feel in the cause of progressive education. By reason of her location, the magnificent country by which she is surrounded and the facilities which she possesses for transportation, Lafayette is destined in the near future to take her place in the front rank of progressive Southern towns, and this generous act of hers will go a long ways towards facilitating the eyes of the country upon her. It is by long odds the handsomest and best paying advertisement which any town in Louisiana has ever invested in, and the good people of that fine old town are to be congratulated upon the splendid object lesson they have given to other more pretentious towns in this and other States.

The foregoing article is from the pen of our friend, Mr. Will Chevis, the able editor of the Baton Rouge Advocate. The neat and, we believe well deserved compliment paid our town, is very much appreciated.

As our contemporary truthfully remarks, years ago Lafayette was an old-fashioned town where the mossback pursued the even tenor of his way, unhindered by the elements of progress. Moss grew luxuriantly on the corner-post, the bobolink nursed its young in the gardens, the cheerful notes of the festive lark rang out melodiously in the ambient air and softened by the harsh tones of the batriachian band playing its twilight serenade down in the time-honored village pond. Then the mossback reveled in rustic simplicity, monarch of all he surveyed; happy within himself and at peace with his narrow world, his mind was restful and his heart was overjoyed.

But the locomotive came along. That great pioneer of progress made its influence felt. The town doffed the hoary garments of inactivity and lethargy and lost no time in donning the more attractive habiliments of progress. Mossbackism lingered a while, then silently withdrew from the strife for more congenial environments and men with public spirit and modern ideas came to the front. The town moved on at good and steady gait, kept up in the race with surprising speed and soon outstripped its more pretentious neighbors.



Lafayette's prosperity has not been of an ephemeral character. Its growth has been substantial and its steady advancement has been based upon solid foundations. There has been no inflated boom, but the town has grown because of its splendid location and superior advantages, and it is not to be wondered at that when the citizens abandoned a policy of inaction and employed more intelligent methods the town took its place among the progressive communities of the State.

The town appreciates the fact that it has prospered during the last six years as it never did before. It points with pardonable pride to a number of achievements of the past few years and feels that it has not been a laggard in the race of life. In the establishment of the Southwest Louisiana Industrial College the people of the town see ample cause for gratification. An institution of this kind, so auspiciously begun, can not fail to do a great deal of good. Its benefits are not to be measured by dollars and cents. Its salutary influence will permeate every artery of the social, moral and commercial life of the community. It will be like the dawn of a new era, the rising of another sun whose beneficent rays will fill all, young and old, with hope and ambition. 
Lafayette Gazette 1/20/1900.


Buildings Mean Prosperity.
Quite a lot of buildings are going up in various parts of the town. When the saw and hammer are in motion there is prosperity about.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/20/1900.



Mrs. G. M. Esswein is having a new building erected on the lot adjoining her dwelling. Lafayette Advertiser 1/21/1893.



Quite a number of our citizens have been renovating and cleaning up their premises during the past fortnight and as a result our town looks brighter and cleaner. If more would only follow the good example set, and introduce some of the fences and out-buildings to Mr. Whitewash Brush, Esq., and encourage an intimacy between them, our town would present a still better appearance and create a more favorable impression on strangers visiting us.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/21/1893.

 

Many New Buildings.

 The number of buildings going up in town and the continuous demand by people who want to rent dwelling houses, may be taken as a sure sign that Lafayette is forging ahead very rapdily. Lafayette is the coming town of Southwest Louisiana. There isn't the least doubt about it in the minds of those who take notice of current events. It isn't McKinley's spasmodic wave of prosperity that has struck us, it is a healthy, steady and substantial growth that Hanna himself couldn't stop if he dared. Lafayette Gazette 1/21/1899.



 CITY COUNCIL 12/5/1881.

On motion of Mr. Lombard, the Constable was ordered to enforce the ordinance in regard to sweeping or cleaning of chimneys within the limits of the Corporation. Laf. Adv. 1/21/1882.



Mr. B. Falk has erected an apparatus in the rear of his Opera House, and had made the necessary arrangements to have gasoline lights both in the Opera House and in his store. This is a big improvement over coal oil lamps.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1891.


The stock pen adjoining the depot warehouse at this place has been put in thorough repair, which would argue that much more stock is expected to be shipped to or from Lafayette than has been done in the past year or two.

Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1891. 


Mr. B. Falk has erected an apparatus in the rear of his Opera House, and had made the necessary arrangements to have gasoline lights both in the Opera House and in his store. This is a big improvement over coal oil lamps.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1891.



Some Encouraging Reading.

The (New Orleans) Picayune Friday contained another special from Baton Rouge in regard to the Lafayette road, which makes some encouraging reading. It is as follows:

 It is believed by local railroad men that within the next year the Southern Pacific will build their line from Lafayette to the river, and that the property which has been purchased by the two roads will be used as the approaches to transfer until such a times as the traffic will justify the building of a bridge across the river at this point, which is conceded by engineers to be the best location for such a structure in the entire lower river.

 If the Southern Pacific builds their line from Lafayette to the river, as now seems almost certain, as their agents are purchasing a right of way between the two points, the Illinois Central, through its Yazoo and Mississippi Line from Memphis, will be able to transfer all its westbound freight and passengers at Baton Rouge, instead of bringing them through New Orleans. This will result in a very considerable saving in both time and expense, as it is almost a straight line across from Baton Rouge to Lafayette.

 The Southern Pacific will be able to make the same transfer on eastbound freight and passengers, resulting in time and expense.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/25/1905.







 

A Board of Trade.

 New Iberia, Lake Charles, St. Martinville and a number of other Louisiana towns have well-organized boards of trade, but we are sorry to say that Lafayette is behind her sisters in this respect. And why haven't we one? Certainly not because our town is not large enough to support it, but simply because our business men seem to lack the spirit of unity so necessary to the prosperity of all communities. Towns less pretentious than ours have boards of trade, and we regret to say that here not even an effort has been made to organize one. All those acquainted with the rapid and substantial growth of towns know how much good is to be derived from an organization of this kind. It would be the means of bringing to our section men of wealth who would help to develop our manifold resources. It would disseminate throughout the Northern States valuable information concerning our soil, climate, crops, and people, and it would also fall within its province to reply to the numerous inquiries from prospective settlers which now remain unanswered.


 At the present time there are in the New England States a number of cotton mills which will be moved to the Southern States in the near future. Perhaps with reasonable inducements the proprietors of one of these plants could be persuaded to select a site in our parish. Our natural advantages for the manufacture of cotton goods are unequaled anywhere, and with a little exertion by our people, they would doubtless receive the proper recognition at the hands of manufacturers.


 Our good neighbors in Breaux Bridge are clamoring for a railroad to this town, and so far they have received but little encouragement from the people here. This seeming indifference is due to a lack of unity and organization which would not exist with a board of trade.

 The urgent need of an organization of this sort to represent the town in all matters wherein the welfare of the whole community is involved, is aparent to all thoughtful men, and it is indeed unfortunate that our more public-spirited citizens do not take the matter in hand at once. Other societies flourish in Lafayette and there is no reason why a board of trade should not meet with the same success.
Lafayette Gazette 1/26/1895. 




The natural advantages of soil and climate of Lafayette parish are bound to attract the attention of people seeking new homes, sooner or later. We predict that ere many years have passed that our town will have outgrown even the expectation of the most confident. Laf. Adv. 1/28/1899.
 

