Richland beacon., 1877-05-26
OUR MONROE CORRESPONDENCE.
MONROE, La, May %, 1877.

Monroe, La, May %, 1877.
Dear Btaton:
have been thinking 70, some time that ]
would furnish your columns with few items
from this place, and can think of no period
more convenien, for this purpose than the
present, as Monroe, on account Of the over
flow, is inaccessible to the greater portion Of
your readers, who consequently know but
very little about her local interest.
Business in our little city is exceedingly
dull The overflow deprives ms of great
deal of trade from your parish, and our own
neighborhood armers, approaching the present
golden opportunity to slaughter grass, and thus
accelerate the growth of their crops, are
seldom seen on our streets
The weather is so hot that there is no en-
joyment in anything but sitting in the shade
with coat and shoes Off fan in hand, and
plenty of ice water hardly.
Our District Court, which convened here
five weeks ago, is still in session Judge
/ Parsons presdes with the dignity of a iirst-
class jurist, AMI District Attorney Potts is faith
fully pioseccting the law breakers The
/ greater portion of our jurors are negroes, and
! so are most Of those who are subjects of so
/ much legal procedure. The indictments are
/ many but the convictions are far.
Our Baptist friends are erecting, AT the
! corner of 81 John and Gramn ont streets, -
/ Church edifce. which will he completed
about tie last of June. This will be the most
magnificent hense of worship in North Lon
i>iana and reflects great credit upon Mr.
Nelson the architect, and also The denomna-
ton in its first effort 10 have a meeting house
here. Rev. Mr. Friley. who has been absent
for Two weeks, in attendance upon The Sonth-
ern Baptist Convention, returned last Saturday.
Rev Mr. Moss pastor Of the Methodist Church
here went To Delhi on the last trip of the
train, to remain with that division OF his
charge until the wafer zoe, down. His place
here is filled by his assistant, Rev. J. Lane
Borden. Rev. Mr.. Allison is attending The
General Assembly OF the Southern resby-
terian Church. IN session in New Orleans.
Rev. Mr. kelis has 80 far recovered his health
as to be able for pulpit duty, if the cveriiow
was not in the way Of his work
The Methodist and Presbyterian Sunday
Schools each gave pic.nic week before last;
the former at the Mound four miles north,
and the latter al Pargourd Point one mile
south of town. Each was largely attended,
handsomely provided for, and conducted in a
manner exceedingly attractive and richly
enjoyable 10 all, especially the Second part,
which came off at - O'Clock VI. Your
correspondent had the good fortune to he on
hand each day and knows whereofhe speaks.
spent Two days last week on the Island
near Ouachita City. Corn and oats were very
promising in appearance, and cotton, winch
was injured by the late cool spell, was coming
out and looking well. The Island comprises
some of the most beautiful and desirable
portions of Ouachita and Morehouse parishes,
and in point OF fertility, is equal 10 any land
in the State. passed many extensive negro
settlements, which are well improved, and
exhibit prominence in points of industry and
economy, OF which its inhabitants have
every Imaginable reason to be proud.
conversed with many negroes, and found
every one delighted with the change OF gov
eminent in our State. They all expressed
the nselves as being exceedingly thankful for
an opportunity to retire from POLITICS INTO
which they were duped by carpet baggers and
scalawags) and devote their whole time to
the up-buIlding of their local interest and the
elevation of the moral, religions and literary
standard of their race. With the advantages
Of good range, productive soil, and total
remuneration of politics. see no reason why
the negroes in that locality should not DC
financially independent a, no distant day.
am glad To hear that your parish has moi
generally and seriously suffered from the over
flow. ! hope that you will be relieved in a
few days.
Our gardens are needing rain. The streets
are nearly shoe mouth deep in dust, which
added to the extremely hot weather, render.
lt ltcomo,ion as unpleasant "a have ever s,er
IT,
, Wishing your lau'lable enterprise an abun
, dani success, am very tr"ly y""s.
GUS.