St. Landry clarion., April 16, 1921, Image 1

About St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921

Image provided by: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

                
TiE ST. LANDRY CLARION
"Mere Shall the Press the People's Rights Maintain. Unawed by Influence and Unribed by Gain."
VOLUME XXXI-NO. 53. OPELOUSAS, LA., SATUR DAY, APRIL 16, 1921. TWO DOLLARS PER YEAR IN ADVANCE
PRESENT INDICATIONS
HIGHLY PROMISING AT
OPELOUSAS OIL WELL
Only Day Crew Now Work
ing in Order to Watch
Formation
BIT AT 2,000 FEET
MAY HIT ANY TIME
Bad Luck and Several
Breakages Delay Work
For Past Week
After experiencing a run of hard
luck which delayed the work for some
time drilling is again being carried on
at the Opelousas Oil company's well
and indications continue to be extre
msely favorable.
The troubles at the well began some
time ago with a swivel breaking and
after this was repaired difficulty was
experienhed in keeping up steam on
account of green fuel. This was ov
ercome by making arrangements to
burn oil instead of wood and a tem
porary supply of the oil was secured
from the compress, until the car
which had been ordered could reach
here.
Shortly after the fuel oil was se
cured the heavy rains of last week
started, inundating the pump and
making it impossible to get water to
the boiler. When the water receded
steam was again raised and when
work was begun a leak was discovered
in the boiler.
After attempting to make repairs
with an acefeylene welding outfit it
was found that it would be necessary
to secure the services of an expert
and a boiler maker was sent for from
Alexandria. In a very short time af
ter he reached here the boiler was
again in first class condition and
work was resumed. After another
short delay, caused by a plugged drill
everything is now in first class con
dition and work is being carried on
rapidly as possible.
Owing to the fact that the formation
is extremely promising and that it is
necessary to keep a close watch on
the different stratas in order that a
sand may not be passed up it was
decided this week to lay off the night
crew and confine the drilling entire
ly to the daylight hours. By doing
this and keeping a close watch on
the formation through which the bit
Ts passing there is no danger of run
ning through a pay sand.
When drilling was temporarily sus
pended the bit was down slightly ov
er 2,000 feet and the drillers report
ed that from the formation in which
they were working they might be ex
pected to pick up a pay sand at any
time. Since starting up again they
repeat this assertion and hope to find
the sand at any time.
The formation in which they have
been drilling for the last few hun
dred feet is very similar to that at
Anse la Butte and at other fields
where oil is found at approximately
this same depth. Predictions have
been freely made that within the next
three hundred feet the sand would
be found.
Mr. Dood, who is connected with the
real estate office of J. G. Lawler,
went to New Orleans last week and
opened temporary offices in the Mon
teleone hotel. Mr. Dodd is closely in
touch with New Orleans interests and
upon his return here this week re
ported a number of sales of acreage.
Interest is still great in New Orleans
and the oil exchange and other inter
eats there are keeping a close watch
on St. Landry development.
With good luck and fair weather the
drillers should make at least one hun
dred feet per week, even at this depth
and working only a day crew. There- I
fore, within two or three weeks more,
at the outside it is expected that the
oil will be found.
DANCE SUCCESS DESPITE
WEDNESDAY'S BIG RAIN
The dance at Barilleau's auditorium
Wednesday night was tairly well at
tended, despite the fact that the tre
mendous flood of rain late that after
noon threatened to keep everyone
away. Some thirty-odd couples were
on the floor and the dancing continu
ed Until about 2 o'clock in the morn
lu. Toot Johnson's famous jazz band
from Baton Rouge furnished music
for the occasion.
A 8' 'an, one of Palmetto's pros
PeroUusinessmen, was in Opelousas
Friday, and stated that desr°te the
tremendous flood of Wednesday the
roads were in very good at: pe be
tween his village and Opelo ass.
BIG TREE FALLS
AND BREAK WIRES
LARGE OAK AT CORNER OF UN
ION AND NORTH FALLS DURING
STORM LAST WEDNESDAY
During the terrific rainstorm last
Wednesday afternoon one of the giant
oak trees at the corner of Union and
North streets blew up by the roots,
the trunk and limbs hitting the elec
tric light and telephone wires and
knocking them to earth.
