Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-02-16
RICHLAND PARISH.
Its History. Population, So.
ciety, Wealth, Climate.
Health, Soil. Products,
Re -ources, Water,
Timber Trans
portation
Facilities.
ETC.
BY THE EDITOR.

ne PdTisu VI RIcniauu - new
one, being organized in 1869, under
an act Of the Legislature ef 1868;
was composed Of portions Of Moore
house. Ouachits. Caldwell, Franklin
and Carroll parishes; is bounded on
the north by the parishes of West
Carroll and Moorehouse; on the ess,
by the parish Of Madison, On the
south by Franklin and on the west by
Ouacbita and Caldwell; is Of an oh.
long shape rather than any other, and
contains about $50 square miles,
having the Bayou Macon for it's east
boundary liuc and Bayou Lake La.
fourchc for its west boundary line.
Like all new countries, that are
continually receiving accessions to
their population. its population is not
easily estimated; but according to the
beat data in our possession. we place
it between 1000 AMI 5000, the last
nur,ber being. perhaps. nearer the
correct figures; the two races (whi.e
and colored) being about equally rep
resented.
The white population is composed
principally Of intelligent, educated,
refined and hospitable people. being
old planters and their offspring. mod.
crate farmers. professional men. me-
cbanics and trades peuple. We do
not mean tha, they are all models ot
morality. sobririy and refinement
for We have our share Of dissipated
aud immoral characters, like other
cOmmunities-else there would lie no
need of criminal courts in our parish
but We do mean that Richland parish
is 40 average community in this re-
spect.
The colored population ia composed
principally Of the former slaves of the
while citizens Of the parish-some OF
them still employed on the pie ntations
Of their former owners. These peo-
pie are generally Industrious, peace
ably disposed aud are improving quite
rapidly Intellectually and. we hope.
morally. taking all things into con-
sidcration. Their children have equal
advantages with those of the white
people SO far as The disbursement of
the public school fund is concerned.
but not 10 regard to the employment
Of teachers, because very few of their
own race are competent to teach,
while very few white persons Of suit
able moral character aud capability
can be induced to take charge of .
colored school; and, unlike most of
the white people. they depend en-
tirely on the public school fund for
the education OF their children, which
is not at all sufficient to give them el-
emeotary instruction.
Our society is what msy he termed
good, IS might be Inferred from pre-
vious remarks. There are two Ma
sonic Lodges in the parish. Que at
Delhi aud the other ut Rs, vile. with
very good memberships; while there
is . number of Odd Fellows 10 oil
parts Of the parish. and at one time
there was . lodge at Delhi. bot the
charter was surrendered about two
years ago.
The preponderatiog religious de-
nominations are Baptist, Methodist
and Presbyterian, ranking in nun.
bers in the order in which they are
named. while there are . few Episco-
pals and Catholics 10 all parts Of the
parish; and we are glad to say that
the pernicious and new doctrines Of
freclovism and spiritism have never
found . Judgement here, aud if either
OF them has On advocate in the parish
We have never been informed Of the
fact. In fact, our people are real old.
fashioned Christians, so far as their
religious opinions are concerned. and
our men are ss cbivslrous and gal
liant defenders and devoted worship
ers Of female purity and conpubial
fidelity as ever brcathed the fee cir
of heaven.
And right here. we may as well
say Is elsewhere. that a. much as We
desire immigration and as strong On
advocate as We are Of free aud un-
trammelIed religious opinions, we
want none to come among Us who have
their minds aud hearts polluted With
such pernicious ideas; end Nc guar
aniee to oil who do not bring them
with them that their families will not
imbibe such dangerous notions from
their associations with our people;
for they are guarded against BY tho
good people Of our parish % destruc-