Mr. Ed Mayfield's dwelling occupied by Mr. Field, received a fresh coat of paint, recently. Laf. Adv. 1/26/1895.  




Don't forget that we must have a high school building completed and a school opened therein the coming fall. The town and parish needs and demands it. Laf. Adv. 1/28/1899.



A substantial improvement was made to Mrs. John Graser's tin store this week. The former lumber foundation of the front shed has been replaced by one of brick and timber and a new plank walk has been laid along the facade of the building. Laf. Adv. 2/2/1895.



 

TO BE OR NOT TO BE.
We believe that the assertion can be truthfully made that a very large majority of our people are beginning to see the "error of their ways," and regret deeply the lack of public spirit and enterprise that has prevailed in the past in Lafayette ;  that they realize that the only way to make a live town is for the people to become imbued with public spirit, and grant heavy support to new enterprises, as they from time to time are introduced.

 Many of our best citizens determined that something shall be done to advance the interests of Lafayette and the surrounding country at once. Something that will inaugurate a movement that shall tend to induce a healthy growth of the town, and induce new people to move in and cast their lot with ours. This feeling should be encouraged and developed and until each and every man, woman and child become permeated with an unselfish public spirit that will not only make them a willing but anxious to work, shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand, to advance the growth, wealth and prosperity of our fair country, and the ADVERTISER will be found at all times ready and willing to do all within its power to encourage and help a movement tending in that direction.

 But it will be utterly impossible to make any material headway toward building up our city until a different feeling shall be engendered in the hearts and minds of our people in regard to educational matters. We not only need better schools but we need to have a fuller realization of the advantage to be gained by educating the youth of our country. Parents must have a "change of heart" as it were, and become anxious and determined that their children shall have good educational advantage offered them, and then compel them to improve such advantages. Lafayette should, owing to its geographical situation, be an educational center, and it could be made so very easily.
Almost the first questions a person will ask who is looking up a new location and examining the advantages offered by different localities is: "What are your school facilities? Can I education my children at home if I move to your city and not be compelled to send them away to school and thus deprive them of the help and guidance of their parents just when they most need it?"

 At the present time only a negative answer could be returned to such inquiries, therefore we say, let us get our high school opened at once and it possible for people to locate here without being compelled to sacrifice the future welfare of their children by doing.

 We often hear of the "hustling" spirit of western town, but we can assure you will find, if you visit one of those some western towns, that a good public school was almost the first thing established. We have seen new towns, only a few months old, containing not over a hundred people, that had a fine two-story school house, capable of accommodating three or four hundred scholars. They know and realize that without school advantages people will not settle in a new place. But aside from the question of building up the town, it is a duty we owe to ourselves and to our children, to afford them the advantage to be derived from good schools. The best interests of our town demand that the high school building be completed, and a school opened therein, not necessarily a high school at once, for our wants hardly demand that as yet, but a graded school, with a high school grade or academic department.

 Were such a school opened and conducted as it should be, we believe that many people living in the surrounding country would send  their children here to school, and be willing to pay a fair sum for their tuition, following in this way, additional boring towns are awake to the results to be obtained from good schools and are building them. Yet here is Lafayette, with a school building nearly completed, upon which work has been stopped, through lack of funds, pursuing the even tenor of her way without a thought or care, whether it is ever finished or not. We do not mean that there are not some who care, but the majority seem perfectly indifferent to the fact that the building stands there a monument to the ignorance and lack of public spirit of our city. Lafayette Advertiser 2/4/1893.
 




Lafayette continues to have a steady and healthy growth. Persons who return after an absence of a few months are strongly and favorably impressed with the fact.
Laf. Adv. 2/4/1893




Let Us Fall In Line.
We desire to direct the attention of the people of Lafayette to a fact over which there can not be any division of opinion: in just the same way we have found it possible to secure some substantial improvements by co-operative moves, in the recent past, we can add valuable acquisitions in the future. We have not unduly exerted ourselves along this line in times gone by and yet, within the comparatively short space of three years, we can point to no less than four very substantial enterprises that owe their existence in our midst to co-operative movements on the part of citizens. First came the Sugar Refinery at the eastern limits of the town; next followed by the Ice Factory; then, the Cotton Oil Mill and lastly the Water Works and Electric Light Plant. This is certainly a most gratifying showing and stands as indubitable proof of the great good to be accomplished by public spiritedness and co-operation.

If we have done well in the past may we not do even better in the future? The same forces we utilized before are still ours to command. They need only to be put in operation and kept in operation to bring grand results. Why not be up and doing then? Ours is a country of inexhaustible resources, a country of surprising possibilities - if the people who inhabit it will only develop the field.
There will be a good opportunity afforded to the citizens of Lafayette to come together next Monday night to make common cause of the future progress and prosperity of Lafayette town and parish. We refer to the meeting of the Business Men's Association announced to take place at Falk's Opera House, the 7th. instant. The efforts of this organization in the past have been of particular value to the community, and are fully recognized.

Every citizen of Lafayette who has the interest of the community at heart, should not fail to attend this meeting and join in the movement, well remembering the Providence only helps those who help themselves.


We must get in line, forthwith, in order that we may not get left in the rapid march of progress that has seized upon the entire country.
Lafayette Advertiser 2/5/1898.

A Need.

An editor who has the best interest of his town must now and then point out its resources, embellishments, enterprise and show also to the naked eye its weak spots. Since the beginning of the new year we have suggested some of the needs of our town. How our suggestions have been received, we know not. We have, so to speak, cleared our skirts, feeling that we have done the duty incumbent upon us as guardian of our town and that the responsibility or inaction will rest hereafter in higher circles. Not discouraged in the least, we shall continue to show how to improve our town and to give her the necessaries that civilization requires, and we are prompted to thus act because we wish to see this community keep its renowned name as the garden spot of Louisiana, and we would feel very backward if towns East and West of us would beat us in the race of progress. The "need" that we shall introduce to our readers is one of great use both for rich and poor, more so for the latter class thus making it more imperious upon us. All comforts and requisites that will brighten and enliven the lives of the poorer classes ought always to be primarily in mind of those who are placed above them in authority. Every citizen of whatever race he may be has a right, under the constitution, to be partaker of the quota levied by taxes and special levy. To satisfy people it is not always necessary to give them great things. The toiling classes are exhausting themselves daily by inquiring about this time. Lafayette is the first town, that we have visited in this XIX Century of progress and civilization, without a town clock. Do we need this extravagance, as some, will surely call it. Let us look at the benefits derived by a "people's clock". No more inquiries about time, and therefore no wear and tear of vest pockets pulling out watches to give necessary information. Dinner time would be revealed by the twelve strokes. This charming novelty would be a boom to the school boys. The termination of the pedagogue reign would be heralded by the clock. No more excuses for the tardiness of the cook at noon-day meals. Our electricity could be connected with our clock so as to give us time by night, thus saving a great number of matches. No more reasons to be behind time at the office or at church. It's hourly merriment would bring to our mind all of our engagements. In the still hours of the night, our nervous sleepless citizens longing for the return of day would have a friend in the town clock bringing to them from hour to hour the hope of a speedy relief. Our young men paying night calls would be reminded of saying "au revoir" before the ire of the father is raised. Our loafers could find ready employment watching the great hands moving on the dial. The only objection in sight could come from those who are despised to relegate Morpheus back to his kingdom.

