The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1869-09-25
TO EMIGRANTS.

Recently, we have received several
letters from the North and West, from
parties asking inform alton about this
country, saying that they and their neigh
! boss are interested in South western
Louisiana, and :hink of coming here to
locate. ln order to answer these questions
to their satisfaction, as well as for the
information OF emigrants in general, we
have thought it best to make our reply
public.
New Iberia is the parish seat of the
new parish Of Iberia. situated on the
Bayou Teche. l46 miles from New
Orleans, and &C miles from Berwick's Bay,
the present terminus of the Opelousss
Railroad, (now Morgan's Louisiana and
Texas Rairoad,) and is in the heart of the
Attakapas country, which is noted for
being the very "sugar bowl Of Louisiana"
and is unsurpassed for produc,iveness by
any country in the United States. Here
may be found plantations that have been
under cultivation over one hundred years,
and have never been manured. yet to-day
are yielding as well as the freshest sol! of
the West.
The Attakapas country comprises the
parishes Of ST. Mary, Iberia, ST. Martin,
Lafayette and Vermilion-the three first
named lying on both sides Of the Bayou
Teche, which is navigated the entire year
by daily line of steamers; and through.
the last two runs Bayou Vermiiion, which
will also be navigable at all stages of
water when the bar at its mouth is re-
moved-thus afforiing ample accomoda-
tons for the shipment Of produce to
market. Added to these natural outlets
we will soon have one or two lines of
railroad, from New Orleans to Texas,
crossing our praTies, when every settler
throughout this vast country will be with
in five miles of either rail or water com.
munication. As it now is, nowhere in
Attakapas can the settler locate more than
ten miles from navigable stream.
The Attakapas parishes are bounded on
the south by the Gulf of Mexico, and on
the north and east by Grand Lake and
bayou thus making the climate delight
fully cool and healthy in summer, and
mild and pleasant in winter. The weather
is so mild that oranges, figs, bananas,
pine apples and other varieties of tropical
fruits do we'll with little care, and
peaches, pears. apples, p'ums, and many
varieties of berries yield as we'll as any
where in America. The greatest abun
dance Of blsckberries grow everywhere,
strawberries do equally well, and the grape
grows wild in every forest. When the
attention Of German emigrants is called
to the advantages this region possesses for
grape culture, it will become great vine
yard. Our mild climate aud proximity to
the New Orleans market offer unusual
inducement to fruit growers TO locate
among us.
As stock country, South western
Louisiana is unsurpassed. Now, while
the country is thnly settled, thousands of
cattle are scattered over our prairies, doing
we'll The entire year without being either
fed or shelter ed and AS the country fills
up by proper attention to raising blooded
stock. it will prove a most lucrative bust
uess, since We have great market at our
very doors. This region should and no
doubt will in few years supply New
Orleans with milk. butter and cheese, as
we'll as with meats and fruits.
But, after all, the great staple Of the
country is sugar. Every man is ambitious
to become sugar planter, and hence we
find that many minor An! equally neces.
sary branches Of agricultural industry are
neglected. This can only be remedied by
increased population and when emgrants
have assurances that they will find profit
able employment to start with, they will
be mote anxious to locate among US. But
improved sugar machinery will soon re-