The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-08-15
The Land Question.
WHY PEOPLE CAN'T GET A CHANCE TO
FARM IN LOUISIANA.
THE OLD STORY OF WAITING ON PROV
IDENCE, AND PROVIDENCE RE
FUSING TO COME.

F. lDENCL A4ND II #ADGGNSG W.
FUsING TO COME.
The following remarks will at nee
commend themselves to the reader:
| To the Editor of the New Orleans lines:
There are thousands of industrious
families in this State who want lands,
and cannot obtain them. There are
thousands who could pay for fifty acres
in five years, if they could obtain the
lands, and have a fair chance to work
them. 1t has been proved again and
again that small farmers are now making
money in all parts Of this State where
they are frugal and industrious. There
is no place on this Continent where a
prudent and managing farmer can make
more money out OF al acre OF land, than
in Louisiana.
Why do ten thousand families in this
city and State, in vain ask landhOlders
to sell them lands on time, while they
gaze upon eighteen millions acres of I'M
cultivated, tax-ridden acres?
Why let these lands remain idle for
ten years, depreciatingi in value, in pref
erence to selling them to industrious and
worthy poor men to be paid for in ten
yearly installments
The day an industrious farmer settles
on idle lands, and commences improving
and working them, he adds twenty-five
per cent. to their value.
We have in Louisiana all the elements
of success and prosperity if landhOlders
and capitalists would lead the way. In
spite of bad government and high taxes
these idle fields and prairies should be
swarming with immigrants in two years,
and thousands OF nOn-prOducerS in our
State should become producers. 1t is
the apathy OF our own people that blocks
the way to success, more than political
troubles.
1t is now, as before the late war; we
do not prOpose to help ourselves. Poll
ticians told rs then that Northern Dem
} ocrats would prevent a war or fight our
! battles for us that King Cotton would
fight for us; that the English would
/ break the blockade after we were block
AIDED; that Louis Napoleon and the
| French would help us; that We would
! make the negroes fight for us. And
=. many of Our people are now waiting for
/ Northern capital, for Northern Demo
t Gratis, for Congress, for Providence, fol
, "something to turn up" Jupiter will
never help US until we put our OWL
> shoulders to the wheel. D.
In curious contrast to this "O'er true
talen is a letter received at the Times
+ office, addressed to Roundabout and
= signed CLERK" The writer-anonym-
: Ous-cOmplains of the prevalent dispO-
sitiOn toward Texas by every one desir-
/ GUS of farming, and adds:
Ihave 1900 acres of the finest land in
!, this State, a large portion of which has
L been under cultivation, the other vel
wooded and will be in demand in short
: time by railroads now in course of con
struction, and will no doubt be in full
or,nra+Son hofnpa 4hpnn uaorS houn InOY
> added to our age; one will run through
/ the land, one within d mile, and a thirC
+ within twelve miles; it is n of the
most healthy and lovely portions of oul
State, with fish and game in abundance
andthe best grazing country to be found
!, Added to that is a large dwelling anC
outhouses, all waiting for a little cap,
ital and experience, of which | have
y neither. Now what can l do? l woulC
e willingly sell one undivided half, will
the understanding that the amount paiC
o was to be used in stocking and carrying
Z on the place. But those who have al
s idea of farming think they must go t.
Texas. Why are there so many anxious
to go there when better chances, will
less risk, exist in u Owl State?
l We venture to say that if "Clerk
would let himself be known, and dis
: tinctly offer advantages such as those
q extended by Mr.. Cross, and published
: in the Times of yesterday, the Texas
Ii tendency he complains of would, in tina
9 degree, be checked. We take the liberty
T Of inquiring how thepeople are to divine
that such possibilities exist, unless the
. proprietor invites attention to them
o Even with the letter furnished W,
are ready to assert that nobody vii
# guess who " Clerk is or where his land
are situated. The trouble is that he, a
u we'll as other landowners, are unwilling
to take the smallest trouble. With vas
n plantations lying idle, producing moth
4 ing, yet consuming large annual sum
" for taxes; depreciating steadilyin value
e though capable of being turned to prof
p for hundreds beside themselves; thes
gentlemen seem to rely upon PrOvidenc
to send them customers. Providenc
- failing to do this, and emigration con
e tinuing, in its Ignorance, ~toneglect Lou
# isiana, they complain. "Why do peopl
insist ON going to Texas, when they cal
get better lands and more liberal bar
IL gains in Louisiana?n Why, indeed, un
n less because Texas invites them AM
Louisiana don't?
- A WORD FOR A CoMRADE.-The Nev
/ York Times says Gen. Pendleton'
statement i'll a public lecture that Ger
le Longstreet was responsible for the los
- to the Confederates of the battle G
~TetfyShUrp. has called ont a letter fr0T