Various persons have tendered us their opinion for the cause of our recent flooded streets. We thought like everybody else that the quantity of water that has descended upon us was the only cause of our flood, but after investigation we found that we were mistaken. At the time, we had called the attention to our sewers but we ought to have said our ditches. These latter ones are the main cause why our streets were transformed into bayous. We took a survey of the drainage water ditches in some portions of our town and we find them in a deplorable condition, especially would we call the attention of our street committee to the ditch which is located on the upper side of Mr. Chas. Caffery's residence. This ditch is entirely out of date for this section where the quantity of rain is far above the average. It ought to be broader, deeper and some means could be devised to keep it from caving. If planks were not sufficient to protect its banks from caving in, bricks ought to be used. At the intersection of this ditch and the one running in front of Judge Parkerson's house is almost all level with the street; going by the judge's house we found this ditch filled up with obstructions of various kinds and to our mind a cleaning up is greatly needed. Crossing, Lincoln Avenue, this ditch is continued through a channel which is too narrow for the quantity of water it is expected to carry; this continuation is like the main part of the ditch filled with obstructions of various kinds, old cans, etc., etc.

We hope our street committee will look after this matter, without delay, and a general overhauling of these ditches and others prevent another flood in our streets.


Lafayette Advertiser 2/5/1898.





We call the attention of our readers to the business card of Mr. J. C. Nickerson in this issue of The Advertiser. Mr. Nickerson is one of Lafayette's most active and enterprising business man and we take pleasure in commending him to the public in his new field of work. A live real estate agency plays an important part in the upbuilding of a community, and we do not doubt that Mr. Nickerson will do full justice to all business entrusted to him in this line.
Lafayette Advertiser 2/9/1901.




INCREASED BUSINESS.

 Necessitates More Room and New Machinery - Small Factories Indicate Municipal Growth.

 Geo. DeBlanc is on the eve of increasing the capacity of his grist mill and adding a lot of new machinery. A large building is being erected to receive the new machinery which is expected to be here within the next few days.

 Mr. DeBlanc was the pioneer in the grit and meal business in Lafayette and the improvements that he is now making prove that he has made a success of it. Heretofore he has dealt only in what are known as Creole corn products, but in the future he will grind and sell the commercial grits, made of white corn. Mr. DeBlanc will try to buy the corn required for commercial grits from local farmers, but should that be impossible he can easily procure it elsewhere. It is his intention to supply the retail dealers of this and adjoining towns with this commodity. He has bought the best and most improved machinery, as he is determined to send out corn products that will compare favorably with those ground at any other mill North or South. He will also supply the trade with meal, white or yellow. As the Creole hominy is very popular he will continue to handle it, as in the past. The increased power of his new machinery will enable him to provide the people with the wood for fuel as he has done heretofore.

 The Gazette is pleased to note the success of this industry. It is an evidence of the growth of the town. Small factories of this character are great factors in the upbuilding of a town and the way to encourage them is to patronize them. They help to keep the money in local circulation. They employ home labor and nearly every cent that they make finds its way back into circulation.

 Lafayette Gazette 2/9/1901.



Building. - Dr. T. B. Hopkins is building a nice cottage near his residence on the new Compress street just opened, which has already been rented.
Laf. Advertiser 1/13/1904.





A NEW BRICK OPERA HOUSE.


 Last Wednesday Mr. F. E. Moss purchased from Mr. Chas. D. Caffery the lot opposite Moss & Company's store, known as the McBride

 property, the purchase price being $6,000.00. The ground measuring 140 feet on Vermilion street and 192 feet on Jefferson street and is justly regarded as being an exceptionally desirable business corner. Mr. Moss has decided to utilize a portion of the ground for the erection of a substantial brick and iron opera house, complete and up-to-date in all its appointments. He has enlisted the support of a number of leading business men of this town in the project, who recognize that the time has come when special provision must be made to meet the urgent need of the community in this regard, and that this provision must be carried out on an ample scale and in a manner that will reflect credit on the community.

 The proposed location of the new brick opera house is very central, and in other respects will prove to be an ideal one for the purpose intended and success will no doubt attend the venture as it is going to be launched under exceptionally favorable circumstances.

 The first floor of the building will contain two or three commodious rooms with plate glass fronts to be arranged for use as retail stores.   Lafayette Advertiser 1/17/1903. 
 




Gratified With the Progress of Lafayette.

Mr. E. H. Vordenbaumen of Shreveport was a visitor to Lafayette during the week. He came to attend a meeting of the stockholders of the Vordenbaumen Lumber Company, Limited.

 While here Mr. Vordenbaumen expressed himself as highly gratified with the progress of Lafayette. While speaking of the greatly improved schools and of the awakened school sentiment here, he said not a resident of Lafayette, nevertheless he would willingly contribute to the Lafayette schools as much as any citizen of the town. He also expressed the belief that good schoolhouses were a necessity, and that every community was benefited by having them in many ways. Mr. Vordenbaumen is a progressive man, and his ideas are practical and worth consideration. Lafayette Advertiser 1/17/1903.  



Buildings Mean Prosperity.  Quite a lot of buildings are going up in various parts of the town. When the saw and hammer are in motion there is prosperity about.  Lafayette Advertiser 1/20/1900.


An extension has been added to the rear of the Racket House in the shape of a new kitchen, to meet the increased demands upon its accommodations.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1891.


The frame work of the new round house is now in place, but we understand it will be about two months before it is finished. It has eighteen stalls.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/24/1891.


 The removal of the old building between Mrs. Young's and Mr. Point Boeuf's residences, has left a beautiful site for the erection of a neat residence which would be an ornament to that street. We hope to see this done at an early day.
Laf. Adv. 1/24/1891.



THE INSTITUTE BUILDING
 Nearing Completion.
 Mr. Roy's and Other Homes to Add to the Appearance of the Locality.

  Contractor A. E. Mouton is unusually happy these days. After many months of constant work he is on the eve of seeing the completion of the main building of the Industrial Institute. A few more days and the elegant and spacious structure will be finished. Aside from its great architectural beauty, this building has many exceptional advantages possessed by few others in the country. It is a thoroughly modern in every respect, and now that it is about completed, one may have an idea of how well it was planned. That the plan was conscientiously executed there seems to be no doubt. All, the president, building committee, architect, contractor and everybody else connected with it, tried to give the State a good job, and the building itself is the best evidence of the success of their efforts. It is a grand structure which will stand for ages as an eloquent monument to the intelligence and skill of the builders and to that enlightened spirit of progress which the people of Lafayette displayed in their efforts to have the institution located here.

 The cost of the building is about $41,000. In this are included a few extra improvements not stipulated in the original contract, amounting to a little over $2,000. As soon as practicable the dormitory and other buildings will be erected, preparatory to the opening of the first term next September. An engraver is working on the corner-stone. The lettering originally made on the stone was not satisfactory.


 The residence of Mr. J. A. Roy near the Institute is a very handsome and commodious structure, and adds greatly to the appearance of the surrounding. The building is the work of Contractor Ross. 

 We are informed that Dr. Moss and other citizens of the town intend to build fine homes in the neighborhood.


 Mr. Geo. K. Bradford, of Rayne, was at work during the week surveying Mr. Girard's land, with a view of laying it out in lots. We understand that it is Mr. Girard's intention to sell these lots.

