The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-08-30
IMMIGRATION.
WESTERN LOUISIANA.
Climate, Soil, Timber Growth and Commercial
Advantages
FIRST ARTICLE.

Sesing that you have so gallantly taken ny
ensscause OF immigration, and in an articl,
signed " Wandering Celt " depicted so beau
IituL Wine advantages of settling in Louisi
ana, have gained courage to ask your per
MISSION to add few suggestions thereto
| which, if of no benefit, will certainly, 1 feel
be of no harm to that noble cause. There has
been, MIR. Editor, great deal said on this sub.
Ject within the last few years. and it has been
| so zealously championed through the press of
this city tnat it would seem as though room
for argument were exhausted but considering
infinitely the manner in which the subject has
been handled, am led to believe and think
your readers will agree with Inc, that the great
part OF EIgr nents put forth in favor of immi
grafton has been in behalf of taking no homes
on shares" or, in other words, renting a
certain area of land from owners of iargs bod
les on condition of paying the taxes and fur
nishing small rent. This, certainly, is by no
means reprehensble, for it is a noble idea.
moved, 10 doubt, by philanthropic desires, and
1t is to be regretted that there are not more of
these Philan throphists in our midst; but WHY
not picture to our friends abroad a more easy
method of obtaining lands in this State, and
one more conducive to their material interest ?
fonr correspondent, Wandering Celt," has
gwen your readers faint idea of the udvan-
taSes put forth by The Government to induce
settlers to come here, and be Las also described
some OF the natural resources existing in the |
western portion of the State, but he has not |
SO graphically described the modus operandi |
OF obtaining the benefits of these advantages
nor given sufficien: description of the re-
sources OF that garden spot of Louisiana; and
with due respect for his ability in the matter
VIII eDdeavor, with the limited knowledge
possess, to give the most vital points necessary.
Under the acts of Congress- already referred
o in your correspondents article, viz, both of
day, 1862, 21st of June, 1868, 9Th of June, 1879
title to l6O acres, or less, can be obtained
pom payment of SD, OF less, according to the
uantIty below l6O acres; and upon fling an
hidavit that the applicant is a citizen of the
United States, or has previously fled his declar-
ton to become one, and is the head of family, ,
r over twenty-one years of age or has served
OF less than fourteen days in the United ,
tates army or navy during the late war. The =
My condition attached to this is that the ,
arty applying must reside on the land for five o
ears before obtaining perfect title to the /
me.
Now no one actually desiring to settle and y
AXE good permanent home here, can object
this condition. The fee is small and it is the
lly fee, with the exception of four dollars
ore at the expiration of the five years to OBJ :
in the final title, that is required and until -
g five years elapse and title is obtained, no
xes are to be paid upon the land, nor can it
seized for debt. One hundred and sixty IL
res is certainly small quantity of land, u
ing half mile square, and surely the modus ca
erandi of obtaining title TO it is far better &c
an anything Yet put forth by land owners ia III
8 or any other country. Ie
This is patent TO oil and cannot be disputed Tn
some may many have said to me, We
wouldn't be bothered with that kind an
title, You are liable to lose it at m'
moment if You don't go on the lbs
d." This is never said by men sctu- el'
? intending to become farmers, and immi- tu'
nts here who come for the sole purpose of int
ling, can feel as safe on this conditional cui
g as if they were upon lands purchased for cor
usands of dollars and described upon velIum
etTers of gold. - wi
IaviDg shown the means of obtaining these ore
is, it may be asked (" what kind of land is air
70 get on these conditions 7" Permit me to for
duct you over that portion known as West imI
Louisiana, lying between the Vermillion I
the Sabine rivers. (SOme other day we des
travel over fie pineries u S. Tammany, or