The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1875-08-19
Communicated
OPEDoUsAs. July 25, 1875.
EDITcR OPEIoUsAs CoURTEB !:

Having Just returned, In cOmDa-
ny with friend, from hunting
and fishing excursion in the parish
of Calcasieu, I cannot allow the
opportunity to pass Ly without
giving you some of the particulars
of our trip.
Leaving here on the LIST inst,
our first halt was made ut the
Pointe-aux Loups Springs, where
their venerable proprietor, Mr.. A.
B. Cart, welcomed us with his
usual cordiality. Our next halt
was at Mr.. Henry Welsh's, and on
the morning Of the 3D., at about Ii
o'clock, we reached Lake Charles.
the smoke of whose saw mills is
discernibIe at considerable dis
tsnce. This little village is rapidly
increasing in size and population,
thanks to the advantages which
the country offers to emigrants. A
pretty little lake whose surface is
daily dotted over with both steam
ers and sailing vessels conveying
lumber to Galveston, Corpus
Christi and other points, and
bringing back manufactured ar
ticles in exchange thereof, and IL
IA saw mills situated within a cir
cmt of less than ten miles, con
tribute in no incoDsiderable degree
to attract emigrants, as may well
be imagined. But that which |
seems destined soon to become the |
principal branch of industry in the |
neighborhOod of the lake aad along |
the Calcasieu river, which crosses |
it, is the culture of the orange,
which grows there to perfection. |
There prevails in The neighbor- |
hood what might be called an cpl
demic fever for the culture of |
oranges, and we were told of sew
eral parties who have nurseries
containing several thousand trees,
each one of which will, in few
years, yield from so to $40 worth
IF oranges, and soon lead to a
'apid fortune.
We had The pleasure of visiting |
he fine domain of Capt. Coos, on
he Calcasieu river, at about a mile
md a half from Lake Charles. But
hat gentleman does not confne
himself to the culture of the
orange; the grape comes in for a
hare of his attention, and we saw
here some vines that would re-
leCt no discredit upon the hus-
,andmen of Bordeaux. This do
main (since / have given it that
itle} is really a magnificent prop
rty, whose early value can scarcely
,e overestimated. There is on it
n immense orange orchard, one
+ the finest saw mills in Louisiana,
nth a planning and growing ma
hine,' an orchard OF fabulous di-
pensions where fruit trees of all
inds thrive exceedingly well, a I
garden which furnishes
for 40 persons, a large
unber Of comfortable houses for
he use of Mr.. Goos's numerous J
and, ID the center of
lese buildings, a large, two-story {
ssidence. Here resides Capt
zoos, one of the pioneers of naVi-
alton and Of the saw mill business i
! CalCasieu, with his numerous a
imily. This noble old man, after g
ID manner Of the feudal barons Of I
le middle ages has reserved ia his I
,sidence q hall go feet in length Z
7 30 in width, where he regularly h
ives feast followed by ball on p
10 occasion of the marriage of :
ly OF his Numerous employees,
hich feasts the members of his 4
mily grace by their presence, mn- \
cal talent and urbane manners. /
In 1870, the population Of CAL !
.sieu was 600; to-day it exceeds /
1000; which shows that emigra- !
IN is rapidly pouring in this par +
b, where the pine forests are 4
emingly inexhaustible, aud lum- I
II is the principal product. n
Leaving Lake Charles, we struck
II for Che rigions of the deer and 4