The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-06-17

section of the State usually denomlnated north
Louisiana, is little known abroad, and rarely
thought OF at home The citizen, however. who
has the prosperity of the commonwealth at
heart. cannot fail to observe, with feelings OF
pride and qualification, an energy and enter
prise, and progress in that quarter, whlchls des-
tined to exert powerful influence upon our
social, industrial and political condition.
The tide of emigration into north west Lou
isiana is constant, and the increase IN the pro-
ductive power of that region is remarkable
Not only are the lands, from their fertility and
the ease with which they are brought into cnl-
ivation, attractive to the settler, but the Gil
mate is the best possible for cotton culture and
favorable to the health OF immigrants Be
fore any project Of internal improvement had
been anticipated in that quarter, and when ac-
cess to the fertile wilds that awaited the enter
prise of the husbandmen, was only tollsome
land Journey; or dependent upon the uncer-
tain navigation of Red River, from other States
through Vicksburg and Natchez, constant ac-
cessions were made to the resident population
and new plantations were opened throughout
the whole region bordering upon Arkansas
and Texas.
The proposition to build a railroad from
Y wv 49, 49,
Lone Star State, was not one of those visionary
schemes, the result of rash speculation, nor
the offspring of design to work for a coming
generation, but it was dictated by the wants OF
one of the most important sections Of the State,
and it has been conducted with zeal, conf
dence and success, that could have only result
ed from the possession of wealth and the deter
mination to overcome the obstacles of nature
by the actual land holders Of the country.
This undertaking has attracted some atten-
ton, not only in the State of Louisiana, but
even abroad to this promising district, and has
given a new impetus to the settlement of the
country and new importance to the entire Red
River district. It is said that little land isnow
unoccupied along the whole proposed route of
the Vicksburg, Shreveport and Texas railroad,
and that its value has been enhanced to de-
gree that has actually astonished those who
settled in this region, when the wilderness was
nearly unbroken. This road alone will soon
make north Louisiana the most populous di
vision of the State. and enable her to exert an
that is actually irresistible upon the
policy and politics Of the commonwealth.
The development of coal upon the Ouachlta
in abundance sufficient to supply local wants,
and contribute to the necessities of New Or
leans and even its foreign commerce, will add
another element of prosperity to that region of
the State. Already, there is a movement in
favor ofmanufacturing in these parishes which
is likely to prove successful. Education is re-
ceiving more than ordinary attention and the
public schools are more successful than any
where else out of the city of New Orleans.
The difficulty of communicating at all times |
+l,, |, he rl,a1
upon the prospects of this section of country.
Crops have laid over sometimes, for more than
two years in the gins and warehouses Of the |
planters. on account Of the low stage of water
in navigable streams, and the city merchant
has found it not always convenient on this ac-
count, to supply their necessities But this will
speedily vanish as the important work of local
Improvement progresses towards completion,
and the mercantile connection with this region
must then become the most desirable.
The construction of the Southern Pacific rail
.oad, is ALSO certain to pour its first harvest of
benefits into the lap of north Louisiana, making
t for time the great highway Of immigra
ion westward, the rich debris of which will be
scattered over its whole territory. We know
If no section Of the State more prosperous, or
more promising. And there is none which has
stronger demands upon the Legislature for wise
md healthy egislation-none whose wishes
should be more rewarded by politicians and
political conventions
Yet, north Louisiana has been measurably
overlooked in all political movements Its
aims have been as it were, studiously neg
ected Creole.
SOUTHERN MACHINERY DEpor.-We yester-
lay took look through the establishment of
DR.. D. G. Lowber, No. 90 Magazine street,
Ne found it to be quite museum Of inven- F.
ions in the machinery line-machnes such as
anters and others in this section of the coun-
ry must have, if they would prosper we'll in
heir business.
With characteristic enterprise, Mr. Lowber :
as fitted up furnace and engine in the rear
f the building, with running gear, by which he
an put the different machines in operation and
ct the visitor form complete judgment of
whatever he may wish to buy. The idea is a
ood one, and renders visit to the establish
1ent more than ordinary interesting.
The engine used in propelling the other ma
hlnesis one of the portable kind, occupying
mall space, and adapted to running all sorts
f plantation machinery. Mr.. Lowber is the
~ii' AS4 tttia otii SiAe,
wo and half to fifteen horse power.
One of the machines propelled in our pres
nee was the Palmer pump. 1t lifts twelve
set, and discharges from 700 to 100 gallons .
er minute, according to its size. 1t is nvalu-
BILE for draining, and rapidly supplying water .
! large quantities. g..
Another machine we saw in operation was
ew cotton gin, quite different from, and ap-
arenty greatly superior to, those ordinarily
sed. Instead of a cylinder of saws, which
ecessarily cuts the staple to some extent, there
card roller covered with round pointed
IRE teeth, which, whilstit gins the cotton com
lctely, cannot cut it. We were shown let
II from cotton factor, ii which he stated that
had sold a lot of fifty bales of cotton, Gin
ed by the new machine, at two cents more on r
'e pound than the same cotton would have ,
rought if gnned by the old process. t
Among othermachines we noticed corn and :
curing mills; corn and coffee crushers; port E
Die circular saw mills; single and lath saw !
g machines; and pumps of different kinds.
Planters will find it worth while to visit Mr.. !
owber's establishment. They will there not q
lily see great variety Of machines indispen- 8
bile on plantation, but they can see them in
t,% L. :