 Surveyor Charles S. Babin has marked out the lines for the opening of Johnston street.
If the land-owners will exert themselves just a little bit that locality can be made very beautiful. The employment of some taste and a little cash will make the land adjacent to the college grounds exceedingly desirable for the building of residences. Lafayette Gazette 1/26/1901.



Lacoste’s Warehouse. - Work is still progressing on Lafayette’s warehouse. 
Laf. Advertiser 1/26/1901.

A Board of Trade.

 New Iberia, Lake Charles, St. Martinville and a number of other Louisiana towns have well-organized boards of trade, but we are sorry to say that Lafayette is behind her sisters in this respect. And why haven't we one? Certainly not because our town is not large enough to support it, but simply because our business men seem to lack the spirit of unity so necessary to the prosperity of all communities. Towns less pretentious than ours have boards of trade, and we regret to say that here not even an effort has been made to organize one. All those acquainted with the rapid and substantial growth of towns know how much good is to be derived from an organization of this kind. It would be the means of bringing to our section men of wealth who would help to develop our manifold resources. It would disseminate throughout the Northern States valuable information concerning our soil, climate, crops, and people, and it would also fall within its province to reply to the numerous inquiries from prospective settlers which now remain unanswered.


 At the present time there are in the New England States a number of cotton mills which will be moved to the Southern States in the near future. Perhaps with reasonable inducements the proprietors of one of these plants could be persuaded to select a site in our parish. Our natural advantages for the manufacture of cotton goods are unequaled anywhere, and with a little exertion by our people, they would doubtless receive the proper recognition at the hands of manufacturers.

 Our good neighbors in Breaux Bridge are clamoring for a railroad to this town, and so far they have received but little encouragement from the people here. This seeming indifference is due to a lack of unity and organization which would not exist with a board of trade.
 The urgent need of an organization of this sort to represent the town in all matters wherein the welfare of the whole community is involved, is aparent to all thoughtful men, and it is indeed unfortunate that our more public-spirited citizens do not take the matter in hand at once. Other societies flourish in Lafayette and there is no reason why a board of trade should not meet with the same success. Lafayette Gazette 1/26/1895. 

 

STREET WIDENING.
aka: history of Jefferson Street. 

We were present at an earnest discussion by some of our citizens provoked by the Advertiser's suggestion last Saturday that the street leading from the bank to Lincoln Avenue, be broadened to the width of the Avenue. The idea was admitted not to be a bad one and the gentlemen debating the subject were of the opinion that the undertaking should be carried out at a moderate cost right now when only a few buildings would have to be moved back some distance on the west side of the street. As matters stand at present no property concerned would be effected to an extent that would not be fully compensated by the very material enhancement in value for business purposes, that would result to the lots by this change. We understand that certain properties along the line would be rendered less desirable for residence purposes, but in the event the change we proposed would come to pass it would pay the owners of these properties to move to other quarters and speculate on their lots. We have strong faith in the decided benefits to the community, contained in the proposition.
Lafayette Advertiser 1/27/1894.




A gentleman of means from Breaux Bridge, was in town last Wednesday, and is course of conversation remarked that while it was 15 miles further from his place to New Iberia than to Lafayette, the business men of that place, found it cheaper and more convenient to transact their business at the former place, owing chiefly to the bad condition of the roads between here and Breaux Bridge. He said that more than time the roads were so bad that to travel over them was almost impossible.
 
Lafayette Advertiser 1/27/1893.



A New Firm. -  As stated in a notice signed by B. J. Pellerin and G. H. DeClouet, these gentlemen have formed a partnership and will continue the furniture business established by Pellerin. An increase of business has induced Mr. Pellerin to seek the assistance of a partner and he has been fortunate in securing the valuable co-operation of Mr. DeClouet who is now the junior member of the firm which will be known under the name of Pellerin & DeClouet. Every arrangement will be made to meet the demands of the trade, and the people of this town and parish are assured that their wants in the furniture line will be thoroughly line will be looked after by a thoroughly progressive and up-to-date firm. The Gazette bespeaks for the new firm the large measure of success which it will no doubt deserve.
Lafayette Gazette 2/1/1902. 
 




600 Rail Cars at Lafayette.
           
 Conductor Bright, who was arrested yesterday morning at Crowley for blockading a public crossing, informed a Signal representative that the report that the Southern Pacific has six hundred cars of freight in the yards at Lafayette was perfectly correct. Agent Porter was asked how this could be accounted for and he replied that it was due to the prosperity of the country and nothing else.  From the Lake Charles Press and in the Lafayette Gazette 2/9/1901.

With the rapid increase in the population of Lafayette, there are constantly occurring cases of needy distress for which an organized society could render timely and much needed relief. All ladies interested in this matter are requested to meet at the residence of Mrs. W. W. Wall on Monday evening, Feb. 11th, at 4 0'clock, to consider the advisability of forming a "Ladies nonsectarian Aid Society." Laf. Adv. 2/9/1889.




DEPENDS ON GOOD SELECTION.
 It sometimes happens that with the very best of intentions, just the opposite result is obtained from that expected or desired. This is equally true of public bodies as of individuals. Success can only be obtained by a very careful consideration of the end which is sought to be obtained. A false start is often made, and experience has demonstrated that it is hard to overcome, for which reason it is much better to make haste slowly.

And it also frequently happens with public bodies as with individuals, that the false start and the mistakes develop through a poor selection of those whom they may choose to serve them.

It is certainly to be hoped that this will not be the case with the recently elected Police Jury, who can be of such great aid and assistance in many ways to the parish. The Advertiser believes that a a fine selection has been made and that as a body we many expect good things from them; but to just what extent, depends largely upon their selections of those who shall serve them. And we think there need be little doubt upon that score, as we feel convinced that the gentlemen of the Police Jury will exercise due care, and let their choice be governed strictly upon fitness and merit. With a good Police Jury and assistants, it remains for the citizens to unite and give them their fullest and heartiest support that we may all together do everything that can be done for the welfare and best interests of the parish.
Lafayette Advertiser 2/10/1904



Nine Dwellings  have been built in town during the last few weeks and we are informed that contracts have been made for the construction of several more.
Laf. Gaz. 2/10/1900. 


We have learned of a movement that is now being agitated by members of the order to bring together in general convocation, every six months, the membership of the several local lodges Knights of Honor, of adjoining towns for purposes of sociability and improvement. We consider the suggestion a good one and believe that both the order and its members would be directly benefited by regular conferences of this kind as the natural consequence of the travel and interchange of ideas that would be occasioned by this means. Also, closer friendly and business relations would be established between members residing in neighboring towns, the results of which would prove of mutual advantage. The ADVERTISER wishes success to the movement. Laf. Advertiser 2/10/1894.




As We See It.
 It has occurred to us that while we have been claiming needed innovations and practical benefits for our City, at the hands of our City Council, that after mature deliberation upon what we have urged we came to think think that the principal element to carry them into execution is an outlay of money; - we think that our city treasury is kept empty by an expense which being borne wrongly by our municipality, keeps a constant drain upon our municipal funds; and while money thus employed is a necessity in a certain point of view still our city funds could be employed in a way that would benefit more of our people. We refer to our plank side-walks. We offer the suggestion that the construction and repair of our plank sidewalks ought not to be a burden on the whole taxpaying community. It may be that our city fathers have their hands filled keeping in repair what we have now. Without entering more deeply into an argument of the favored few against the masses, we are nevertheless constrained to say that in streets where our people reside they have not that convenience, and yet, they pay, we suppose, their taxes just like others do.


