New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-05-03
NuMsEg III.


lttareat and Jefferson College Statistics he
Crops, etc.
NUMBER III.
7sa'l - f5f /
rron ouT Special Travelling Correspondent
cAsrsnias r. o., Parish Seat # s. James,
Eh Crescent The further journey up the Coast,
the more anxious do feel to yindcate this beaut
full country from the aspersions cast upon it by
tourists who dash down the Mississippi IN steam
boats, and very likely asleep in their berths, and
dismiss the matter with the fayorite form Of words
viz: " The banks of the Lower Mississippi are low
and monotonous, and the scenery tame and nnln-
terestingn So the picture doubtless looks to them
from their point of view, framed as it isln the lore
ground with the muddy and rnbbisi-coyered banks
of the river outside the levee mound. But let them
travel inside the levee and through this paradalsia-
cal climax Of luxurious plantation ruraiity, and
they do not admire the aspects Of the SCENERY
the splendid via.like eastleke mansions OF the
planters the cheerful and comfortable villages OF
negro houses the magnificent old trees with Their
wayy glory of moss, the beautiful gardens hiled
with tile rarest shrubs and plants, the ahuent veg
citation of the broad fields, the abundant greenery
with which lavish nature coats every inch 81 TINS
prolific so-if they do not admire this on the one
hand and on the other the broad tide Of the Father
Of Waters swelling through the long reaches OF its
winding channel and dotted with steamers or other
craft, we will set them down travellers either OF
nd taste or so filed with prejudice as to be deter
mined NOT to see anything worthy of admiration In
any part of the South
The forces Of the different plantations are very
busy hoeing the cane at this time, and on some OF
them remark long ranks Of fifty to hundred
negroes, hoe in hand, working across the fields
with almost the precision Of military drill. VI
course estates which can have so many hands de-
tached for one duty belong to the largest class
The exceedingly neat, spacious and comfortable
character of the negro quarters all along up the
cbast should be especially mentioned. ! have
noted some of these villages containing thirty,
forty or fifty houses each, every one Of which
would rent for from So to $l6 per month, accord
ina to the part of New Orleans in which it might
be situated.
Every plantation seems to have its flock OF
sheep, and in many instances this stock is nearly
| uure South.down breed. The cattle, too, are fine
4 stock The carriage horses of the planters are
splendid animals and, for plantation riding, they
generally use the strong and hardy and sygoing,
\ but not very handsome, horses of the Attakapas
breed, I constantly meet establishments spinning
along the evee road which would be especially re-
| marked even on the shelln in New Orleans; and
| 4 long since discovered that "Touristn fattered
himself most grossly when he fancied that his
rather dashng turnout would attract attention IN
tbe country or show its hind wheels to the most OF
roadway travellers g draw it mild now, have
NY horses hair curred the wrong way, cultivate an
humble demeanor, both in horse and driver; give
the road 10 every one, and when have to pass an
px-team, do it in as coneiliatory and apelogetc
| manner as possible. Thus hope to convey an
| impression that object to fast and fancy horses,
and wouldn't have one on any account; and that !
selected g Crescent for 80 have chrstened my
gallant steed) for certain marvellous and mysterl-
Gus qualities Of strength and endurance, and that
they are certainly in him even if not strikngly ap-
lparent to the observer of his points" Thus |
lmay inspire respect if not wonder and admiration.
i THE PARISH SEAT, ETC. 3As
| aCantrellen is the name of the post-ofice at
the parish seat OF St. James, and here are cus-
tered a few houses. The courthouse building Is
IN unpretendng but properly adapted erection.
A Gabrielle is ON the right bank, sixty-fve miles
above New Orleans The " Vacherie Road,r fifty
Ave miles, Is the other post-office on the right
bank, and on the left are Grand Point, fifty
five miles, Convent sixty-three miles, and
q Tourots,'' seventy three miles above New Or
leans. There is no settlement large enough to be
called town in the parish, which is quite rich
one. Its area of territory on either side of the
river is about equal in extent. Its eastern border
reaches Lake Maurepas and its western nearly
reaches the great Bayou Lafourehe. In this par
ish are many very extensive sugar estates, among
the largest of them being those of Messrs. Henry
j. Roman Regain, John S. Armant, Loeoul K
Duparc, yaleour Anne, John Burnsides, Fortier 4
Bro, Alexis Ferry, v. Chopin, Il. 4 s. j. Ro
Il man, A. B. Roman, Mrs. Robin Delogny, E. j
Forstal, Messrs. Webre, B. Lapire Bros, Mrs
Winchester, G. NJ. Shepherd, Watson u Lapire
II Mrs. Humphries, Mather Bros, i. LeBourgeois
II W. P. Welham, Mrs. Fagot, j. Drulhet Il Son
II Octave Colomb, w. Wilkins, N. Landry, Mrs Tu
III reau & Son, and others. You can fancy how vel
\ improved the parish is, with 50 many heavy es
adjustments in it-so heavy that no one have
mentioned weighs less than four hundred thou
sand, | suppose, ranging from that small sum NJ
among the millions. The residences on most o.
these plantations are really magnificent. i no
ticed particularly, in passing up the right bank
that of Mr.. Valcour Aim6, and made more neal
and heightened inspection of the homestead Of Mr.
Henry J.. Roman, which is one of the handsomest
most costly and tasteful on the coast, and where
its hospitable and youthful proprietor lives il
solitary state, surrounded by all the appointments
of wealth aud refinement. / would have know
him for gentleman Of taste If by no other sigi
than the sight of the g Daily Crescent y on tab
as soon as entered the house. The avenue Q
ancient live-oak on this plantation is one of TIN
, most magnificent on the coast, and the ground
; are paradise ofrare and beautiful plants, tree
} and shrubs.
The convent OF ST. Michael, conducted by tn
Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Mere Channon, Supe
rior, is situated on the left bank Of the river,
miles above New Orleans. It is a very elegan
, and extensive building, and its handsome front
one of the most prominent landmarks on the river
Here the fair daughters of the coast add the grace
l and accomplishments of education and refinemen
to the charms which their natural inhe .itanee
d The convent was established between thirty am
. forty years since. There are now about two hun
bred and fifty pupils attending.
RI Two miles below the Convent is Jefferson Col
/ lege. This institution was not in operation for
r heightened period, but the buildings and ground
having been purchased by Mr.. Valcour Anne,
wealthy and public spirited gentleman Of the par
I