The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-06
IMMIGRATION.
WESTERN LOUISIANA
Prosperity of the Settlements Already Formed.
SECOND ARTICLE.

Mississippi river and west of Pearl river. But
before doing so thought 1 would add few
remarks On Western Louisiana which will give
the reader some idea of the fast growth of that
country even under such obstacles as referred
to last week for necessarily, after painting in
such glowing terms the true advantages exist
ing here, it may be asked where is the proof
I confined my remarks to the territory lying
west Of vermifiion river and east of the Sa-
bine, and Twill now give you statement of
some of the fruits of industry that ate to be
seen every hand through this expanse. 1
will not, however, occupy your valuable space
with description of the viciuities in which
no public lands lie, as my motiveis principally
to induce, if possible, actual settlers upon
cheap basis, viz, under the homestead laws
before referred to.
The first settlement we come to is Poupper-
Vile, lying on the line of the New Orleans
Mobile Sc Texas Railroad, at about fifteen miles
west of Vermillionville. 1t contains some two
or three stores and post Office, and is about
two and half miles from the Plaquemine
Brulle and mile from the Que Tortue. Here
may be seen two or three fourishipg farms all
obtained under the homestead iaw-within the
last three years. We next come to Plaq uemine
Brulle, another post Office; here too are to be
seen two or three saw mills doing thriving
business, also several comfort able farms, nearly
all obtained under the homestead law; the
community here is self sustaining, and al
though it seems isolated is as independent q
community as can be met in Louisiana. Furth
er on we have the settlements on the Nezpique.
Here too are several saw mills and t1ourishipg
farms; the English speaking element is fast
settling here, and their thorough knowledge
of farming is easily perceptible there are
few German families who have come here but
a year ago who already excel their neighbors
in comfort At the head waters of the Nez-
pique, known as the Cannes and Mallet, we
find what is known as the German Settle
ment," or Fabacher." This place is situated
about twenty miles southwest of Opelousas
and about fifty miles north of the Gulf. Three
years ago it was entirely unknown, when q
wealthy German citizen of New Orleans adopt
ed the idea of settling here, and with that
purpose in view he sold out his possession in
New Orleans, and, inducing twenty or thirty
German friends in Germany to immigrate
here with their families, he secured homesteads
for each and Immediately commenced settle
ment that, comparatively speaking, cannot be
several saw mills, grist mills, etc., doing a
splendid business, and each of these twenty or
thirty families have their own log cabins, and
are living in perfect comfort; a post Office is
also here and one or two stores. Leaving Fa-
bacher, we will now cross over the Calcasieu
prairie to Lake Charles, but enough is al
ready known of this place, we will travel fur
ther on and go to Vincent Settlement" on
the Calcasieu river. Here there is already a
voting population of sixty seventy; the
farmers here also self-sustaining, not hav-
ing any means OF transportation by which
they might be enabled to ship their produce to
market, they raise their own vegetables and
other necessaries, This portion of Calcasieu
parish is covered with " sloughs," which the
farmers use to great advantage they erect,
during the wet season, u kind of reservoir by
daming the slough at certain places, thereby
procuring good land for rice, which, when
necessary, can be Hooded from the reservoir.
1t produces sufficient lice for their families for
the year, and leaves enough to feed their oxen
with, in fact they find this a much cheaper es-
cuient than corn or oats, and as equally nutri-
tious. We next come to Big Woods" about
two miles from the west fork of the Calcaseu
river. This place has voting population of
eighty or ninety, and, although at present iso-
lated like the former place just referred to- is
in way inferior in prosperity to many better
favored localities. Further on come to
" Sugar Town." or Sugar Bayou" place of
nearly two hundred voting population. Lastly
we come to Hickory Flat Post Offfce," which
has voting population of about one hundred.
This voting population, referred to in severa
just passed, is within radius of
ten miles, and it is composed principally of
English speaking people.
These are only few of the proofs existing
in favor of my former assertions that the IA |
cilities for settling here are inferior to nowhere
else in the Union. And when remember
that two or three of the settlements just de-
soribed were commenced but couple of years
ago and in the face of so many obstacles, such
as the want of railroad, ETC., it cannot be
that visit t. that part of Lou