 What then would be the proper remedy to relieve our City Treasury of this constant drain and at the same time satisfy all of our people. To our mind there is but one solution of this question, - let the landlords build the side walks wherever they have their houses bearing all the expenses as it is done in many other towns. Now this may be called, by some, a radical suggestion but let us see if it is or it it would be rather a benefit to them. Their houses would rent more readily, and the expense would be very slight, - then our municipality relieved of this care could employ their funds in a manner that would be beneficial to our people at large. We may add, without fear of being contradicted, that hundreds of dollars, yes, thousands of dollars have been spent by the City in constructing what we have now and that a great deal of money is disbursed every year for the repairing. This is a question that we can well afford to study, and therefore we submit it to all parties interested.
 Lafayette Advertiser 2/12/1898:

 


Two commodious dwelling houses are being erected by Mr. P. B. Roy on his lot next to Moss Bros. & Co's. store. The work is being done under the supervision of Contractor Philips, of New Iberia. Laf. Gaz. 1/12/1895.



 We are informed that Mr. Arthur Voorhies, the popular drummer, intends to move with his family to Lafayette and will occupy one of the buildings now in course of construction on P. B. Roy's lots. We hope that we will soon be able to claim Mr. Voorhies as a citizen of this town. Laf. Gaz. 1/12/1895.



The Reason of Our Success.

The substantial progress Lafayette has made in recent years is the subject of much favored comment at home and abroad. There was a time when our people remained content to drift along with the natural current, and in those days our progress was on par of that of the snail. Several years ago however, we discovered that we could help our condition very materially by all pulling together in matters affecting the public welfare and for the purpose of establishing industrial enterprises, and we have been "pulling together" ever since ; and the results are so apparent on every hand that it is not necessary to enumerate them.
Lafayette Advertiser 2/14/1903. 

The Veteran Painter. Mr. H. A. Eastin, is at work painting the houses which are being erected by Mr. J. E. Trahan. Mr. Eastin says that he will have finished painting one of the buildings by the 1st of March and we have no doubt that he will as "Bebert" is a hustler as well as a competent workman. Lafayette Gazette 2/16/1895. 


 

 
ONE VIEW OF IT.
 

 The establishment of a cotton and sugar refinery in Lafayette parish, together with the building of a railroad from here to Vermilion bay, via Abbeville, would without question bring other industries, build up the town of Lafayette and add a great deal to the taxable property in the parish, therefore we believe it to be a sound deduction that notwithstanding a tax of 3 mills be levied in favor of the railroad, that the amount of taxes the property holders would be less five years from now than at the present time.

The cost of running the parish would be no greater with these and other industries added than it is to-day, and as new industries would add to the assessable property of the parish, the percentage of taxation would be reduced. The assessed valuation of taxable property in the parish is now $1,894,572.00 and the tax levied 10 mills ; if the railroad is built, we are certain of having a cotton factory and sugar refinery, besides other industries and mercantile establishments, new residences in town and parish, which would add at least $1,000,000 to the assessable property, giving a total of say $3,000,000 as against $1,894,572 at present. The expenses of the parish are not increasing, the tax would be lowered and instead of paying 10 mills you would not pay over 6 or 7 mills, therefore, even if no other benefits were to be derived, it would be a paying investment to vote the railroad tax.

Lafayette Advertiser 2/18/1893.



A RAILROAD ITEM.

Every business man in town should help along the Abbeville railroad scheme. -- Lafayette Advertiser.

It was once stated by a distinguished English nobleman that a railroad laid down in any part of the United States would prove a paying institution, and the truth of this statement is being almost daily, fully confirmed by practical experiment. It is a known truth that railroads create and develop the resources of a country by opening up all the avenues to the wealth of its productions, and give life and animation to dull and dormant communities; but alas! we have too many in this section, we regret to say, are so blind to the advantages of a railroad to this place, and prompted solely by their own selfish motives, prefer to favor the old, slow and expensive mode of locomotion than to hear the lively snort of the iron horse in their midst. While we have some enterprising men in our community, who favor improvements of all kinds and wish to see the country prosper, it seems that we have others who prefer to remain and die in the old rut of ignorance than to follow in the wake of enlightenment and civilization. Under these circumstances we do not, nor can we expect, if the co-operation of our citizens is relied upon to effect that purpose, soon to see a railroad running to within a few miles of Abbeville, on its way to the seashore.
From the Abbeville Meridional and in the Lafayette Advertiser 2/18/1888.


Leopold Lacoste knows how to improve our town in a business way.Let others imitate him. His new store will be one of the largest of Lafayette, being 140 feet long. The building is to be fire proof painted. Mr. Lacoste will soon receive two carloads of buggies, harness, hardware and wooden ware. Laf. Adv. 2/19/1898.


New residences will be erected in Lafayette very shortly. Laf. Adv. 2/19/1898.


 
Mrs. J. J. Revillon has built a commodious and handsome stable upon the rear of her residence lots. Laf. Adv. 2/21/1891.


As one evidence of the solid growth of Lafayette there is not a dwelling house in town for rent.  Laf. Adv. 2/21/1891.





CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE.
 
  

 It is a source of pleasure and satisfaction to see the numerous and substantial improvements which are being made in Lafayette. They are a gratifying evidence that the citizens of the town have confidence in it, and that is a most valuable asset. Capitalists seeking investments are greatly influenced by the estimation in which local moneyed men hold their own town, and consider a proposition in proportion to the amount of cash home people are willing to put up. And as outside capital is needed to fully develop opportunities, it is fortunate that the spirit of confidence is so pronounced among our citizens.

 

The next step, and the obvious one, would be to take advantage of the favorable conditions and make an effort to secure the necessary outside capital in order to make the growth of the town permanent, for it is certain that without it, a point must be reached where growth must stop. This effort, of course, will not be made, if it is left to individuals acting their own initiative; it must be done through an organized body of substantial citizens. There are enough public spirited men in Lafayette to make an effective body of the right kind, and who, we are sure, would not hesitate to assist along these lines. All it needs is for some one to take upon himself the responsibility of calling for an organization.

 

Let some one of our business men take the lead.

Lafayette Advertiser 2/24/1904.

Lafayette is Improving. -
At present Lafayette is experiencing a period of steady and substantial improvements. The principal business street has just been widened, and concrete sidewalks are being rapidly placed on both sides. A number of two-story brick buildings have been and are being erected, with others 
Lafayette Advertiser 2/24/1904.


If a rapid natural increase of population is a good sign for a town then Lafayette is to be congratulated. Laf. Adv. 2/26/1898.

Lafayette is on a quiet boom. How much better pleased we would be it we could state it a little differently by saying Lafayette is "on quite" a boom.
Laf. Adv. 2/26/1898.





NINE YEARS OLD.

T0-day The Gazette issues the first number of its tenth volume. In other words, the paper is nine years old.

 The Gazette enters upon its tenth year with confidence of increased prosperity. It has, since its foundation, enjoyed a fair measure of success as a public journal. We believe its growth has been commensurate with the advancement of the community, and we hope it has merited, if it has not always received, the approbation of well-thinking people. It claims no great credit for having contributed its humble efforts toward the success of worthy movements, but it feels a reasonable degree of pride that it has espoused every cause which, in its opinion, was calculated to benefit the people.

