New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-13
Tae Envlrons of New Orleans.
NUMBER sLvENTY-FoUR,


; that it becomes somewhat of difficult task tc
: describe the former looks aud aspects of our mp
town enyirons, because, at that remote period
those points could not be reached so easily and SC
frequently as to leave the lasting impressions
which every days views in the nearer surroundings
have still preserved fresh in our memory. Still
we recolect, with perfect vivacity the lively sen.
sations which some of the really beautiful country
seats in the upper districts, and outside the
suburban bGnIielS, caused rs, when, occasional
visits would permit us to enjoy these actually en-
chanting abodes of the then very wealthy resi-.
dents of those mansion houses Among some OF
these fine rural estates we remember more par
ticularly that belonging to the Foueher family,
little above, if not Immediately adjoining, the
plantation of Mr. Noel lie Breton, of which we had
occasion to make mention in former number of
oars These two country farms, established upon
the most extensive scale, were at the distance of
some six or seven miles from the old city of New
Orleans, upon the site formerly called the Cana.
dian Point below Macarty's plantation. No doubt
that, before the forming of these considerable
country establishments in olden times, that
vicinity had served as a quasretreat for
the Canadian boat population, who there would
gather in great numbers, as being outside of the
strict military surveillance exercised under the
colonial system, and which policy was somewhat
followed, it must be avowed, even by the Federal
authorities, long after the change of government
or administration. For it is actually not to be de-
MED that the habits of military rule being so gene
raj in lower Louisiana, and if the reader WILL with
all, so congenial to the manners of the people,
the governors and commanders of the Uuited
States authority continued this system much in
the same manner as they found it. We say, then
| that outside Of the immediate limits and some
what above the point called Livaudais, there were
| then several cabarets or boarding establishments
kept by old Canadian boatmen, and from that cir.
| cumstance this vicinity was long denomnated the
Canadian point. There these men had more
license or liberty to live in their own way ana
style, and were less interfered with by the prying
Of policemen or eavesdroppers, who always
were bent upon discovering some great plots
or conspiracies, when often the main
| point of these Canadian congregations had no
other aim or object than that Of concerning means
for their boating expeditions up and down the
river, which, in those times of no steam power,
were, indeed, the most weighty concerns in the
world for this class of river navigation. After
passing, then, the remnants of these Canadian
| boarding houses and rendezvous stations you
would then reach the aforementioned extensive
estates Here, in summer, as well as in the midst
Of winter, the eye would be delighted with pro-
| fusion of evergreen vegetation. Upon these plan
tations, besides the common orange hedges, which
4 served as an Enclosure around the very extensive
gardens field and camp districts we noticed that
the owners had, besides the ordinary cypress
board fences, used a species of evergreen cactus
\ plant, armed with covering of multplex prekles,
so as to exclude most substantially all ingress of
rowing porkers or other intruding CATTLE This
was, no doubt very great consideration for the
protection of these fine kitchen gardens, the beau
tiful flower parterres, and the numerous fruit
orchards, containin variety of plums, apricots,
peaches, figs, oranges, granates citrons, lemons
in fact such assortment of Southern fruits that
it took considerable time for visitor to come
back from his establishment in seeing such a Para.
disc.
We shall not speak of the long rows of rose
bushes, the alleys of myrtle and acacia. shrubbe-
ries, etc. Let the reader, who has seen our NINA
ture flower parterre in Jackson's square, imagine
this area increased ten fold in size and variety and
he will then approximate to the beautiful, extern
sive views beheld in these charming country farms.
In later times we have lost sight of these valuable
sites, but if are not much mistaken lattery the
United States government, properly estimating the
beautiful and healthy location of that vicinity, has
thereabout established military health recruiting
station, or an asylum for military nvalids Now,
since being upon this subject of military home re.
treats in our citys vicinity would it not answer
the purpose Of forming soldiers farm for Louisi
ana's veterans to resort to some fair rural sites,
such, for instance, as James Hopkins's planta-
ton on GENTLY road, or the Hazuer farm upon
the Metairie Ridge, above the former race ground
locality, near the new canal There, under the
auspices of our State administration and the city
contribution, which certainly will not fail to
come to its succor, our country might aid or
found such rural institution as would become
a source of pride and honor to our whole popnla-
ton. Let those of our public men charged with
carrying out the first initial measures of this inya
lids institution, mature well their deign, for it
seems to us that this idea contains the germ of
great future in our country's history. There can
not be more agreeable occupation for our
invalid soldiers than that of attending to the Gull
ture of the ground at all times and in all countries
this has been the most blessed vocation of man
and wherever this branch of industry is kept in
respect and esteem, the land and people are sure
of prosperous career, This is the indeStructa.
BILE basis of the South, and to this point as the
main object, most of our attention should be
directed. Now, as we already mentioned in
former numbers, the first farming houses or dairy
establishments in Louisianas lower delta did take
their rise upon the Allard's Metarie, that ever
memorable locality, dating from the first aborigf-
nal Indian huts the borders of the little stream
let, issuing from under the live oak groves into the
Bayou St. John. There, where now stand the city
park enclosures, were the shelterng, rueful little
hunters cabins made of latanier leaves, and Gov
cred perhaps, with some hides of wild animals of
the forest, deer or panther skins, before civilized
man taught the Indian to live under wooden
roof, and have kline and sheep around the folds i;
to prepare regular Indian corn crops for the sup
port of man and beast.
Well, let our brave nvalids again set the exam |
pie Of such necessary pioneering-we say neces- |
sary, because, if all the signs of the times do not
mislead, it will most undoubtedly again be the lot
of the white man to show to another race the
only way to acquire habits of civilization by the
culture of the earth and the raising of focks and
herds. To leave to the African race their own
mode of rowing life, we consider is the abasement
the ruin of the country. They must either CON
unue to labor upon the southern farms for paid
wages, or if that will not suit them, and they will
establish themselves asindependentrais of stock