New Orleans Republican., 1873-04-13
GLIMPSE At THE GARDEN OF LOUISIANA
A FIT ABODE FOR ANGELS

Colonel ]. 4. Price. one of the directors
| OF the Attakapas Mail Transportation Com
pany,. embraced the opportunity afforded
| by the presence of two United States sena.
! tora and a member Of the cabinet in our
| city, TO invite them to take an excursion
| into the Teche country, a region so blessed
| by nature, 50 resplendent IN natural
| scenery, so rich in soil. and possessed OF
| such delightful climate that it has been
! not inaptly called the garden spot OF Louis
| lana. This hospitable invitation was ac-
| cepted by the distinguished visitors, and
| Thursday was appointed to begin the jour"
! new, A few guests from the city were also
| Invited TO join the excursionists. The
| party left the city at half-past seven o'clock
| on Thursday morning. crossed the ferry OF
| the Morgan Line, and were met on the op-
| posite side of the river by Mr. Hutchinson.
| of the firm of C.. A. Whitney & Co, agents
| of MOI gan's Louisiana and Texas Railroad,
| who placed special car at the disposal of
| Colonel Price, and by eight o'clock they
were fairly of on the way to Brashear
| City.
| Colonel Prices guests consisted Of Sen
| ator Cameron, wife and sister (mrs. Boggsl,
Senator Howe and wife, Postmaster Gen
eral Creswell and wife. General Beaure-
gard, Colonel D. B. Penn, Professor For
shey, Colonel J. o. Nixon, representatives
of the city press and others.
Upon arriving at Brashear City Wa were
met by Mr.. L. Tupper. president Of the
Attakapas Mail Transportation Company,
and by him cordially welcomed on board
the conpany's steamer Iberia, Captain
Morse, which had steam up and everything
ready for start UP the Teche, nine miles
from Brashear City, which is situated on
the left bank of the Atchafalaya. Is its con-
| Ruence with the Ieche, a navigable bayou
that puts in from the right bank, and lies
in the famous region which bears its name.
| About half-past five in the evening the
boat landed in front of Colonel Ayres' resi-.
dence, on the lower side of the town OF
Franklin. Here the excursionIsts went
ashore, and met with very hearty Tecep-
ton from the gallant and hospitabie
Colonel, whose offer of refreshments was
accepted by all. Colonel Ayres owns a
beautiful place fronting on the bayou; his
grounds are spacious and we'll Ornamented
with flowers and vernal foliage; his house is
large for that section, and has the reputa'
ton Of being always open 10 guests. After
few moments spent in the interchange OF
mutual expressions Of good viii. during
which the Colonel and Senator Cameron re-.
yived and partially settled an old time con-
troversy. we bade good bye to the generous
host, and repaired on board the steamer.
The rest of the trip up to New Iberia was
one of those delightful moonlight expert.
ences, which it is difficult to realize fully at
the time. and more difficult. 70 describe at
any time.
But as there are things Of mora import.
ance in this world than even moonlight
excursions or a finely appointed steamer,
and surrounded by most agreeable coni'
pany. SO We must pause here moment 10
state case in point. It is popularity sup.
posed that steamboats, and railroad cars,
unless under the control of companies held
in restraint by competition. are rather in.
clined to be unmindtul OF the convenience
. of passengers and shippers; that there are
certain places at which st0ppagos are made
} per schedule, and mono others. But we
find this is not so on the Teche. Captain
} Morse lands his steamer wherever he sees
J q signal, or has a pound of freight for con
, signment. Although there is at present nc
} practical opposition to the Attakapas Iai
, Transportation Company, their two boats
the Iberia and Minnie Avery, seem TO have
taken a contract to afford accommodation
,, , ~ every body who appears on tho shores o1
the Teche for business. whether the wan
be for transportation for hundred hogs
| heads of sugar or dozen eggs. They have
promised the people of that region 10 steam
boat service. and they redeem this promist
with scrupulnus exactuess. Passengers ant
shippers will be at no loss to understand
tho advantages Of having such q manage
" mento
j The Iberia was lying at the wharf at New
= Iberia when the passengers awoko in th'
5 morning. After breakfast on the boat, Car
:, riages we're engaged to take the party on
TO Avery's island, or Petit Anse, the sceu
| u
J. New Iberia. None of the party. excop
}. Colonel Price. Mr.. Tupper, and. as We under
> stand, Professor Forshey, had ever befor
f seen this saline wonder, and none of then
a will ever forget what they saw on thi
n occasion. The party first drove to the resi-
dence of Judge ID. d. Avery, the rroprieto
: of the beautiful island that bears his name
His house is located on the crown OF a
= elevation which may properly be called
{ hill, about 10 feet above tho level of tn
2 Cult, whose waters can be seen from tn
: Judges place. Here We wers most ool
# daily received by the venerable Judge an
k his interesting family, and invited to visi
b the mine. This Is now being worked by On
Of his sons. D. D. Avery, Jr., who. with nj
It brother, John Avery. and several !adiee c
9 the household. accompanied us. The di
q tanoe from the house to the mine IL about
mile. a shaft seventy-fve feet deep. Wit
watertlght curbing. leads dowa 30 the works
The party Eas lowered down in what
y called cage, which ia worked BY steam
g. On arriving at the bottom We find ven
Z worked TO the depth of about seven tee
V fifteen or twenty feet wide ana to lengt
of probably 80 feet. Overload ia a snoot
ceiling Of solid salt. THO bottJn. and th
sides are the same as the ceiling. IL
d estimated that tbs depth Of the layer owe
head FROM the mine 10 tho sop is forty ~
Is feet, while there Is no means OF kncSing
o VIA. depth it ex sends beneath our fec