Edited and annotated by Brian J. Costello
The following article appeared in the Pointe Coupée Banner, April 10, 1909
The Naples of Louisiana
New Roads, the most Ideally Situated Town in the United States – Something About its Increasing Industries – Its Possibilities Great.
The writer, while stopping at a hotel in the upper section of the parish one afternoon, had the pleasure of hearing a traveling man say: “I have travelled all over the United States, and I have seen some magnificent towns, but the most ideally located is right here in this parish. To-day I saw the prettiest sight I have ever seen, the little town of New Roads.”
This is true; New Roads, one of the oldest in point of existence, and one of the youngest in point of development, to-day stands as a monument to energy and push. Each morning the visitor has but to look east, and he is greeted with the brilliant face of the sun as it peeps over the willow tops at the dyke, and in the afternoon to the west this faithful servant of nature bids him “good night.” At his feet, kissing the banks, ripple the soft green waves of one of the most beautiful streams in the world. In the afternoon as the shades gather, the sweet trill of the mocking bird falls on the soft breeze, singing to man-kind, nature’s lullaby. And so day passes into night, and that night is a dream for the poets. Slowly the silvery moon ascends the heights of space as it pauses for a moment as if in gladsome recognition of the handiwork of the Great Being, its bathes the waters with a silvery cloak. The great shadows cast by the high banks lend a charming frame to this picture of grandeur. It is a sight never to be forgotten.
False River abounds with perch, sacalait, catfish, bearfish [sic], black bass and numerous other species. It is such a place would have caused Isaac Walton to have spent his life on its banks. It is the delight of the boatman, and numerous skiff and motor boats cleave its waters. New Roads is a place deserving of the name of a summer resort, and in time to come it will rank with the summer resorts of the country.
The town has a population of three thousand [sic; town and surrounding area intended], and this population is daily increasing. There is a great demand for homes, and those engaged in building houses for rent have difficulty in obtaining tenants. In the last four years wonderful strides have been made in the way of municipal development. Monroe’s proudest boat is that it is a municipal ownership town, the only things that it does not own is [is’ the railroads, telegraph and telephone lines. Though young compared to our big sister of North Louisiana, still New Roads can make the same boast; all of the public utilities belong to the corporation, and everything has been inaugurated through a system of taxes. The recently completed electric plant is one of the finest in the state, and a credit to the administration of Mayor [Lamartine] Bouanchaud and the councilmen of New Roads. A splendid water works system has been the means of saving thousands of dollars worth of property. Our Volunteer Fire Department is one of the most efficient, and its standard of efficiency is being constantly increased. There is one thing which New Roads had done in this respect, and which possibly no other town in the stated has done, and this is to equip its own Department from the funds the town. In most towns throughout Louisiana, the companies are equipped by private subscription, but not here in New Roads. As fast as Mayor Bouanchaud discovers a need, it is promptly supplied by the town at its own expense. Mayor Bouanchaud takes great pride and interest in the Department and it is due to his efforts that New Roads is well protected as it is to-day. The old council as well as the new have and are ably seconding the effort of the Mayor in advancing the interests of the town
The New Roads [Cotton] Oil Mill and Mfg. Co. is one of the leading manufacturing enterprises of the town. Annually it employs a small army of men, and its pay roll being large, places a handsome amount of money in circulation. The manager, H.A. Fitzhugh, is one of the most experienced oil men in the South, and under his able supervision the stockholders of the company receive handsome dividends.
The recently erected Moss Ginnery of Mr. Sim Parent is one of the best equipped to be found, and it has a capacity of several millions of pounds of moss a year. It is equipped with a modern curing plant, has large warehouses, splendid shipping facilities, and has opened up a new line of revenue for the people of the parish.
The New Roads Brick Yard ranks with the best in the state, having a large producing capacity and its finished product comparing with the best. This enterprise has a splendid trade throughout this and adjoining parishes.
The Ice Plant has been a source of great convenience to the people of Pointe Coupee, and though it has been temporarily closed, it is though that steps will be taken to have it resume operations.
There is one foot a move to erect a large sugar refinery and a molasses canning factory at this place. Some of our most prominent business men are back of the move, and they home in a short while to bring their plans to a realization.
In future issues, we intend giving write ups of all of the home institutions.
Editor’s Note: Despite the bright future envisioned for New Roads in the above article of 1909, the town and Pointe Coupée Parish as a whole suffered a number of setbacks shortly thereafter, including a severe hurricane in the autumn of 1909; an early freeze which struck the sugar cane crop in October of 1910; the devastating and deadly flood of 1912; a damaging hurricane in 1915; and the influenza pandemic of 1918-1919. The year 1919 also brought improvements, however, in the graveling of the city’s streets and paving of the sidewalks, though the walks on New Roads Street and Pennsylvania Avenue were laid in brick.
End