The electric light plant was imme
diftely notified of the tree's falling
and the danger from live wires and
current was shut off while the crew
of men straightened out the fallen wir
ing. The lights were of some time
while the repair work was going on
and business places and residences
had to fish up the tallow oandles, oil
lamps and gasoline lights to dispel
the gloom until the light plant got
under way again. The moving picture
show, which owns its own light plant,
was not affected by the shut-off of
power.
ST. LANDRY HORNET
ROMPS HARD ON THE
STATE'S BIG STICK
Takes Fling at Interests Op
posing Submission of
Constitution
CENTRAL FIGURE IN
THE GREAT TALKFEST
Tells Few '"Tales Out Of
School" Relative to
Convention Bill
Baton Rouge, April 13.-"Facing
defeat, the governor of Louisiana and
constitutional consveration, gave toe
others responsible for the call of the
people of Louisiana an implied pledge
that the constitution would be submit
ted to the people of this state for rati
fication."
Judge Gilbert Dupre of St. Landry
told the members of the committee on
schedule Tuesday afternoon when the
committee met to conduct a public
hearing on the Barret ordinance call
ing for a submission.
Judge Dupre is a member of the
state legislature from St. Landry and
his speech was of a sensational na
ture. He charged:
1st. "That the members of the
house were not given a fair deal by
Governor Parker, when the act con
taining the call for the convention
was passed:
2nd. "That the 'big stick' of the
,governor's office was freely used to
beat members into submission, when
the provision of the act for submit
ting the constitution to the people was
up for consideration and that the
same men who voted 'aye' one day
voted 'nay' the next in compliance
with the governor's orders:
3rd. "That when the convention
was in danger of defeat the gover
nor's friends, to stave off this defeat
gave the people to understand that
the constitution would be sulimitted."
Hall Crowded
The meeting of the committee on
schedule was held in the hall of the
house of representatives and al
though a bare quorum of the commit
tee was present, many spectators
were on hand for the debate. Sena
tor G. G. Clinton, chairman of. the
committee, had to shift the hearing
from the treasurer's office to the
house to accommodate the crowd. Oth
er speakers were T. C. Barret, Form
er Governor Pleasant, Phanor Brea
zeale, Judge P. S. Pugh, E. M. Staf
ford.
Another hearing before the commit
tee has been arranged for Wednesday
afternoon at 4 p. m. in the house to
give other speakers a chance to be
heard.
"II there is one thing I pride my
self ion, Mr. Chairman," said Judge
Dupre, "it is my memory on facts. A
fact is something I never forget. You
know I' am a member of the legisla
ture and I remember the fact about
the l psage of the act alting this
conveition.
,"I ,m here to tell you that the
memb':rs of the 'Msore old, n.t get a
fair deal wben'i is act was passed.
We received a solar plexus blow from
(Continued en page 4)
BALL PARK TO BE
SITE FOR THE NEW
CITY HIGH SCHOOL
After Long Consideration
Committee Makes Its
Decision
BUYS FINE LOCATION
AT A NOMINAL PRICE
Mrs. Comeau Sells Property
of 17 Acres For
About $8,000
Hon. J. M. Sanders of Opelousas,
who has been a very active factor in
the locating of the new school, was
one of the few, if not the only, citi
zen to appear before the committee -it
the Monday meeting when that body
finally made its decision as to loca
tion.
Mr. Sanders mixes real estate deal
ing along with his other line of busi
ness and had offered several pieces
of property to the committee, but af
ter the members of the committee had
decided that the Comeau property was
the best buy at the price, he "took off
his hat" to the body and compliment
ed the members on their decision.
He is an ardent supporter of the
idea of establishing an agricultural
department in connection with the
new school and recognizes that the
site selected is ideal for that pur
pose, for ,there is some seventeen and
one-half acres which will permit of
the school having a small-sized farm
for experimental purposes and for the
training of the pupils in the art of
farming, for, after all, it is an art of
of the most vital sort He would
rather have lost his commission from
the sale of any piece of property
which he had in hand than to .iave
seen the new educational institution
located on a site which would not
have permitted the establishment of
the agricultural department.
