The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-30

Tangipahoa, etc) In our journey throug
this space of country, occupying about ninety
SIX square miles, we cross the Que Tortue, tn
Plaquemne Brulle,- the Mallet, the Cannes
the Nezpiques, Calcasieu, and arrive at the
sabine in the western boundary of the State
all these being considerable streams, with an
average width of sixty-six feet, and q depth
sufncient to allow the passage of an ordinary
sized schooner, and with o little expense and
time may be widened and deepened enough to
permit larger vessels to enter, thus obtaining
uirect communication with the gulf, as all OF
them empty into it. The banks of these riv.
ers are covered for q distance of two and three
miles IN thickness with timber, comprising the
oak, elm, ash, walnut, sasafras, mulberry, pop
| lar, hickory, magnolia and pine. The soil is
rlch, and can easily produce wheat, oats, bar
ley, sweet potatoes, cotton and corn. The
grape grows here beautifully, as also the or.
ange, peach and cherry. Between these rivers
are prairies which extend for miles in some
places; and here too the soil is rich, and it is
of black, mellow nature, generally undula-
ting, and in some places billy. The grasses of
these prairies are excelently adapted for tho
support of cattle many herds of COWS and
horses numbering several hundred may be saen
feeding on the wild grass that grows around
them, and no finer cattle can be found in the
great prairies of the West or in Texas in fact,
less trouble is taken by the farmer hero in
raising his cattle than possibly in any other
part of the United States All kinds of stock
keep in good condition during the winter with
ont any other food than the prairies afford
and sheltering them from cold, as is necessary |
nOrtharn ri nno FAC 10 kbou s
In raising stock for market, such as hogs, for
instance, it has been proven that no better food
can be given them than sweet potatoes, and
when it is remembered, as has already been
shown, how we'll adapted is this part of the
State for the growth of this esculent, one hun
lred and fifty to two hundred bushels to the
'cre being an easy average, it will be readily
een that a much better pork can be obtained
han by feeding with corn.
At present there is some difficulty in bring
ng produce to the market, the Sabine and
Mississippi rivers being the principal means of
to Texas aud New Orleans; and
When the farmer finds himself in the interior
etween these streams, he is under no little ,
but this will very soon be
emedied. The New Orleans Mobile and Texas
sailroad will shortly traverse the entire coun-
ry betW cen the Mississippi and the Sabine, :
nd branch road frcm Vermillion vile, on the :
ermilion river, to Shreveport, on Red river, -
connect with tho Great Southern Pacific, -
ill soon be constructed, aud communication -
18th Texas and New Orleans will be easy and g,
reap; even now, while write, that portion .,
the road west of the Mississippi river and q
'st of the Sabine, long in litigation, has =,
sen taken from tho hands of the Sheriff by y
10 United States Marshal, under an order of al
e United States Circuit Court, and turned q,
er to it's owners, who are preparing for i'm cI
ediate work. Already the road 10 graded to n
de Charles, fourishipg town the lake ii,
that name, and nothing remains to be done an
It lay the ties and rails. ma
1t may be asserted, therefore, as a proposition or
at cannot we'll be controverted, that oppor
mites for the employment of both labor and
pital are to be found in this State, not ex- OF
,ded by the profits that may be realized by Gu
y of the great enterprises of the day. Here Cd
me state that il is a matter of general belief ny
It the saline atmosphere of the coast pre- sa'
nts or diminisbes the tendency to miidew M
! rot generally witnessed In the grape in me
re interior sections, and this alone is an aoe
ucement to capital which will bear coDsid- the
ton. Again, it cannot be denied that in grit
immediate neighbOrhood of Lake Charles I've
which the CalcaSieu river runs, the OF aDge tim
ure is as successful as anywhere in the CEN
ntry. sui
his portion of the State is also we'll supplied ~"
b mineral deposits. Gipsum, mari, potters -
aoa,,.,,,, -. -, ..t.,,,i.t,.,s - lily
The purpose af obtaining sulpher from the T
tense mine near the Calcasieu river. sarJ
be interior of this country, Just family bra
ribed, lies about two hundred miles west In Z
Tow Orlsaus sud With the Ssfirosd sboVe holi