The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-04-05
Letter from Gen. p. O'Marah.
From the Shreveport Times

EDITOR TINES: On taking
leave of my friends at Shreve-
port, [ promised on my return
home. to write brief letter, Civ
ing any observations while trav-
cling through the Southwest, and
contrasting what | had seen in
Texas with what | had observed
in North Louisiana.
Well, | have travelled over a
considera bic of Texas, and | be-
lleve the best part of it. and from
all | have seen and could learn, [
certainly am more favorably i'm
pressed with Shreveport and
North Louisiana than any por-
ton of Texas that | have been in.
In the first place, [ believe the
climate Of North Louisiana to be
better than that of Texas. It is
more even and healthy, not sub
ject to as many changes, and
being free from those terrible
northers that come up sometimes
without a moments notice, and
continues for two or three days
at time; besides, the people in
North Louisiana show a greater
degree of health; they look more
robust and hearty than those [
met in Texas. They are the most
generous, genial and kind heart
ed people to be found anywhere,
and offer the strongest induce
ments to Northern emigrants to
come and settle among them. I
believe North Louisiana to be
the best place for a poor man, or
one in middling circumstances
to settle in. There are more we'll
TODD planters there that would
assist a poor white man in need,
If found worthy. Besides there
is at present any quantity ofim-
proved and open lands and much
of it with buildings on them that
can be had at as low a price as
lands in Texas, thereby avoiding
the cost of clearing, improving,
etc. This certainly is a great
item with a new settler, particu
larly if his funds are a little
short The farmer in Louisiana
is sure of his crop if he cultivates
properly. There are no long
drcugbts to parch it up and
crack the ground open to that
extent that in many places the
openings are large enough to
bury a calf. Then there is the
grasshopper; that plague that
destroys every particle Of green
vegetable growth that comes in
its way. They are in the vicini-
ity Of Austin now, plenty of
them. Whether they will stay
to destroy everything before
them or not, I can't say. Iknow
the settlers are considerably
alarmed, fearing the damage
they may do. Then again, the
lands in Louisiana are as fertile,
and, perhaps more so, than those
In Texas, with a greater diversi-
ty Of soil. Besides there is a
greater and better variety of
tim her in North Louisiana.
Ill fact, were it not for the
magnificent timber forests in
North Louisiana a great portion
of the prairies of Texas would
never be settled.
Then there is water commu-
nlcation to the gulf, and large
bayous where the timber can be
Heated out to the river or mill.
together with the railroads com
pleted, and in contemplation of
being soon built, all of which
will add very materially to the
prosperity of that portion of the
State, and will make Shreveport,
in my opinion, place of more
Importance commercially, than
any city in Northern or Middle
Texas.
What the people ofLouisiana
need most at present is respon-
slble self-government. When
that Is obtained and a few of
the railroads now in contemnla-