The new city high school will be
located in the south end of town, ac
cording -to the debisicn of the build
ing committee at its meeting last
Monday. A large number of sites
were offered at various prices but
the one offered by Mrs. C. H. Comeau
and the price at which it was offered
proved winning cards with the com
mittee.
As a result of the action of the
committee, the splendid site of about
seventeen acres, known as the "ball
.park" and facing Market and Jeffer
son streets, was transferred by that
lady to the school board for the, sum
of about eight thousand dollars. This
was considerably cheaper than the
prices of smaller sites offered the
committee in other parts of the city.
The property acquired can not be.
duplicated at the same figure and the
committee is to be congratulated on
its wisdom in accepting the proposi
tion of Mrs. Comeau, who undoubtedly
concluded to sell her valuable prop
ertp to the city for such a low sum in
order to further the cause of educa
tion.
While this will place both city
schools in the south half of town,
still no other action was feasible, and
as it is the intention of the school
authorities to build up the school sys
tem of Opelousas to the ward unit.
the location of the new school is in
keeping with the intention for now
both the third and fourth wards will
be provided for and the other two
wards can be provided for in the fu
ture when conditions warrant the vot
ing of more taxes for the construc
tion of one or two more schools.
The bonds voted by the people of
the Opelousas school district last
summer were sold at the last meet
ing of the parish school board and
the funds thus derived will soon be
available for the construction of the
new building, plans for which have
already been prepared by the archi
tects. The school board will meet
again shortly and it is thought that
the matter of advertising for bids
for the erection of the building will
be ordered, and as material and labor
is plentiful and the prices for both
have dropped consideraby in the last
few months no difficulties will be ex
perienced in putting up the structure
within the shortest possible time and
within the range of the proceeds of
the bond issue.
According to a statement made
some time ago by Superintendent
Prescott, the new school will be a
much finer building than the pres
ent one and will have an exterior and
interior surpassing the looks of the
old one. Every future need of teach
ers and pupils will be provided for
and during inclment weather the lat
ter will have an indoor playgrounds
which, if the attendance later war
rants, can be converted Into teaching
rooms. The size of the location will
also provide ample out door play
grounds*and there will be no conges
RED CROSS CHAPTER MEET
SELECTS NEW OFFICIALS
At a meeting of the newly elected
executive committee of the Red Cross
chapter, held in the federal building
last Saturday, Dr. A. J. Perrault was
chosen chairman ,and W. Alex Robert
son secretary and Dr. John A. Haas
treasurer to serve for the ensuing
term. Other committees to serve
the clhapter will be' appointed by
Chairman Perrault at the next meet
ing of the executive committee,
which will be held today at the fed
eral building.
SMALL TWISTER
NEAR OPELOUSAS
CYCLONE STRIKES FARM PROPER
TY OF THOMAS THIBODEAUX
CLOSE TO LEWISBURG
Cyclones are a rarity in this part
of the country, but once in a while
one passes through and leaves it
mark. This is the season when the
!twi*ters like to play their deadly
pranks, and those wise to weather
conditions generally keep their eyes
open for the funnel-shaped clouds that
bring death and destruction.
Wednesday afternoon a small
twister struck in the neighborhood of
Lewisburg, near the AcadiaiSt. Lan
dry parish line. The syrup mill of
Thomas Thibodeaux, prosperous far
mer, was razed and one horse and one
mule killed by flying timbers. The
palatial residence of Mr. Thibodeaux
however, escaped damage by almost
a miracle. He heard the cyclone com
ing through the woods that border
Bayou Plaquemine, just in the rear
'of his farm. His entire family was
in the house when the big blow came.
MAY CONSTRUCT
MODERN BRIDGES
SOME OF WASHED-OUT PASS
WAYS CERTAIN TO BE REPLAC
ED BY PERMANENT ONES
The board of aldermen are seriously
considering the construction of 'con
crete bridges over the waterways at
several street crossings in this city
to replace the ones washed away dur
ing the recent cloudburst. In fact, it
is understood that the bridge over the
Rawls gully on East Landry street will
be replaced by a concrete bridge at a
very early date. Whether these
bridges will be built by funds from the
bonds issue is not known, but un
doubtedly the use of the funds for that
purpose comes within the scope of
the bond issue as it covers not only
the electric light system but paving
and drainage besides.
