New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-05-03
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY, NAY 8 1874.
ST. TANAMANY PARISH.
CovINGIoN, April 26 l87 1.

ST. TAMMANY PARISH.
CovNGros, April 26 1874.
6DIToR REPUBLICANS:
You will pardon me if ! use your columns
to reply to about five hundred letters
which have received during the past
months from parties seeking information
about St. Tammany, of Q more definite
character than that given in my letters to
your paper.
In regard to the soil, will state that it
is not sandy as Seems to be taken for grant
ed by all. There is very little sand to be
found here, except on the banks Of the
rivers in bars deposited there by the action
Of the current. The subsoil is clay, valu-
BILE for brick making and the manufacture
Of pottery. This clay, when plowed deep
and mixed with fertilizers forms an excel
lent soil which produces fine crops of all the
staples, fruits and vegetables cultivated in
the South, and there is as little loss Of the
fertilizers put upon it a. have ever OBJ
served il any landslide Mississippi bot
toms not excepted.
The animals generally used in this parish
for farm purposes are the OK and Texas
tacky. These last have been found to be
sufficiently strong for the plow, are more
enduring and cost less to keep than any
other kind Of horse. For subsoi plowlng
and for breaking up new grounds two are
worked together; but after the land has
been well broken up, one to plow is all
| sufficient. They thrive well upon the native
grasses and cost in the city from SIS to $50,
according to quality. The OK is used in
| wagons almost exclusively, and find ample
subsistence on the range with the other
cat when not in use. They cost from $50
to $l25 pair. according to size and quality.
There is little or no opportunity for me-
chsnic to make living over here at his
trade, as the majority Of the people are too
Door to build fine houses or to add many
improvements to those already built. 1t is
farmers that are wanted, or men who wish
to become such. Unless people come here
with the intention of cultivating the soil,
they had better stay away. Another thing:
This is not the country for planting on a
large scale, as there are very few laborers
to be hired for extended periods for planta-
ton work. / advise men to come here who
wish to cultivate small farms with their
own hands, and insist upon it that any
| man can make himself absolutely indepen-
sdent here by his ewn exertions in two or
three years. OF course he will not be rich;
but he will make at home all he eats, be-
sides selling enough to purchase his cloth:
ing and other necessaries, and to leave a
surplus in cash to deposit in savings
bank. To do this he will not have to labor
harder or 80 many hours day as thou.
sands of clerks, mechanics, draymen and
day labOrers of your city, nor be SO much
exposed to the inclemencies of the weather
1 have been asked how much cash should
| person have who wishes to settle here and
open small farm! He should have at least
SOS to make the first payment on his land
SIS for horse, cart and farming imple
ments, and about 800 more to keep hin
and his horse until he can get some sort Of
crop raised. He can build his own house
from the trees growing all around him, and
put up his own fences. In this first settle
|
few months while opening bis farm, build
ing houses and fences, clearing up land, etc
But this over with, the balance is all plaiI
sailing.
: About means of reaching here. there is {
steamboat plying between the Tchefuncts
river and the lake end of the Pontchartrai1
railroad, which makes two trips week t.
Covington, and five trips week to Mande
vile and Madisonville during the winter
season, and during the summer there arr
excursion trips made at half price on every
Sunday and Wednesday in addition to th'
above. In winter it costs 81 Is to reacl
Covington from the city, in summer % 25
To Madisonville in winter s. 25, summer
81 IS. Vaudeville 81 Is in winter, ani
81 25 in summer. These prices include ca
; and hack fare. The officers Of the steamer
are very accommodating to persons living
over here, taking pains to deliver packages
baskets and freight promptly and safely
Freight on produce shipped to the city i
about one e-third of the price charged on tn
railroads, and less than that charged on thu
river, and on freight shipped this wal
equally low.
Provisions, such as -four, sugar, coffee
etc., cost about the same here as in the city
while we get beef, pork and mutton, chick
, ens eggs and butter at about half the pric'
you pay for them in your markets. Their
} is ready sale here for all kinds of farr
produce, either for goods or cash, and tn
farmer sells from his wagon without bein
called upon to pay license.
, Inregard to the kind OF fertilizers required
those most generally used are dropping
, from the cattle, composed with leave:
pine straw and muck taken from tn
swampy places, superphosphates, bon
dust, and the various other chemical ferti
izers sold in your city. Any intelligen
farmer can make all the fertilizer he need
: by little care and labor, as the material
are to be had in abundance all around here
The great body Of the lands of the paris
: are high above any danger from overfoo
and the residents can count upon absolut
exemption from fevers of all kinds, if b
takes the most ordinary care of himself.
These points which l give about cove
the numerous inquiries have had made
me, excepting that have forgotten to stat
that there is no demand here for lawyers
: doctors, music masters, dentists, carpenter
| painters, Office seekers or politicians.
F. A. B.
But six days only
But six days only