Daily gazette and comet., 1860-10-24

which is designed, to give IN atpha-
beticsl order, the out lines OF Che
history OF Louisiana, literary geo
graphical and statistical. We have
been kindly furnished the following
sketch Of the first Parish on the list,
in alphabetical order, and feel as
snred that II will interest the gen
era reader
ASCENSION = Organization. - by
an act of the Legislative Council,
April 10Th 1906, the Orleans Terri
tory was divided Into II counties /;
this parish, which under the Span
ish government was within the dis
trict of Lafourohe, was comprised
in the county Of Acadia, and con.
stituted a portion Of the second
Acadian Coast" In 1907, a Sc
cond division of the Orleans Ter
ritory was made into parishes, and
the seventh parish, was named sf.
ter the Parocbial Churcb-Asoen-
sion.
Name. This is derived from q
festival kept in the Catholic, and
some other Churches, in commemo-
ration of the ascension Of Christ,
which Is recorded in the New Tes-
lament, as having occurred on the
10th day after his resurrection. IL
is called Holy Thursday, and imme-
diately precedes Good Friday. It
has been observed since the days
of the Apostles.
Bounddrns.-North by the par.
ishes of East Baton Rouge and
Livingston, from which IL is sepa-
rated by the Bayou Mancbao, and
Amite or Iberville river East by
Lake Msurepas South by the par
ishes of st. James and Assumption;
and West by lberville.
It's area comprises 400 square
miles, and 256,000 acres.
Riwrs, Bovous, Lakes.-Tbe Mis-
sissippi divides the Southwestern
portion of the Parish. At the juno
ton of the Manchac aud Amite the
lberville traces its Northwestern
boundary and falls into Lake Maure.
pas. Steamboats, and sailing yes
seh pass up TO within about IL
miles of the Mississippi at all sea-
sons OF the year !, and oonsiders-
BILE commerce Ia carried on Ia lum-
and bricks, which are transported
TO New Orleans, by way of the
lakes and canals.
New River and Bayou Conway
rise in tho rear of the Mississippi,
and after forming q junction take
the name of Acadian river, whose
waters are discharged into Lake
Maurepas. Lake Maurepas, form
ing the Eastern boundary Of the
parish, was thus named by Bien-
vile, in honor of the Count de Mau-
repss, who was born in l7Ol-and
succeed his father the Count de Pont-
chartrain as Minister Of the French
Marine, about the year 1879.
On the West of the Mississippi
il one of its chief outlets, tho La
fourche--the Fork or Branches. II
was originally known a. the Cheti-
mdoIes RTer, from tribe Of Indians
by that name who lived upon its
borders. 1t Is about eighty yards
wide at It's efllux, and during high
water is navigable for the largest
class Of steamboats,. In low water
IL 10 formidable--but of late years a
substantial drawbridge has been
built, rendering IL passable oil
seasons.
! Popuiotion.---The district Of La.
fourche In 1855, contained a popu.
Iation Of GAG !; in 1883, 1f64--1sO3,
1904. In 1910 the first Census "a
ken since the cession--and as a
parish 2219-- 1890, 372S--lS40,
6951, Of whom 1898 were whites
and 1853 slaves. In 1850, 10,752
Of whom 34s6, free /; and 1896
slaves, 1860.
Produetions.--By tho census oI
1910, the whole county of Acadia
produced but 9l0 bbds., Of sugar
valued at $1,000. In 1S40 the cen
sus gave 4,65s,OoO lbs, or about
$4,000 hhds., Of sugar, and upwards
of 900, 900 lbs, Of cotton, U. s
census 1850. gave l3,43s hhds., su
gar, 554,975 gallons mollasscs, and
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