The ocnstruction of permanent
bridges, according to many, will piove
economical in the long run, for wood
en bridges ,are not only expensive but
last but a brief time at best and have
to be replaced every few years: Be
sides, there is always danger of their
being washed away whenever a big
flood strikes the city, like that of
last week, which washed away sevenal
wooden bridges and made one or two
others dangerous for crossing.
Revival Growing. in Interest
Considerable interest is being
shown in the meeting at the Baptist
church where Pastor Pevoto is doing
the preaching and Mr. E. R. Denny of
New Orleans is ledaing the singing.
Great emphasis is being put on con
gregational singing. Mr. Denny sings
a solo at each service which is al
ways a heart-searching message in
song, and is greatly enjoyed by all.
The capacity of the church build
ing is taxed at every service and the
crowds continue to grow. The gospel
is being preached with deep earnest
ness and to good effect. Several have
been saved and some have joined the
Baptist church already.
The meeting will continue through
out next week with services at 10 a.
M., and 7:30 p. m. ,and cottage pray
er meeting each afternoon at 3:30
o'clock. The people-all the people
of Opel'ousas and vicinity are invited
to every service.
R. E. Smith of Morrow was in Ope
lousas Thursday and gave the Clarion
a call and entered his name on the
subscription list. Mr. Smith stated
that the big rain of Wednesday hit
the fourth ward a heavy blow. It was
a veritable gully-washer in the neigh
bor hood of Morrow and every stream
was booming with water.
tion on account of shortage of space.
The probable time of the buliding's
completion can not now be conjectur
ed, but it will hardly be ready for oc
cupancy by the opening of the next
session, but may be ready some time
during that period.
ACTION OF OCTOPUS
IN RECENT ACTION
THOUGHT UNWISE
Telephone Company Se
cures Injunction Against
Opelousas Mayor
MUST NOT INTERFERE
WITH SERVICE RATE
Advising Citizens Not to Pay
Bill Brings Instant
Response
Following the adoption of a resolu
tion by the Opelousas board of alder
men, advising the citizens of Opelou
sas to refrain from paying their tele
phone bills with the increase of
rates, the Cumberland company Sat
urday secured an injunction from the
federal court for the eastern district
of Louisiana, holding sessions in New
Orleans, restraining Moyor E. L. Loeb
from complying with the resolution of
the aldermanic board. The injunction
is made returnable by Judge Foster
at New Orleans next Monday. Simi
lar injunctions were sought against
the mayors of Lake Charles, Alexan
dria and other places, but was only
granted in the case against Opelousas
and New Orleans.
LocajpVeople have been speculating
why the telephone octopus should go
without the federal district in which
many of the towns named are locat
ed in which to secure such a restrain
ing order. The cities named, with the
single exception of New Orleans, are
all located in the western district of
the state, Judge Jack being the judge
of the court.
This presents quite an unusual turn
in the telephone situation, according
to the opinion of many who have been
watching developments in the hari
fought affair. Some of the more radi
cal thinking people are of the opinion
that the injunction won't hold water
in view of the fact that it is appar
ently a slap at free speech. The tele
phone monop3ly had as well sceure an
injunction restraining any private per
son from advising his friend or rela
tive from paying the higher phone
rate, for the securing of an injunction
against the indiv'dual would be just
as appropriate as securing it against
the mayor or board of aldermen of
this city or any town in the state.
Many citizens class the action of the
telephone company in the recent in
stance as a high-handed outrage, es
pecially in the case of Opelousas,
where theJ entered into a contract
with this city fixing the rates for
telephone use for twenty-five years
and which time does not expire under
'the franchise for some four years yet
to come. 'TJe indignant citizens claim
the city would be justifiable in going
to any extreme in having the contract
canoelled because of the company
having violated it and ordering the
company to take down and dismantle
its plant in this city at once. Such
a procedure would require legal action
and whether the authorities contem
plate going to such an extreme is not
presently known.
