The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-01-17
Red River and its Tributaries.

Shreveport has many substantial business houses
with tas and comfort blended Many houses have, in
in June with that amount. Phelps Co. have disposed
of an immense amount of staple goods.
Should there be but little cotton coming to Shreve
port BY spring there is for market WOOL wheat and
beeves these with the large amounts received for cot
ton, will keep up the circulating medium. Factories
will be established in Shreveport which, with the large
improvements next year, win keep good trade The
Verandah hotel has comfortable rooms and good
table, and literally patronsed. Shreveport VIII always
remain the second city in the State. The railroad to
Marshall Texas, will be completed by May. On this
route country houses will be built in great numbers
next spring, Forest trees line this route.
Passing down the river Coushatta Chute is the land
ing for the pleasant village of SpnGgYie around which
many beautiful country homes This landing is
used by forty einteTior Camp&
burned IN the spring campaign of 1864 by the federal
army has nothing left but chmneys few houses are
going up; small business will be resumed soon.
Grand Ecorc, the landing for Natchltoches and the
country extending into Texas 150 miles, was mostly
burned by the same army. For miles around it,
forfcatons The federal army were kept the alert
by the Confederate cavalry while fortfying. Seeing
the immense work. no one can doubt the power of the
federal army for shot and shell poured those
fortifying.
Natchitoches, four miles from the new, on old Red
River is place of beauty. More than half the people
are French, well educated Their society very pleas
ant. The residences are emboweredin shrubbory The
convent and St osephs college is under the immediate
supervision of bishop Martin who resides here. His
grounds covered with the choicest owers his quiet
home is perfumed all the year with fragrant flowers
have known hlm quarter of century. His purity of
character with his highly cultivated taste have done
great deal here (as in the place where knew him in
1S40 to cast abroad high standard Of moral and gene
raj intelligence.
This place is having good trade going far into
Texas.
Montgomery a few miles below, has the country and
position to make it place of size and interest. Con
siderable cotton is shipped there.
Alexandria below the fas,s famed in coming history
where the federal fleet grounded. Sugar houses were
razed to the groundthe material in piles placed
in the river to form a narrow channel. Alexandria
shows ''the horrors of war" Over space of more
than quarter of mile square, nothing remains but
chimneYs of large torehouses, tasteful dwellings
yeloped in choicest shrubbery before A. j. Smith put
the thousand frebrands to those houses of comfort
The court house, the churches and the Masonic hall
went in the terrible conHagratlon.
Much energy is manifest in the south The people
are coming of the blackened heaps, and fast re-
moving the vestges of Several storerooms have
zone up and now have in their full stores The tort-
cations here erected last fall and winter quite for
mdabe They doomed up too late Pineville, opposite
Alexandria, is again doing good trade. For three
miles out in the pine woods the space is occupied by
the three full regiments Of negro soldiers, quite
less the pines themselves in keeping order for the
people love their country and need negro soldiers to
lead them to duty.
Three miles from AIexandriain in the hills in uneqUaled
beauty, is the pure white edfce known as The Louis
lana State seminary" There are seventysix rooms;
the halls largea the chambers and study rooms are
well ventilated. The institution has professor BOYD as
superintendent ing with ability the place occupied
by Cen Sherman at the opening OF the war; with the
most competent professors. Here the greatest adYan
ages presented to boys and young All rise at
o'clock, study and half hours before breakfast
six hours during the day and two hours at night
This is second to school in Louisiana and Texas.
| Fort De RusSeY where much labor performed
answered one good purpose-givlng the Confederate
authorities fine to remove more sunnes from Alexan-
dFa and save q train from gagaH# 5Ae tHzsstsstrsas
IL the river were mos removed BY tlz spring eazraas
The lass day in tbeg .FeI having warm sun atle@-
TORS 0a5l-la ia j. many o There were HllseH s1o
twenty feet long LaeE 7Eere tired H aga meat aa#g
/ Fstrsa. into rla r5yer often aeaaa wounded Had
a.FEI Irs rnr .aTt