The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-08-06
e. IRON TIE INDEPENDENT PRESS I
Sketches of Louisiana and Mississippi

7 Dear Lee.-We have explored good deal of
country in 1."nisinnn during the present grow
ing crops, and thinking that it might be of
some benefit to at lenst n few Of your subscr-
bcrs, who in the future may w ish to look out
new country, we will attempt short descrip
tion of it.
Vim Parish claimed the most Of our ntten-
ton it lcs east Of Nnchi,oches, on Red River,
between Red river and Little river, aud con-
tains ,056 square miles. Th. greater portion
Of the land reinai MS vacant, but is fnst settling
up. The principal part of the upland is cover
ed entirely withipipe timber, which is general
" very fine. This ''piny wood" soil is not at
all to be compared to that in Eastern coun-
tries 1t is Of sandy nature, but is as fine
md lively as tfe low lands, aud produces 500
to 1000 pounds Of cotton. Tho low grounds,
on the creeks aud bayous, form q considerable
portion Of the country the soil is al;uvial,
aud is almost 80 fit that if you tickle it with
a straw. it laughs with harvest" This low
ground, with fair Seasons, produces Fl ON 1900
to 5000 pounds of cotton per acre. This sec
tl"n is r:'ore adapted to the cultivation of ~
ton thnn grain ; rs bushels of corn per acre is
good average crop on uPlands- 1t requires
about one-half the labor to cultivate these
lands that it Ioes the old laad of your country.
1t IL true that there are a great deal of poor
lands, bnt they prove of immense vnlue to the
fnrmer for good range, for horses, cattle,
sheep and hogs. The only attention to cattle
is to keep them tame and mark and brand
them. The forests abound with wild animals,
frar n hanr fh,rp IN h,l hr, -
strange to 81 that the latter ofthese inhabit
the forests ofthe west, but NO less true than
strange.
Caldwell, Gntahoola and the eastern parts Of
Rnpides are pretty much the same kind Of
country as that of VIM. The facilities afford.
cd for tho tralsportation of produce to mar
ket is within the reuch Of every one who set
ties i'll this country. They can scarcely get
more than 20 G 80 miles from some landing on
Red river. Little river or Washita river. There
are great openings to active and entcrprising
men in every department Of business. If pro.
| pie would lnboi and use the same economy
here that the l,boring class do in Carolinn and
| Georgin, it would be ensicr to make a fortune
! i'll such county as this than it is to acquire q
| living there. 10 give you an idea Of what can
| be done on bottom land the first year it is
cleared and the amount of labor expended in
cultivation, We will notice field of corn
| which we saw, that was nearly matured. At
ter the land wa. cleared and fenced furrow
was run and the corn dropped and two fur.
rows run on each side, which made five fur.
rowst to each row of corn. This was all the
blowing it received few times running over
with the hoe, slficed it's cultivation. Its yield
| per will be no less than 25 or 80 bushels
per acre. for thefrst year.
There are thousands Of dollars made every
yenr by collecti,g.pine nots in those extensive
pineries which lie djacent to the navgable
streams. They are sold to steambontsmen at
from $3.50 to s4.oo cord. Square timbers
and ship spires are also articles of extensive
trade.-The graduation prices of land are from
| 25 cts. to rs cts. per acre. These prices are
for the exclusivobe of the actual settler.
Land belonging 10 the state donated for the
benefit of levies &C., is worth $1.o0 per acre.
The streams are rs full Of fish as they appa-
rently can be when they bite we'll it is too
much labor to take them of Your hook to
make il a pleasant recreative enjoyment. We
. have seen more bee-hives and honey in two
weeks in that country than we have seen in
| the last six years From twenty to sixty gums
; around one industrious farmers yard is not an
uncommon right.-Thero+i is no scarcity of deer,
turkeys, wolves, wildcats &c.-The Salsman.
der which is q besntiful little animal. though
more mschievousi than beau; iful, is to. be found
there. The eentifede and tarantula or hairy
spider. which nreso common in Texas are to
be seen.
The health Of this country is said to be good
and We see no locsl causes; fur sickness of the
large streams, The disease are not often Of q
typhoid nature. Sickness perhaps is moro fre-
quent -t1t not so fatal as ip your country. The
water Is about as good as the western country
affords. soc,ety has made rapid progress with.
in the past few yesrs.--Thet = .Gumbos," % call.
ed from tho fact. that eunbo suits their gusto.
form . large oosatitpeney on Red River Thy
srssa amissd rsssa6f ihunaps. that sppear-io
esrsSbus l!s1l sSph, thoagIitbsysare
On the So sefed mp sad naeunt,
Esd d4Eansasto d. % hs 4 Mississippi sFsmp
]EAaer DAY eiiise sl pe IN 1nsstslsdf ee5fry
Efers0 mjssss @ ssssSs oa
lEands aver aSd asssdSy paced tgs lihaj
1spHsg xiasa ~ 4; issse
;lssfSsos !, 3 4 4
/ a nj 81 q ssseHs ssp