The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-02-18
The Op.lousas Railroad.

We invited the attention Of our readers on Satu
day to communication from Opelousas, in refe
ence to projected railroad from that place TO Pon
Coup6s, on the Mississippi From causes al
parent to any one who visits the Attakapas an
OPeiousas country, it is but little known
the rest Of the State. Our people, while journe,
ing to the North, or crossing the lake in quest ,
health, and to escape the scorching influence ,
summer suns, have never been aware that, stretch
Ing from the overlooked lands of the Mississippi I
| the Sabine, and from the Gulf Of Mexico to tn
high lands south Of Red River, lies country un
surpassed for salubrity of climate excellence q
water, fertility Of soil, and all that can charm tn
lover Of rural sports, by any portion Of the Unte'
States But 30 difficult is it Of access, that an in
vading army, supplied with the best maps pub
lished, might, without guide, spend whole cam
pagn in frutless endeavors to thread the labyrinth
Of bayous that intervene. Franklin, near the
mouth Of the Teche, is but little more than one
hundred miles from us, in straight line. Bu
few are aware that the products Of the rich parishes
OF st. Mary and St. Martin, now wind course oil
more than four hundred and fifty miles to seek a
market in this city.
The lands naturally subject to overflow, extend
westward from the Mississippi about thirty miles,
to the elevated plateau upon which Opelousas is
situated, and which extends to the Sabine Skirt
ing the Eastern base of this plateau, comes first
the bayou Lamourie, from Red River, twelve miles
below Alexandra. This stream communicates
with bayou Buuf, which emptes itself into the
Cortableau, eight miles from Opelousas. A few
miles below, the noble Teche displays ITSELF and
after winding course of perhaps two hundred miles
through the garden spot Of Louisiana, empties into
the Gull some twenty-five miles below Franklin.
These streams are all navigable, with the excep-
ton Of perhaps some ten miles on the upper
Teche. A few thousand dollars applied to the
removal of distractions at that point would insure
a continuous navigation by steamboats, of medium
size eight months in the year from the Gulf to
Red River
Westward of Opelousas, extend the vast praires
OF which we have heard so much, but to the
beauty Of which no description can do justice
There, may be seen amidst perpetual verdure,
cattle in herds Of thousands grazing in undsturbed
security with the deer; birds of all the varied
plumage of the tropics, and game that would
tempt the palate Of an anchorte. The crystal
streams, descending from the pine hills on the
north, abound with the choicest specimens Of the
unfrequently spend weeks of summer in an en-
campment on the head waters of the Calcasieu.
The number Of cattle running wild, and known
only by the :" brands" Of their respective owners,
has been variously estimated at from four to six
hundred thousand. Certain it is that several fami-
lies own from ten to forty-fve thousand head, and
brand as high as four thousand calves a year !!
There, young ladys charms are not estimated, as
on Red River, by the number of bales of cotton,
but by the number of calpes she brands! But we
have said enough by way Of description. We are
aware Of our inability to do justice to the subject
but If our remarks shall excite curiosity in our
people to visit that charming country in the spring,
zoe shall be amply satisfied, and so, too will they
Now, strange as it may seem, this great country
with allits varied productions, is debarred great
portion Of the year, land not the least important
parD of all access to market. During many
months its thousands of inhabitants having bust
less in this city, are dependant upon the canoes
hat wend their tortuous course among the lakes and
'ayous. An effort is being made at last, by men
u entire responsibility, to construct railroad
which shall connect Eastern and Western LOUISE
ma Nature has been lavish of her favors, that
lr has but little to accomplish. The route requires
not particle of grading, except, perhaps, to con-
neot the two only levels--,be ono ro,r 1,n.Io,.,.
about six miles in length. and the other from ,hs
Cortnbleau to Pointe Coupse. of psrhan. twenty.
five miles The best of cvpress is found througb.
M, A., 49,. ii H.. r..;I ~,
property. The Atcbafalav. abon, ono hrnd,.d
vards wide is the only stream to be crossed Of anv
Importance.
Such a road would also bring us in close prorim.
ty to the vast timbered lands of opelousas, not
urpassed, if equalled, by anv in the Union. The
raveller in passing through those gigantic nine
rests, is often reminded that the same breeze
,hich waited Columbus acros. the Atlantic