In the mean time, while Opelousas,
figuratively speaking, is floundering
under the weight of an injunction, the
committee appointed at the recent
Alexandria meeting is keeping right
on the job. It met at Baton Rouge
Wednesday and agreed that some six
ty-six thousand dollars would be rais
ed in the state for the purpose of pros
ecuting the fight against the mon
opoly. Every interest affected by the
higher rate is getting busy to dig in
to the telephone company's record's
through the medium of an expert ac
countant and fish out such facts and
figures that will be convincing argu
ment to present to the railroad com
mission justifying that body to rescind
its recent order granting the monopoly
the right to mulch twenty per cent
more from sits patrons throughout the
entire state-though, in the case of
Opelousas, it is grabbing twenty-five
per cent!
While all these moves and counter
moves are going on, many local sub
-scribers---f one is to judge by street
talk- are refusing to pay their bills
with the added extortion. Those who,
under the stress of necessity, are pay
ing expect to get a refund should the
commission back-track and order the
company to re-establish the old rate
and refund the twenty per cent .col
lected. One local subscriber stated
the first of the week that he had ten
dered his check under the old rate and
when acceptance was refused he simp
ly attached the check to the bill of
the company, "rendered for service In
advance," and will keeep it as a re
cord in case of a legal tangle.
If all the paths of profiteering led
to the pen, there'd be less profiteer
ing.
DUMARTRAIT'S RESTAURANT
OPENED DOORS TUESDAY
The new restaurant of Mr. Damar
trait, located in the Moriarty build.
ing on Bellevue street, opeAed its
doors for business Tuesday morning
Everything in the building is new and
the proprietor will cater to eating
public in the best possible manner.
He has secured competent help and
frst class cooks and will leave noth
ing undone that will please the cpub
lic. Tuesday's business was satisfac
tory and a continuation of the gener
ous patronage is fully expected. Miss
Annie Hidalgo is the day cashier.
JURY TERM COURT
TO CONVENE IN MAY
-COMMISSION DRAWS VENIRE FOR
TWO WEEKS TERM-CRIMINAL
CASES TO COME UP
Elsewhere in this isne of the Clar
ion appears the official list of jurors
to serve for a two weeks-term of the
district court, which will start on
Monday, May 9, for the trial of cri
minal cases.
This will be the first criminal term
of the district court held since last
fall. It 4s expected that the case of
the State vs. J. M. Surrency will be
called up again. Surency, who was
convicted last fall, on appeal to the
supreme court, was accorded a new
trial by that tribunal some time ago.
SECOND BIG RAIN,
WITH SLIGHT HAIL
VISITS OPELOUSAS
Wednesday Downpour Was
Another Veritable Cloud
Burst
ALL STREAMS WERF
OUT OF THEIR PANKS
Damage to Crbp Great and
Replanting of Cotton is
Betarded
The second big flood within a week
visited Opelousas and this section of
the country late Wednesday after
noon. Rain fell in blinding sheets for
more than an hour, the precipitation
being enormous in such a short time
Hail dame with the flood of water but
little or no damage to growing crops.
All drainage ditches and even the
streams were out of the banks as a
result of the tremendous downpour
and weakly anchored bridges went
with the tide that rushed down
streams, roads and streets. The light
foot bridges on the paved streets' were
washed away for the second time and
had to be replaced Thursday morning
by the city street force.
It is stated that the water along
the Southern Pacific tracks in the
western part of the ,city almost reach
ed the rails in some places, due to the
overflow rushing down from the sur
rounding high ground, just west of
the oil mill. All low places were in
undated, in some spots more than
knee deep, and automobiles experi
enced much difficulty in going through
the flood waters, while persons who
were caught away from home and had
to walk were forced to wade through
the miniature rivers that the streets
were converted into by the flood.
Farm operations, that had just be
gun after the heavy flood of last week
are again at a standstill, and the re
planting of almost the entlre cotton
crop is seriously interfered with as
a result of the Wednesday cloudburst.
Farmers who are short of planting
seed are rushing about seeking to se
cure a supply in order to be prepared
for the replanting work' as soon as
the soil is ready for prep gation. All
farm lands that were in fine condition
Are now thoroughly packed by the
beating rain and will have to undergo
another preparation before the plant
ing machines can be started.
LOCAL BANKER INTERESTED
IN COOPER'S WELL HOTEL
Robert Chachere,, president of the
Planters Bank and Trust Company it
this city, was recently chosen as a
member of the board of directors of
the Cooper's Hotel company oftnear
Raymond, Miss. Major Stewart, form
erly cf Opelousas, is to be the man
ager of the hotel at this famous
Ihealth resort and his connection with
it assures it being a great success
the next and following seasons.