 During the last nine or ten years Lafayette has forged to the front in rapid strides. In that period the people have awakened to a realization of their opportunities. In a material sense this community has more than kept up with the pace of progress. The establishment here of a cotton seed oil factory by local capital was a splendid beginning. Later on New Orleans capitalists availed of the advantages afforded by this section and built the sugar refinery which is easily one of the largest manufacturing plants in the State. Then came the compress which has been such a powerful factor in the increased commercial prosperity of the town has made in recent years, are the large number of new store building and residences. The improved quality of these structures maybe taken as an indication of the prosperity of the people. Excepting Crowley, Lafayette has put up more buildings in the past five years than any other town in this section of the State.

 The erection by the town of a system of waterworks and electric lights was a long step forward. Nothing has done more to secure for this town its rightful position among the progressive communities of the State than the building of these improvements. Without them the town might have jogged along in poky sort of way, but it could never hope to take its place in the front rank of up-to-date municipalities. All this and much more is to the credit of Lafayette, but the culminating point in its growth - one which is not be considered from the standpoint of dollars and cents but to be measured by a higher standard - was reached when the Industrial Institute reared its walls in mute but eloquent tribute to that new spirit of progress which had quickened the slumbering intelligence of the people and marked out for them the path which leads to intellectual development. Henry Watterson said that the idiosyncrasy of the nineteenth century was liberty and that of the twentieth century is commerce. If Lafayette is to have an idiosyncrasy let it be education and let it be given expression in a new modern school building. The past decade has been a notable one in the history of the town, but let it be only a forerunner of what is to come. Lafayette Gazette 3/1/1902.







Lacoste Hardware Store.

 Among the most prominent and substantial business houses of Lafayette is the Lacoste Hardware store, a cut of which appears elsewhere. The business which was established by Mr. L. Lacoste a number of years ago in a modest way has grown steadily until at present it is one of the largest concerns in Southwest Louisiana, and occupies an immense building with a forty foot front depth of 300 feet, extending from Madison (now Buchanan) to Jefferson street


 This remarkable growth can be ascribed to their strictly honest basis of doing business and the uniformly courteous treatment shown to all.


 The business now is in charge of Messrs. Louis Lacoste, Jos. Lacoste, Jos. Colombe, and Ernest Mouisset, sons and sons-in-law, of the original founder of the business. They are all young men, probably the youngest in charge of such a large business in the State, and are progressive and liberal. Under their management the business has grown considerably and with the growth of the business they have made additions and put in conveniences for the prompt and ready and handling of goods, so that in the matter of facilities it is thoroughly equipped. In order to accommodate their extensive trade and extend their business, they have established branch stores at Broussardville and Carencro, both of which are in a prosperous condition.

 The Lacoste Hardware store is an institution of which the people of Lafayette can well be proud, because of its size, its high standard of business methods, and the enterprising spirit manifested by the young men composing the firm.
 Lafayette Advertiser 3/2/1904.



Patronize Home People. - If you want to build your town patronize home people. Do not send to neighboring towns for workmen when those at home are just as competent. If you have anything to sell do you go to a neighboring towns for buyers? Certainly not. Then why patronize people who do not patronize you? Lafayette Gazette 3/2/1895.



An Opposition Town.

Speaking of the inclination of some people to oppose every public enterprise, a certain well-known gentleman expressed himself the other day in the following language:
 

 "Lafayette may well be called the great opposition town of Louisiana. Some of its citizens seem to delight in opposing anything and everything. It matters not what it is, they bob up as opposers. They are opposers by nature. They feed on opposition. They are happy only when they are opposing something. They are in favor of nothing that may benefit the town. Should one of these peculiar beings ever reach the celestial abode of the blessed, which is a debatable question, it will not be long before he has established an opposition place of his own."

Lafayette Gazette 3/2/1895.

 

 

Notwithstanding complaints of dull times, improvements in our town continue. Mr. John O. Mouton lately built a warehouse on Vermilion street, opposite his store, and repaired two other buildings on the same lot. Mr. Keyes has the contract for building a church for the Presbyterian congregation, and is now engaged in its construction. Mr. Theodule Hebert, Jr., has contracted for the building of a family residence on Madision street. Among the projected improvements, we learn that Dr. J. D. Trahan intends erecting a neat and commodious dwelling house on Washington street. Laf. Advertiser 3/2/1878. 





Divided Lafayette?

 The separate government of the original corporation of Lafayette and the Mills, Mouton and McComb additions, as obtains since their severation by the recent discussion of the supreme court, must necessarily militate against the interests of the one as much as the other. The situation is a most unfortunate one and should be relieved at the earliest moment possible. If, as it is represented, the annexation can be made under a law now in force that was framed to meet just such an emergency as Lafayette finds itself placed in, the initial move should be made without delay to bring about a reunion of the old corporation and its lately dismembered additions. The subject calls for immediate action in the interest of all.
Lafayette Advertiser 4/6/1895.




 Lincoln avenue, East of the railroad, is steadily developing new buildings. During the week Mr. Auguste Degrez had erected the frame for a cottage on the North side just beyond the Racket house, and Mr. John Allingham's new residence on the same side of the street, a couple of blocks further East, is rapidly nearing completion.
Lafayette Advertiser 4/6/1889.





ANOTHER SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT TO BE ADDED TO LAFAYETTE.



We take pleasure in announcing to our friends and readers that negotiations were closed with Mr. P. B. Roy the 11th. instant, for the erection of a substantial and capacious building for the special use of the THE ADVERTISER, on Mr. Roy's lot on Vermilion street (unreadable word) to the store of Moss Bros. & Co. Whilst it is intended that the (unreadable) Manager of this paper is to occupy the second story with his family, the ground floor will be designed specially for a newspaper office and printing establishment. Situated in a more central locality with greater facilities than ever for conducting our vocation we hope to further extend our business interests and usefulness, and in this effort we shall welcome and highly value every helping hand. Notice of our removal will be given in due time. The contractor, Mr. Fred Mouton, will complete the new building as quickly as possible, probably about June 15th., and until that time we will continue to entertain all friends at our present location.
Lafayette Advertiser 4/14/1894.



 

We'll "Get There."


  The conditions that make Lafayette a peculiarly desirable location as a business center and point of distribution, are attracting increasing attention from capitalists. This fact is becoming more and more evident from the growing frequency of inquiries and personal visits on the part of prospective investors, some of which promise results of no small importance to us. A large cotton compress is under serious consideration at present, with very fair prospects of success. This point is an ideal one for a cotton compress, which would command in almost unlimited source of supply of cotton. As an investment the compress could not fail of being highly remunerative. and as a magnet for business it could not well be surpassed. A number of smaller manufacturing industries are in contemplation by interested parties, and it is reasonable to infer that by the close of the present year Lafayette will have several new enterprises place to her credit.

 It is due in a great measure to the efforts of the Business Men's Association that the town's advantages is a business center are coming to be more fully recognized, and the association should not let up one iota in its endeavors to bring Lafayette into its proper position in the line of forward march. We may have to wait a little longer than we would like to witness the realization of our hopes, but we will surely shorten the time by trying to help ourselves. Lafayette Advertiser 5/8/1897.




On What Must Our Future Growth Depend?

 If Lafayette is to grow and become a city of any size or importance, to what must we look to foster and encourage such growth?

 Lafayette of the present is as large as the surrounding agricultural country will support. The area that is supplied by Lafayette is very small. Scott, Carencro, Royville, Broussardville and Cade are all points of supply for the farmers of this parish. It is therefore safe to say that we cannot look to the agricultural interests to contribute in any large degree to the future growth of our city.

