The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-01-08
LOUISIANA AND THE FUTURE.

have been very active in writing glow.
ing descriptive articles of their soil,
climate Sc., for the induccment of emf
grants to their country, while the peo-
pie of Louisiana have taken but little
| Or comparatively no interest in immi-
grafton; in fact the reverse has been the
case. People abroad have read of moth
ing but political strife, and they are
under the impression that Louisiana is
nothing more than resort for cut
throats and political thieves, where life
and property are unsafe. These false
impressions should be corrected as
speedily as possible, to prevent the
paralyzation Of the future prosperity OF
the State. Few people are aware OF
the vast extent of alluvial soil in Loui-
siana that will compare favorably with
the valley of the Nile river of Egypt,
or any other known region of the
world.
Something more should DC done, than
Il few men collecting on the public
squares, discussing the importance Of
immigration societies, and expressing
their surprise at people not coming here
to settle this productive soil, and live
in our genial climate. These private
discussions are not benefits to people
abroad. They hear of a great many of
them, and not Il word written. This
the way to induce people here? Our
rich land will not advertise itself, only
as men cultivate it, and write state
ments of the productions to the people
abroad. On a trip to Texas recently, l
was surprised to find nearly every
native Texan l met and conversed
with, an Immigrant agent. They said
to me, this is the white mans State :;
and we have 4 network OF railroads
throughout the State, that does away
with the old monotonous mode of wagon
travel that formerly took several weeks
and even months, to go from one por-
ton of the State to the other. This is
all very true, and their tiattering dcis-
criptions Of Texas, are almost startling
to the stranger.
The Denison (rexas) Herald claims
there are about l2,0o0 people going into
Texas every month, but does not say
how many are leaving the State. That
is I, bird of another color. On close
investigation l discovered there arc IL
great many things written and said
about Texas that Ovcr-r:,tcs that coln-
try very much. Tho railroad compa-
MICS own large tracts of land there, and
they are anxious to have people go
there and buy Of them. Hence, the
immigration societies arise. They en-
ploy. the best talent of the land to write
descriptive articles of the country, and
even publish newspapers and books for
gratuito,s distribution. They sell
emisr,nt tickets from all parts Of the
United States for nearly half the price
one can go back home on if dissatisfied.
The dissatisfaction is not tho question
with them. Their object is to get pco.
pie there and compel them to stay if
dissatisfied, by making them so poor
they cannot get away. If an article is
worth $40 and they charge you $l5 for
inc same aftlc!e, you are - 100 poor TO
purchase it, as the case with the rail-
road ticket. l speak from personal Oh
servation. ] saw trains crowded with
people leaving Texas, some crying and
some cursing the State and its misrcp-
reservations, and some in all sorts OF
deplorable conditions.
say to the people, do not act toe
| hasty. There are other States as well
| as Texas that are not filled up with
people, that furnish as good and better
natural advantages for the husband
man and other occupants. 1 sugges
! Louisiana as being the best of any o
| the Southern States for the settler. The
natural advantages here for obtaining
food surpasscs any other known regions
/ South. The quick growth of crops, The
fish of the rivers and lakes, wild game
of all sorts that abound in inexhausti
bic quantities all arc advantages 70
beginning life in new country is th
most trying time on the settler. l
y III