The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-01-23

We design to begin the publication Of a
series of communications descriptive of the
natural advantages which appertain to the
Parish of St. Landry.
We are in the possession of several in
teresting manuscripts originally composed
bv the writer's for the use of the St Landry
Immigration Society. The pamphlet to be
issued by that society, now nearly ready
for the public, is too crowded already to
contain all these communications. We
have concluded therefore to publish them
in successive numbers of the JOURNAL, think
ing that the space taken up by them will
serve a better purpose than if filled with
editorial or matter borroewd from other pa
pers.
To-day we give the communication OF
Capt. O. H. Violet, formerly agent of the
Freedmen's Bureau for this parish:
OPELoUsAs, June 18th, 1868.
To the St. Landry immigration Society,
Gentlemen: Having been born and
raised in the first and richest OF the Yves
tern states, and having seen at different
times the far-famed aud attractive prairies
of Illinois and Kansas, and the centrally
located and beautifully diversified Missouri,
into which such an immense immigration
is annually pouring, and lately becoming
acquainted with that portion Of Louisiana
in which you are more particularly inter-
ested, I { desire to give, for the benefit Of
those who may seek information with 6
view to locating in your parish, a few com;
narrative statements that will serve to show
at once to an unprecedented mind the supe
rior advantages possessed by Western Lou
isiana over other localities that are at pres
ent attracting the attention of those seeking
permanent homes for themselves and fami-
lies.
As it is your intention, as I understand:
to set forth to such, for the purpose of in
ducing immigration to your parish, the ad-
vantages they may expect to have over
other localities, it is of vital Importance that
those advantages be not overrated. Fal
better that parties on their first visit fine
that "the half has not been told" than that
they return with the conviction that your
picture showed only the bright side Or was
too highly colored. q
Nothing serves to so discourage persons
from immigrating to a place, as the return
of one of their acquaintance with a state
ment that his anticipations from reading
descriptions were not fully realized; while
on the contrary, no greater advantage car
be gained than that which would arise from
the impression that strangers could see ev-
en- more attractions on coming here for tht
first time than they had been led to expec
from reading your publications.
With this in view, [ shall proceed to
few statements of what [ know to be facts
from my comparatively short experience il
the South.
Among the arguments against immigra-
ting to Louisiana, by those of the Northern
states, are the extreme heat aud unhealth-
fitness of the climate. Nothing shows
more total ignorance of facts than this.
have seen the thermometer as high ant
experienced the heat as greatly at Nash
vile, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and even il
central Ohio, as ever in Louisiana-warn
weather lasts longer, but the heat is no
greater than there; and in reality, is not 81
intensely felt, for we have the advantage O
= constant south wind and delightfully."- coo
evenings, while in the more Northern lati-
tades the evenings are sultry and unpleas'
mt.
As regards sickness, and I speak from
four years experience, for myself I hav
never enjoyed as good health anywhere.
see as great a number of very old person
here as elsewhere, even where their repu-
tation for healthfulness is greater. Asid
from the city of New Orleans, which is ex-
posed t, the direct importation of disease
as fore;,s. to Louisiana as to Ohio, no stat
possesses more advantages for health.
The ~iong-continued warm weather ena'
bles US to have throughout the entire yea