 The next factor to be considered is that of manufacturing or industrial enterprises. What inducements can Lafayette offer to manufactories to locate here? Can we offer cheap fuel and good and cheap shipping facilities? We are compelled to answer no to both questions. In neither of these respects can Lafayette offer advantages equal to those possessed by some of our neighboring towns, who have the advantage of water transportation, which gives them much lower freight rates than we can possibly secure. It is true we could give free building sites, but that alone would not be sufficient to induce factories to locate here. It will therefore be seen that there is not much prospect of Lafayette with her present railroad facilities, becoming much a manufacturing town. We will probably get a central sugar refinery but aside from that we do not see the likelihood of any other industrial enterprise being established here.

 To what then must we look for the future growth and prosperity of our town? There is one channel through which our town could be pushed ahead and become known all over the South, and that channel is education. Lafayette owing to its location should be made an educational center for Southwestern Louisiana, and it could be made such by a properly directed effort.

 Another thing, with our climate no more delightful spot could be found for winter homes by the people of the north, and if our educational facilities were placed on a high plane many families could be induced to move to Lafayette and build winter homes here. But we must state frankly that we see not other prospect for Lafayette to become any more than it is at present, except by making it an educational center and building up first-class schools and colleges.

 Of course it we should get a north and south railroad, this giving us lower freight rates through competition, it would change the entire outlook and Lafayette would then stand some chance of becoming a manufacturing point of some importance. But until we get such a road it will be of very little use to try to induce industrial enterprises to locate here, because with existing freight rates they could not afford to do so. Let us, therefore devote our entire energies toward the establishment and building of educational institutions in our town.
Lafayette Advertiser 5/13/1893.


Mr. Jos. Plonsky intends having his building thoroughly overhauled, renovated and repaired, and will substitute the present roof with an iron one.
 Laf. Adv. 5/17/1893. 


 [For The Advertiser.]
AGRICULTURE.
Vermilionville, La.
 May 18th, 1869.


"Agriculture is one of the best allies of virtues and happiness."



 Mr. Editor, The resources of agriculture are incalculable ;  and on this fertile soil especially, there is no occupation by which man can accomplish so much as by tilling the earth. From time immemorial agriculture has held the supremacy in wealth and virtue ;  it is coeval with man's existence and con-natural with his being, it is truly said by a cultivator of the land. "Respect me, for I enrich the soil; I fertilize the land which without me would remain uncultivated ;  I employ hands which otherwise would remain idle, in a word, I solve one of the greatest problems of modern society ;  I organize and moralize labor." The celebrated "Bascom," said agriculture has furnished not merely the antecedents of important events in history, but of great historical eras. It claims an originality, combination, and permanence of relation, to which no other art or pursuit of man, can lay claims. It may be depressed in a thousand ways, but can only be destroyed by the extinction of our race. As the central point of unity in the whole internal economy. It must be relieved as the genus with regard to every species of productive labor. To every man it is nature's just mandates and obedience always practicable. It marked the dawn, had distinguished the progress, and is destined to crown the last stage of human improvement. It has ever been the grand  school of invention, the birth place of all the useful, and nearly all the other arts. It is the great regulating principal of vitality in the growth of nations, and the enlargement of civil improvement. All history shows it to be true ;  and the only universal nursery of civilization ;  and in every respect, the most fundamental arrangement in the economy of human life, such are the words of a man who has known the worth and value of agriculture.

 Now, Mr. Editor, the cultivation of the useful arts has certainly proven beneficial to mankind, especially when we reflect upon the important influence they have exerted upon civilization, as Franklin with the printing press. Whitney with the cotton gin, Arkwright with the spinning jenny, Watt with the steam engine and Fulton with the steamboat. But when the immortal Lieberg discovered and applied the aid of chemistry to agriculture, by giving renewed life and vigor to worn out land, dilapidated trees and plants, etc., he certainly became as much of a benefactor to mankind, and aided as much of the progress of civilization and the happiness of man as any of the sages above mentioned.

 Lieberg's application of carbon, lime, plaster and salt to refresh and improve worn out lands, and to restore fruit trees and plants have had wonderful effect wherever they have been judiciously applied. These chemicals, when properly strewn on the land, will give new vigor to the earth, and make it as productive as ever. I was an eye witness to  a case in the parish of Point Coupee, some years ago, where a planter redeemed twenty acres of worn out land by the application of two barrels of lime, one of plaster and two of common salt, the cost of which was eighteen dollars and the benefits derived were these ;  the said twenty acres of land, heretofore unproductive, were so refreshed by this process that they became highly productive, giving the first year after it applications, a yield of one thousand, five hundred pounds of sugar to the acres, and the land kept for several years in a good state of cultivation.   A. L. P.  Lafayette Advertiser 5/21/1869.    








The "Pest Hole" Moved. 

 The Old Town Hall, which has lately been so eloquently described a pest hole by the Gazette, has been moved to another part of the new public school grounds. The move was made by Sontag's Concert band to clear the view and ground in front of the music stand.

 The Old Town Hall is not a building of pretentious or prepossessing in appearance, it is true, but The Advertiser prefers to apply a less harsh epithet to it than that of "pest hole." We would rather speak of the Old Town Hall in more considerate terms, remembering as we do its close association with the past history of the town, always gladly and uncomplainingly serving as a place of meeting and of shelter for many of our most respected and faithful public servants, who labored often and planned well within its walls for the public weal.

 There will come a time, we know, when the Old Town Hall will have to be laid aside, and in its place our eyes shall rest upon an enduring structure of graceful and imposing lines; but we shall never think anything less of the Old Town Hall that our fathers thought good enough for a meeting place for them so long as the public revenues were all needed for the more pressing public necessities of streets, sidewalks, schools. etc.

 Yes; we feel most kindly toward the Old Town Hall - and may be fast reaching an end, for the sake of the service it has rendered we will watch its passing with a grateful sense of its past usefulness. Lafayette Advertiser 5/24/1905.
        
 


Lafayette Holding Its Own. - It always pains us to hear our town "run down" by one of its citizens, an occurrence of too great frequency, unfortunately. It matters not if the citizen happens to belong to that large number who contribute more than any other class to the backwardness of a town, by placing all manner of obstacles in the way of its advancement, it hurts the town. This reflection is suggested by the remarks accredited to a resident of Lafayette, recently, who had anything but good to say of his native town, to a stranger who engaged him in conversation. The visitor, however, had powers of observation of his own and formed an opinion of Lafayette and its future, directly opposite to the views entertained by the resident. This was a fortunate circumstance for the town, but, to often, a stranger is much influenced by the expressions of his informant, in such cases.

 This incident, recited as a premise only to our further remarks, created in us a curiosity to look backward and review the history of Lafayette for the past two or three years to ascertain if the town had not made a better record that what many of its own people were willing to allow. In this connection we took into account only such new acquisitions as were entitled to distinctive consideration. We find that during that time Lafayette has a rightful claim to a number of quite substantial improvements there being included a sugar refinery capable of 300 tons capacity, an ice factory capable of turning out 7 and half tons a day, a rice mill, a grist mill, a telephone exchange and a modern system of water works and electric lights soon will be erected. All things considered we have reason to feel well satisfied with the progress we are making and with the bright prospects in store for us we should be more than pleased. A large cotton seed oil mill and another railroad (T. & P. from Palmetto) as strong possibilities, will add fresh laurels of no mean order, and so we must conclude that Lafayette has no cause for complaint for the progress it has made for the past two or three years.  Lafayette Advertiser 6/6/1896.





