The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1873-07-19
The Eldorado Of the Union.
he Shreveport Times. !


about the resources of which so
little has been and so much might
be said as Louisiana, and thus
we find the currents of emigration
with their wealth creative ener
gies; flowing i'll other directions,
while our soft an vitalizing airs
blow over wastes of unequaled !
fertility which need but the pres |
ence and industry of man to be-
come luxurient fields, fruitful
orchards, and smiling gardens.
The report of the Agricultural
Department for 1871 reveals the
important fact, that the UGlWe of
products per acre Of Improved land
is greater in Louisiana than in any
other State or territory ofthe Union,
being S25 ~ per acre; yet the
great stream of European emigra-
ton has been steadily flowing to
the Western Safes, where the
value of products per acre is but
from 80 80 in Illinois to 81 81
in Nevada. When we consider in
this connection, that men are in
| fluenced in the selection of new
homes by the gains they may rea-
Sonably hope will reward their
tolls, these two facts, the vastly
superior fertility of the lands of
Louisiana, and the march of emf
| grafton in other directions, seem
paradoxical and we naturally in
quire for a solution of the prob
lem. The disagreement of the
State has certainly been the chief
obstacle to Its progress and devel-
opment, but it is a cheering fact
that that misgovernIent has not
acted so much against us in deter
ing emigrantS from seeking our
borders, as it has in creating de-
pondency among ourselves, and
paralyzing our efforts to lay the
vast advantage and capabilities
of the State before the laboring
classes abroad. Thus the remedy
is in a measure in our own hands,
and we have but to prove that
our energies and resolution, are
superior to our present fortunes,
to insure a remedy for the evils
that afflict us. The condition OF
our sister commonwealth, Texas,
gives us a clue to the golden fu-
ture. With lands showing pro
dutive value per acre, less than
: those of Louisiana, she is the
most thriving and progressive
State in the South, if not in the
Union. Emigration is pouring
. into her borders; railroads are
stretching out in every direction,
: and capitalists are unhesitatingly
investing their means in heI
lands, enterprises, and commerce,
The reason of this is, that her des
tin les are in the hands of the white
people; white men are developing
her resources, and she has white
voting majority of seventy-five
thousand. with a similar popu'
lation, with lands o. equal fertility
and a climate of equal SSaI%@ney
Why should not Louisiana become
equally prosperous. Looking at
the situation from this standpoint,
it seems to us that while we should
in no degree relax our efforts to
overthrow the present usurpatory
government of the State, we should
begin earnestly and energetically
to inaugurate and prosecute meas
ures to bring the vast advantages
Of Louisiana before the world
The organization of a Louisiana
immigration and Homestead Co.,
of which Gen. Beauregard is, we
believe, the head, is step in the
right direction and should com
mend the support of all classes of
our people. ub-associations should
be formed in every district if not
in every parish; pamphlets stating
truthfully the actual capacity of
the lands of each section; the
prices for, the quantity in and the
terms on which they can be pur-
chased by immigrants; the staple
products; nearest market; the ia,
cilities to market; school and
church facilities, should be got up
published in the several Europe
an languages and extensively cir,
culated. A fund shonld be raised,
to which every business man,
agriculturalist, mechanic-in fact,
every man interested in the pros,
perity of the State should sub
scribe to the extent of his means,
Efforts should be made to have
the fare for emigrants coming to
Louisiana on the Trans a tlantio