The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-04-13

| whole TO
: Circular. accompanied by Map of the Six Parish,
described, by
5 ID. BENNETT, Editor Planters Banner
-. lSt Martin Parish Concludet,I
ihe walks, groves, gardens and out buildings are a
aid ont and put mp the liberal plan of the ancient c
and generous creole gentleman of this country ~,
dwelling is situated between the main road and tb
bayou
Inc yards fronting on the Bayou Techc and towar,
the mann road on the prairie side are equally spaciou
broad ave'ue sixty seventy feet in width and tbre
or Tour times that length, with tall and beautiful Chin
's 'h e''her side' extends nearly to the bayou. 4
large surface is shaded tie bayou front And
or more pines, forty fifty feet high with noble trunk
and extended branches make fine avenue and shade o.
the other front. And fine live oaks magnoas figs an,
other trees, covered with rich and abundant foliage ar
growing at intervals in the of the pines and Chipa
| on either side.
Inc sugar house Is spacious and convenient and th,
engine and sugar mill ponderous and complete Th,
sugar house is large enough for saing crop of six oil
eight hundred hogsheads of sugar
The general has been a large stock raiser besides
cotton and sugar planter He over ten thousand
acres of the finest land in Attakapas most of heavily
| timbered, and rich tlable land
ERlATE MR. LEsrRApEs
The Les'rapcs estate is situated on the east bank of
the Teche below the junction. The DWELLING and ,s
surroundings, sugar house, cotton gn stables corn
muses. ana numerous out buildings the bank
OF the bayou about seven miles below the Junction
This is one Of the oil, Test creole families of Attakap.
uu' Ne Inc DeCiouet family they keep up the gener
GUS hospaifies aud customs of the wealthy and
Creoes of the ancient and happy days of Attakapas
10th iii
estate She is venerable LADY, great dignity of ap.
pearance stands straight young lady Of eighteen
ana extremely active. She must have been very.
handsome when young, for she is handsome old lady
her mind is still fresh and vigorous Like Gen. De-
Niouet the parors of the Lesrapes family are orpa
men'ed with ancestral portraits in state of preser
Fa"on these portraits have been admired by three gen
era'ons, reaching through period of nearly hundred
Eesrapcs family cultivate cotton and sugar cauc
and have large stock of cattle; they over ten
Thousand of choice farming lard of great intrinsic
value thoa sh its present market value like of
the lands Of this parish, extremely low
ESTATE OF DIR. WILKINS
Wilkins, deceased formerly planter of ST Mary, and
well known to many of our citizens.
His estate is on Bayou Fuselicr half mile from Ar
nandville the re which divides ST. Landry
and St Martin - "f..
His dwelling is large airy and comfortable, and he is
surrounded with all the real comforts blessings of
life He has substantial and beautiful shade trees and
fine garden. There is air of comfort and ndepend.
ence in all of his surroundings This excellent family
give strangers genuine old Virginia welcome If the
old style Louisiana Creole gentleman ever finds success
ful competitor in the grace. Kindness and perfec
ton of his native hospitality, it is in the family Of an
old style Virginian. and nowhere else i
We have given this brief reference to three leading es
tates and families in ST. Martin not SO much on com
plimentary account to show strangers that this coun
is not the rude and barbarous region that many very
well informed people at the North and West suppose
to be.
In the wilderness
Though just beyond the limits of ST. Martin, it may
not be amss to notice Arnandvie and its surround
ings. ~ @f frfi ~
Ainandviile is a small village made Of two three
ton of the Teche and Fuseer about thirty five feet
above low water mark The banks of both bayous are
here very Steep and the scenery wild and Interesting
Here are plenty of fish and game. Forest trees hang
over the banks Of the bayous and in places lock limbs
and branches. The road leading north towards Ope.
lousas miles through of the enchanting
forests have in the South anywhere else
We passed overthis road in August, 1863. as
Queenly magnolas in bloom. with their wealth Of
green glossy leaves and large white flowers noble
and pecans, ash, gum. hickory, black walnut and nu
merous other trees of beauty spread their friendly
branches above rode good road through
the region Of indescrbsAle beauty. -art asI
To give readers better idea of the stately carae
ter of these forest trees, we will give few figures
large oak had been torn by the roots and lay
tha
carriages pass solid. five feet and half in diam
ctcr at the chopping place Twenty feet from the roots
ii four feet in diameter forycght feet the the first
mb it three feet in diameter; tho second limb,
any eight feet log could have been made of it sixty
feet long, nearly three feet in diameter the small end
and five and half feet at the large end ttl
Break bridge.
This is pretty place made up of few and |
houses 1t is by water about half way ,be,ween s.
Martinve and the rJnnetion. looks new, brisk and
lively. It has fine elevated Site and distant day
viii doubtless become large aud prosperous village j.
livery stable hotel, Catholic church. good schools
lyceum, brass band, and ether proofs of civilization
md progress The bridge the Teche this
,iace Is high aud well built, and is creable the place
md parish H
The people hopeful and resolute and say they in
END to make that place great business depot even if
he Chattanooga Railroad crosses the Teche miles
,clow them
The Railroad Crossing. I
Al DR.. Nibesfs plantation, two and half miles below
Brraux Bridge west side of the Techc, the place saked
for the ossns of the Chattanooga Railroad the
or . city is very fine. The first bank is twenty-five
set above low water mark, and the second bank is
wenty.scvcn feet The distance to New Orleans by
Abroad surycycd route is-ll9, miles
Lake Martin.
On the back part Of this pace 'aboui two milcsrom
he bayou is Lake Martin, nile in length, and lit
le less than mile wide The coil around is iru and
ue may ride bank all sides. Tail cypress ami
in the edge of the lake, bu; gum oak clm and
be small grow;. Of the banks of the Tcche make mag
iccnt shade in hot weather all around ii; the SOIL
i'm and well grass under the trees: parties from
sreanx Bridge, accompanied by the brass band come
ssa TO enjcy themselves in tie aid autumn:
Il lake is full Of fishes of various kinds here is the
ss place in the South for pcncs, fishermen and duck