Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-05-31

main river are some sugar plantations late
ly established by Americans, which thrive
very much. Cotton is also made here
but at a small distance from the sea begins
what is called the prairie land-vast natu-
raj meadows, destitute of trees, except a
long the water courses. The plantations
here are few, on account OF the scarcity OF
timber, and the people employ them
selves in raising cattle, A numberof far
mers count their cattle by the thousand.
The cattle are left to shift for themselves
during the whole year; marking the calves
and counting the animals which are in
tended for immediate sale, being all the
trouble the farmer takes. Land sells here
from 60 to 25 dollars tie Apen-very lit
tie less than the acre. Upon the water
courses, where the land is fit for sugar, the
land sells at times for double that price.
Above the Attakapas, is the county of
0pelousas, the lands Of which are much
the same, except that the quantity fit for
sugar is extremely inconsideratle. Still
higherup is the county of Rapids, chiefly
inhabited by Americans. There are here
some extremely rich tracts OF land-cot-
ton only is planted. Good land sells from
IS to 90 dollars the acre. To the north
are the counties of Washeta - and
Concordia. The population of these is
chiefly American.-These counties, be-
fore the cession, were inhabited by hum
tiers. In these, as in the county OF Rapids,
there is a quantity of piney, sandy land,
which the neighborhood of richer land
prevents from being cultivated. The cot
ton lands of Red River are supposed to
be the best cotton land in the United
States. In Wesheta - and Concor.
dia, large tracts are fit for the cultivation
of wheat, tobacco, and Indian corn The
United States have great deal of land to
sell here, and there are individuals who
own immense tracts. This is the part Of
the state in which the cheapest lands are.
To the west is the county Of Natchitoches,
bordering on the Spanish province OF Tex
as. In il cotton and tobacco are cultivated
to great advantage. 1t is intersected by
numerous water courses. along which are
very rich tracts of land. Cattle are also
raised here in abundance Point Couple
and Aveyille, two counties on each side
of Red River, are entire y occupied by
French families, who raise cotton. Of
late sugar plantation has been set up at
Point Couple it is the most northelnwest
in the state, and thrives well. Land sells
at Point Couple at ! 900 to 1000 dollars
the front arpent or acre, with the usual
depth Of forty but the cultyatable land
is here also very narrow strip.
On the eastern bank Of the Mississippi,
Immediately below the boundary OF the
new stale of Mississippi is the county OF
Felicinia, taken from the Spaniards in the
year 1910. The upper part, extending as
far as the bayou nanchac or Ibervlle, is
VIVA, is called rolling land, very fit Tor the
cultivation Of cotton, but the soil is not
deep, AMI washes, or wears away in few
years. The population is almost eXclu-
sively American. Land sells from ten to
twenty dollars. AT a distance from the
Mississippi, begins a body Of piny land
which is not at all sought after. The country
around the lakes Maurepas and Ponchar-
train before the Americans took possession
fit, was thinly inhabited. The people
on the sea shore drew from it large quanti-
ties of shells, which they burnt into lime
having hut few slaves they dill little else, ex-
cept raising cotton and burning tar. The
land is sandy, piney, except along the wa
ter courses. Here the Americans have
established cotton and grazing farms. The
land "a greet proportion of which is public
land) IS obtained on easy terms, and at va
rious prices. from two to twenty dollars per
acre. There are immense tracts of it in
the possession of individuals who obtained
them from the Spanish government when
ii was about expiring they would gladly
sell at twenty FIVE cents per acre, but their
title is a doubtful one. Throughout the
whole state, land is obtained with great ia
cility. As to the mode of payment, long
credit is given. This is owing in part to
the productiveness, and the certainty there
is that a man who has force 10 cultivate