-Mrs. H. B. Smith of Opelousas de
parted this week for Birmingham, Ala
bama, where she joined Mr. Smith
who is a delegate to the Southeasrtern
Baker's association convention which
was held in that city this week.
ROAD AND DRAIN
WORK UNDER WAY
IN TWO SECTIONS
Coulee Crocle District Pro
position is Getting Close
Attention
STEP IN ADVANCE IN
PROSPEROUS COUNTRY
Placing Gravel on Port Bar
re-Krotz Springs High
way Now
Just a short while ago the people
of Coulee Croche voted a bond issue
to put into effect a modern syoteta
of gravity drainage in that splendll
section of St. Landry. Despite the
fact that there is a general depressio.
in business and agriculture and there
is a great howl about high taxes atu
the scarity of money, the property
owners of Coulee Croche did not heel
tate to further the cause of better agr
ioulture by voting to tax themselves
in order to construct a modern sys
tem of drainage for their lands.
They realized that the productihe
ness of the farm lands would be =
terially increased by making ptori
sions for the disposal of the surplus
water every rainfall, and the extra
production would more than meet the
additional taxes self-imposed. There
fore, the majority in favor of the PM-_
position was overwhelming, and it r.
quired little argument to show."s
citizens of that neighborhood t IAbe~
fits to be derived by bettiY draiana4
and once the argumevn Vent home aa
other champion fr modern methods
was marshalled around the standaer
of twentieth century agriculture, and
on electi~ day the opposition to the
schemr was so small as to amount to
but -ttle in the general results.
No time will be lost in getting the
important work under way, and it Is
stated that the preliminaries have al-'
ready started in the matter of esai
veys of the territory to be served bpyc
the system to be created out of the
funds of the bond issue in the 1S
trict.
The people residing in thbe Pot
BIarre road district are forging ahem
with the construction of the m~gdaip
highw'ay down the north bamnk a Bf y
Iou Courtableau, which will connmet
with the road running to Krots
'Springs where this latter road starts
at the bayou -orossing of the rallrnadL
The road from the bayou crossing ti.
Krotz Springs parallels the railD 1,
to the village on the Atchafalaya rt~
er and has 'been under constraotioa
for some time, numerous delays bha-'.
Ing been experieneced because at
high water that flooded the lanL
Practically the entire right-of-way .adi
to be cleared before any moving of
dirt could be commenced, and muckh.
If this latter was a laborious unde'
taking because of the nature of nt,
soil and the natural obstruction to th:
use of teams and scrapers.
The two highways will be hard-aM
efaced with gravel until the mone.
gives out, and if the funds available
will cover the entire work, in ham
the ent!re road will be gravelled from
Port Barre to Col. K:otz's village ea
the big river. This will be anot.er
link in the St. Landry system of mod
ern highways, and perhaps will evqqt.
ually be extended .through, on the
Pointe Coupee side of the river, to
connect with the Jefferson highway
at Livonia, thus affording travele.s
another route through to Now Orlea~a
and Baton Rouge.
BREAKS OUT OF JAIL
BUT QUICKLY CAUGHT
Thursday at noon there wais quite'
a bit of excitement around cosrt
square. A number of people were
peering in the square north of the
court house as if something unusual
was transpiring. Inqiury elicited the
information that a young negro boy
had escaped from jail. Guarts were
posted on all four sides of the squate
in question and after a busy search
lasting a half hour Jailer Doucet eap
tured the culprit and escorted him
back to the parish lock-up. The cal
prit in question was a negro boy
about fifteen or less who broke, inte
Lassalle's store on Landry street some
time ago. This is the second time the
youngster has gotten out of the bas
tile and the jailer will now keep him
safely under lock and key.
Young Campbell Injured.
"Buster," young son of .tr. asn
Mrs. A. S. J. Campbell, was badly in
jured last Saturday by the saw at t04
Main street. The boy's clothes were
woodyard of Mr. Powers on North
caught in the machinery and he was
pulled into the saw teeth, resulting
in one hand and one leg being badly
lacerated. Prompt attention was real
ered the injured youth.