Vermilionville Is Beginning To Grow.

AN ACT.
No. 111.

 To amend an act entitled "an act to incorporate the town of Vermilionville, in the Parish of Lafayette," approved March 11th, 1836.


SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Louisiana in General Assembly convened, That the limits of the town of Vermilionville be and are fixed as follows: Beginning at a point on the Coulee west of town, at its intersection with street running east and west in the Mill's addition, between lots twenty and twenty-three, in the plan made by John Campbell, United States Surveyor, March 19th, 1856, and running east to to the intersection of said street running east to the intersection of said street with Jefferson street thence South Jefferson street to Mrs. Charles Mouton's line and following that line to the western limits of A. Mouton's field, enclosure or ditch, and following that ditch south to its intersection with the line of Third street ;  thence following westerly the said Third street and its continuation to the Coulee west of the town, and following the middle of said Coulee to the point of beginning.
Lafayette Advertiser 6/12/1869.



Growth and Development.

 Grow and development are two most desirable things in the life of a community, and it is not inopportune at the present time to consider their causes.

  The support of a town comes primarily from the agricultural country surrounding it, and the first effort toward growth and development should be to render communication between this natural territory and the town as easy and rapid as possible by means of good roads. This accomplished, the territory should be enlarged again and again by more dirt roads, motor roads or railroads that all highways should lead to Rome; but never bearing in mind that the interests of this tributary territory is the town's interest and that at all times and at all seasons their friendship should be assiduously cultivated.


 The second cause is the establishment of good schools, both primary and advanced. Every facility for the proper education of the children should be provided - suitable buildings, superior teachers and trained supervision - and a generous welcome to all who may desire to come and avail themselves of the town's educational advantages.


 The third is a liberal support the their newspapers; for to them fall the task of advertising the advantages of the town, the quality of its citizenship and its desirability as a home, besides recording all progressive movements, expressing suggestions for the general welfare and giving generously and willingly its space and influence for the public good.


 A fourth cause is the making of the town a shipping and distributing point to the establishment of commission and wholesale houses, both of which add materially to the town by furnishing employment, by placing money in circulation, and by augmenting its commerce.


 A fifth and most important cause is railroads, because they add to the population, disburse considerable sums in the town monthly and furnish employment. To this is added the fact that they make possible the extension of the town's territory for trade.


 Another and vital cause is manufacturers and industries, valuable because they furnish employment, thus adding to the population and increasing business, resulting in an augmentation of property values.


 These are the six chief causes of development and growth briefly stated and a recognition of these is a requisite before steady and successful efforts can be made to that end. But with knowledge of these causes and an active, earnest progressive league loyally supported by a progressive public sentiment, large things are possible.  Lafayette Advertiser 6/14/1905.




ELECTION NOTICE.
To Expand Laf. Corp. Limits.

 An election has been ordered by the council of the town of Lafayette and will be held at the Court House Monday the first day of July, 1895, by the qualified electors residing in and upon the lots or lands which are adjacent and contiguous to the territorial corporate limits of said town, the land aforesaid lying and being situated between the territorial corporate limits of said town and the boundaries of said lots or lands established and accurately described by the survey made by Romain Francez, parish surveyor, on the 18th day of May, 1895, and hereafter officially described:

 Boundaries of said lands proposed to be annexed, fixed by said survey of May 18, 1895. Starting at the bridge on the coulee west of town, between the properties of Henry Hohorst and Anita Hohorst wife of Dr. Franklin Mouton, and running from thence along said coulee N 87 1/2, E a small ash 83ft., N 76 E a small 36 ft., thence N 1/2 E 300 ft. in Hohorst's pasture thence N 27 1/2 E 300 ft., thence 12 1/2 E 170 in cemetery 200ft., thence N 15 E 389 ft., thence N 18 1/2 E 110 ft. going from cemetary to Mrs. Judice's place 470 feet thence N 7 1/2 W 800 ft., thence N 20 E 300 ft. to southeast corner of Arthur Greig's property, then N 1/2 E 623 ft. to the big ditch 1600 ft. to public road leading to Scott 2553 ft. to the La. Western Railroad 2653 to the north side of said Railroad, thence E 1024 ft. thence S 77 E 660 ft. to the Morgan Railroad (L W division) 1250 ft. to center of Morgan road 1760 ft to the public road leading to Breaux Bridge 1810 ft. into Dr. Mudd's field 3820 ft. to the southwest corner of Dr. Mudd's garden 3900 ft., south about 75 ft. beyond Dr. Mudd's residence 4300 ft. in Dr. Mudd's back lot, thence S 43 1/2 E. from Dr. Mudd's to the public road leading to Breaux Bridge 940  to Mentor Richard's lot 1050 into Crow Girard's land 1790 ft. to stake thence S 55 degrees W 70 ft. between the properties of Nickseron and D. A. Cochrane 840 ft. to Dowdell's property 864 ft., to stake, thence S 27 W 890 ft. to public road leading to J. A. Chargois 950 ft. to red oak (2 ft. in diameter) thence S 46 W, 1050 ft. to northeast corner round-house yard 1520 ft. to main line of Morgan Railroad 7820 to Mouton addition, thence 29 W 1413 ft. to Oak Lane 2650 to public road leading to Pin Hook thence N 49 W including Pin Hook road and following same 1900 ft. to a coulee in front of the residence of Mrs. M. E. Girard, thence S 54 to the southeast corner of her garden, thence S 76 W in Mrs. Girard's pasture 1000 ft., in Dr. Franklin Mouton's field, thence N 85 W 462 ft. an oak ( 2 ft. in diameter) south of Dr. F. Mouton's barn 500 ft. to a coulee, thence following said coulee to the bridge the original starting point N 1/2 586 ft.

 Territorial corporate limits of the Town of Lafayette. Beginning at a point on the coulee west of town at its intersection with the street running east and west in the Mills addition, between the lots twenty and twenty-three, in the plan made by John Campbell, United States surveyor, March 1856, and running east to the intersection of said street with Jefferson street to Mrs. Charles Mouton's line, and following that line to the western limits of A. Mouton's field, enclosure or ditch, and following that ditch south to its intersection with the line of Third street and its continuation to the coulee west of the Town, and following the middle of the said coulee to the point of beginning.

 To the qualified electors residing in and upon the lots or lands lying and being situated between the limits and boundaries aforesaid, the following proposition is submitted, to be voted on at said election.

 Whether they desire that the foregoing described lands shall be annexed to and included in the territorial corporate limits of the Town of Lafayette, so as to constitute a part thereof, and be subject to the jurisdiction, control, and authority of said Town, as fully and and to all intents and purposes as if the same had been originally included in the territorial corporate limits thereof as fixed by act of the Legislature of 1836, incorporating said Town.
Lafayette Advertiser 6/15/1895.


Improvements.
 Work on the First National Bank building, the hotel and the opera house is going forward rapidly. A large force of men is employed and that corner presents a lively appearance. The concrete walk on both sides of Moss & Co.'s store is about completed. There are now concrete walks finished from the Crescent News Hotel on both sides of the street to Moss's corner, and on Vermilion street, north side, from Morgan & Debaillon's to Dr. J. F. Mouton's office.
Lafayette Advertiser 6/22/1904.

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