The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-11
OVER THE COUNTRY {.
III GoImmm EcvDted 70 the Interests ~
Asrisufture, Industrial Progress.
TrnnfEratIsn and General
information.
~ MARSHALL wINN,

NJ MARSHALL WYNN,
Id whom I'M communications for this department
sharid hi sddressed ~ the Office OF the NJ
DgMoonAT, No. ita 1ravier street,
Catahoula Parish. ....
This III one Of the old and originally
large parishes, and although portions
m IA territory have been cut OFT from
tinna III time for the formation OF new
parishes. il is still one Of the largest and
r1oat ssarsely settled parishes Oh the
state. The Ouachita river cuts 1t
into two unequal portions, the larger
being On the west side, which may
again be subdivided by an imaginary
Gafahoula Lake, on Little river, 70
Harrisonburg, on the Ouaehita. All
north of this line are rolling hills, except
the bayou, creek and branch bottoms,
which are very rich, and o few pine
and post-oak flats, which lie mostly
In tlle northern and northwestern por.
tons OF the parish, and are very poor,
vet contain many rich and fertile spots.
The soil OF these flats is generally o
clayey loan: that of the hills light,
sandy, underlaid with o clay sub
soil. The average yield OF these
hills ID about one.third OF bale
bushels OF corn, while the creek bot
toms and hammocks produce from one
half to a bale OF cotton and twenty TO
thirty.iiye bushels OF corn to the acre.
Many oil the hills are productive In oil
our field crops, vegetables and fruits,
and as they are not sufficiently high or
precipitous to wash badly, the land 10
susceptible of high state OF improve.
ment. On these hills are thousands or
acres oil Government lands, which, under
the homestead law, may be acquired
by actual settlers at b. cost OF about
ten cents an acre; there are other
and bottoms which may be bought on
very reasonable terms: and there are
vet other desirable lands which may be
had without money and without price,
~ we will show directly.
Returning now to our imaginary line !:
South OF Ii we find u low level country.
embracing the best portions OF Little,
Old and Black rivers, and also inelud-
ing Catahoula and Holloway's prairies.
Trinity III o thriving village OF four or
"a re- stores, chiefly supported by the
Little river country; 1t Is SO named
from the fact that itstands at the mouth
OF three rivers, viz, the Little, Ouachita
and Teneas. which here come together
and form Black river. While the Mis-.
sissippi levees opposites Natchez and
above that point remain open this re-
0ion is subject to inundation conse-
uuently these rich lands went under In
1s74, 1876 and 1876, and may possibly
(but not probably do so In 1877. Some
OF the planters have been casting about
for crop that will mature after the
waters subside In June; the desidera-
tum one gentleman thinks he has
found In the Chinese sugar cane, sor-
gnum, which yields about three barrels
or molasses TO the acre, worth $15 each,
7 or VAS per acre for six months work /;
whereas Ii 1t were not for the water he
would put In twelve months, often thir-
teen, on u crop of cotton, for which he
wouid,Tealize only about $40 per acre.
These figures show that for labor actu-
ally expended the sorghum pays rs per
cent more than cotton. The average
product OF these lands Ia about bale
Of the staple and thirty-fve to forty
bushels OF corn, and when the Missis'
Aasippi levees are rebuilt and made secure
This will be desirable locality, especial
ly 80 10 those who tcjN grow cotton, as
this region seems peculiarly adapted
to that culture. Most Of the tillable lands
of the Little river bottom lie within
AS or 80 miles OF It's mouth, or say below
Catahouia Lake. Abovs this point the
valley liz subject to overflow from the
late winter and early spring freshets,
and la only valuable for its forests OF
timber, much Of which finds its way to
the NV Orleans market, being cut In
summer and fall, while the swamp Is
dry, and hoatel out in the spring
freshets.
cATAHoULA LAKE
seems to be an enlargement OF Little
River. IL lies nearly In the shape OF a
crescent; il about % miles long by
from three to seven miles in breadth.
lib summer 1t goes nearly dry aud re-
Aassing through 1t, which furnishes an
abundant supply Of water for the herds
OF stock that grass on the grass which
springs up after the water goes off
Towards fail immense numbers of
geese and other wild fowl congregate
here and furnish fine sport to the hunt
ers. Near the head OF the lake lives
Mr.. Jay Boyer. Il public spirited farmer
who thoroughly appreciates the i'm
portanee OF attracting immigration to
hts parish, and who shows the true
spirit OF enterprise by Offering to donate
forty acres Of land to each family who
will build q home, open farm and Gull
tivate it for two years--to the extent OF
eight or ten applicants. The lands
which Mr.. Boyer thus offers to give
away consists Of hills and hammocks,
now In o virgin state, well yet not
heavily timbered with oak, pine, etc.,
furnishing abundance OF building and
fencing material, yet not 80 dense as to
render the clearing expensive. This Ia
good locality anu q rare opportunity
for a colony OF working farmers who
have the means of supporting them
selves until the first crop is gathered.
For further particulars, apply to Mr..
Boyer, ON the premises. or address him
ut White Sulphur Springs post office,