Middletown transcript., 1870-04-23
EXTRACTS FROM THE PAMPHLET.

l
The Parish, or County of St. Landry, is
situated in the Southwestern portion of
the State of Louisiana. The area is one
million three hundred and fifty thousand
acres, about equally divided between wood
land and prairie. The general surface is
even and undulating, and pleasantly diver
sified with rolling prairies, streams of
water, upon whose margins are found
belts of good timber, between which spread
out fine natural meadows, covered with
luxurant and nutritious grass. The par
ish may be divided into three districts
between the eastern boundary and the line
shaded with pink, on the map, is what
may be termed the overfowed district
Within this limit however, there is much
valuable land untouched by water during
the great freshets brought down the Mis-
sissippi river. The soil of this section is
the rich alluvial, producing in great a.
bundance the staples of the South. Much
of this land had been denuded of the heavy
and valuable timber with which it aboun-
ded, and valuable farms opened prior to
the war The levees were then in good
condition, enabling the farmer to cultivate
in security the soil but owing to the i'm
povershed condition Of the country, and
the unsettled state of affairs since the ad-
vent of peace, many of these places are
liable to inundation at this time The
second district embraces that portion of
the parish which lies between the south
boundaries of Township No. 4 Ranges
East and West, and the northern bound
n bo uf of licfr;
nearly all the streams take their rise; the
face of the country is somewhat hilly,
and covered with dense forest of pine,
oak, ash, walnut, hickory, and other val
liable forest trees. Here also are found
some fine Mineral Springs, which are
much resorted to by invalids, and which
possess great curative qualities. Here
are considerable deposits of Limestone,
from which, for home consumption, is
made very excellent Lime; and fine bed
of marble, which is susceptible of a beau
tiful polish, and is valuable for the making
of mantle-pieces, monuments, &c.
Whilst much arabic land is found in
this section, its great wealth consists in
the timber. And its adaptedness to the
rearing of sheep. This latter branch of
industry could be carried on with great
success, and upon large scale. The
third district comprises that portion south
of the above, to the line separating St.
Landry from Vermillion and Lafayette.
In its main features it is unlike the other
two districts. The land is gently undu-
lating. with an inclination towards the
Gulf of Mexico; diversified with stream
and prairie. dotted with small farms, and
sustaining immense herds of cattle. This
is the main agricultural portion of the
parish, and the centre of all its CONNER
cal operations. The chief shipping point,
Washington, is within its limits, also the
town of Opelousas, the seat of Justice.
The lands of the two latter districts are
35 feet above overflow.
The Atchafalaya river on the east con-
meets this parish by steamboat navigation
with New Orleans The Bayou Courta-
bleau, formed by the junction of the Croc-
odile and Beuf, affords good navigation
to Washington the entire year, with slight
and occasional interruption during the
summer. The route is, down the Court
ableau to the Atchafalaya, thence up the
latter to the Mississippi river, and thence
to the city.
The Bayou Beuf is the channel of trans
portation for the planter, by means of bar
ges, to Washington; and the Crocodile
affords means of transportation to the
lumbermen. The Plaquemine Brulee
the Mallet, the Cane and Nezpique, are
fine streams, but not navigable. The
Mermenteau, formed by the Nezpique,
Cane, and Plaquemine Brulee, is fine
navigable stream: vessels ascend it some
70 miles for lumber. which is taken to
Texas, Havana and the Mexican ports.
Upon these streams are found large bodies
of timber, suitable for all the purposes of
building and fencing, and they afford an
unfailing supply of water for stock. In
addition to these essential advantages,
they also have a good influence upon the
climate and the health of the country
On the one hand they temper the atmos-
phere, and on the other serve as drains;
carrying off the excess of water.
Climate and Health.-This portion of
the State is in close proximity to the Gulf
of Mexico, which has marked influence
upon the temperature. The warm air
soft and balmy, and subdues the heat of
summer. Outdoor labor to the white
man is not unpleasant, and can besustain-
ed without detriment to health The av-
erage temperature of the winter is about
40 degrees, and that of the summer IS de-
grecs during the day. During the heated
period, we have none of the sultriness of
the more northern States at night. This
has struck every one as remarkable fea-
ture of our climate; after the heat of the
day, there comes q delicious feeling of
pleasure, produced by the cool sea-breeze
and the refreshing dew. which combine to
cool the hot earth, tone and invigorate the
system, and prepare it for the incoming
day.
In point of health, the reports of able
Physicians, resident among us, together