The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1878-04-27
Our Town and Parish.

Natchitoches is town OF about 400 inhabl'
tants, situated on Cane river, stream navlgabfe
during the winter season by tho largest class OF
steamboats,, and within four miles Of Red River,
which is navigable during the entire year. The
New Orleans Pacific Railroad, now In course of
construction, will pass within ten miles, South
and West of IA efforts have been made to Sc
cure tap road which we are certain will he
effected. At present we are within ~ hours
run of New Orleans, per steamer, and within Is
hours Of Shreveport where railroad communl'
cation is open to all Western and Northern
markets.
Our town has three churches, Catholic Epis.
hopal aud Methodist, (the latter in course Of
construction), attended by large and growing
congregations, while numerous churches Of the
same denominations, and the Baptist, are scat
tered throughout the parish, neutrality-suspicious.
facilities as good as in any section. We have
three handsome school buildings, and numerous
nriyate and public schools in the town, whilst
over 40 public schools were sustained dnriDg
he past year in the parish, through the public
school fund.
Public education is attracting great atrenton
and during the one year which the native citi'
zen has had control of them it has been shown
that the Importance Of a good common school
education is not to be overlooked. Some trou.
bic has been had in securing the services Of
| competent instructors. but in short time all
difficulties now attending our public schools
will be overcome
Natchi.oches has over 40 stores and business
| houses, blacksmith shops, and wagon and cart
| shops; while there is great demand for mann
! factories none have yet sprung up. Foundry
would nav we'll here, as al-o would wagon and
| pillow factories, cotton and WOOL mills, planlng
| machines, etc
The town and parish are growing some in
population, and recuperating from the long rule
of the errpet.bagger and Ignorant negro; as in
| Ct the State aud the whole South. The popu.
| ation of the parish is about 10000 while there
| IL ample room for ten times that number not
! more than onetenth of the areable land being In
cultivation. The soil around this town IL allu
vial and as rich as any in tho world, while it is
| iuexhaustabIe. Farmers raise Cotton, Corn,
| Oats, Sugar Cane, Rice (highland) Grasses, To-
| bacco; and our climate makes this section con
genial for the yield Of grains Of all kinds. AZ
a stock country this Is unsurpassed. Our WIN
! ters are mild, never beginning before the early
part of December, and rarely continuing later
| than the last Of February. Much attention has
been given, within the last two years, to the I'M
hogs, and within short time this section will
successfully compete with any iii the Union
| IN them.
Good land can be had for from % to ~ per
acre. The price being regulated by improve
! ments location &c. House rent in town from
| IS to $50 per month. Good comfortable tene
| ment houses rent readily for $40 per month
Crops are cultivated on the share system, YER,
| few paying wages.
As home for an agricultural population thi:
section has few to equal it, certainly none al
nerior and all such would meet with hearty
and generous welcome. We desire. and especi
ally invite mechanics, agricnlturists and CAPT
| talists from the North to come among us, ~
| obey the laws forget all prejudices. work hard
and to aid us in building mp orr town and par
sh, and bringing prosperity within our gates
| TO all such we say. CONE We have the HOMES
| to exchange for your brain aud muscle.