The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-10-17
TOBIAS ON A RAMBLE.
ALEXANDRA,
Oct. Is, 1S77.}

ALEXANDRIA,
Oct. Is, 1877
DEAR DEMOCRAT
I have just returned from rather
extensive ramble through the greater
portion of our grand old Parish and
part of Grant, and thinking that it
may be entertaining to your many
readers to know what I saw and
heard, I propose to give them the
benefit of my weeks travel.
CHENEYvILLE AND THE CROPS.
With a nice pair Of horses and buggy
from Col. McGinnis' complete sta
bles, I started last Monday for Che
NEVILLE which place reached after
an easy drive of thirty miles. I no.
ticed the crops closely as I passed,
and I am sure / never saw finer cane
nor better prospects for sugar crop
from the plant cane, than are to be
seen all along the road. The only
trouble is that none Of the planters
have any stubble, and the crops will
be short because they will have TO
save their seed cane for next wear
out of their plant cane Of this year.
think the cotton crop of the Parish,
and I have seen it nearly all, both in
the hills and on the low lands, will
be more than a good half crop. A
great deal of it will be wasted as it is
all open, and the hands can not pick
it out fast enough to save it all.
EVERYTHING looks flourishing around
Cheneyville; the people are in good
spirits, and there is happy, content
ed look about them in remarkable
contrast 10 the uneasy and unsettled
appearance they used 10 have in the
days of radical rule. Indeed, / no.
ticed this to be the case wherever I
have been in this Parish. Improve
ments are being made, bitches dug,
fences put up, and the bayou places
about Cheneyville are taking on
somewhat of their ante bellauN ap-
pearance. Four years Of peace and
quiet will make our bayou lands,
what they once were "the fairest that
e'er the sun shone on" Nowhere in
the world are to be found a more
hospitable and generous hearted PEG
pie than those around Cheneyville,
and in these qualities they are RI
vailed by all our people wherever one
may go. One result of my "trip has
been 10 confirm me in the pride /
have always felt in my native Par
ish, and like the old Romans, I carry
that prize with me everywhere.
CoLrAS AGAIN.
Returning from Cheneyville and
staying one night at home, started
OF again on Wednesday Tor Colfax
and the "Free State of Grant, which
place I reached late Chat evening
having some mole business before
the Cont of Lorenzo Smith the mex,
day. I had said in my last tina,
there were but eleven houses, and as
/ drove in counted them TO be sure
that l was right. found that I haG
uniot entionally wronged Colfax out
of two houses, and I desire TO make
the aGaende honorable. I mentioned
my plan 10 abolish the Parish tt
some Of The citizens, and l find then
{ opposed 10 it. This I was prepared
TO expect. They are, however, will
: ing 10 swap us Big Creek for thu
neck Of Rapides on this side of Rec
River that runs up opposite Colfax
And they say that that portion o
Rapides neither votes nor pays
, taxes. I call The attention of thu
Assessor ald Collector to that state
, ment. All around the town is a cot
} ton patch which comes up 10 tht
very back doors Of the houses. I an
still for plotting out Grant Parish
and giving it's territory back to thu
parishes from which it was taken
The formation of the Parish was on
of the worst jobs Of radicalism, and
hope TO see our next Legislature un
do the work, and can discover n,
other reason for their not doing it
> than that it may injure the privat
interests Of a very few persons. TIL
people Of che hills get their supple
= and bring their cotton TO Pineyille
and it will benefit them.
A LA JENKINS.
Coming down from Grant I foun
myselfjust in time TO attend a part
given by Che young gentlemen of Ct
. tile and the River, at the residence {
Mrs. Patrick, and your correspondent