The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-04-25
The Log War,
LAKE CHARLES, La, April 10, 1873

To the Editor Of the Picayune:
Since i see. you allow our simple but
truthful communications place in the
columns of your very estimable paper,
we wish to let something be known in
regard to the clog war; of Calcasieu.
The ''log war; is still raging on the
Calcasieu River. 1t has been falsely
reported throughout the country by
Special Agent Carter that it was over.
One part of the hog district has been
disposed of, but ON the Calcasieu River
\ it is still the same. We attribute this
4 to false reports of the so-called United
| States keepers, who have done all in
] their power to prolong the conflict,
fearing they would get out of employ
ment. They are now scattering the So
called Government timber" in the
swamps, SO that it will ever be worth
less to the Government or any one else.
Were Mr.. Garter aware of the hideous
fact, he would doubtless make some
disposition of it, There are now only
about 5000 logs still on hand, and we
| are reliably informed that the Govern
ment expense here.at present is between
$40 and $50 per day, and we know from
former experience that 5000 will more
than cover the number of logs that will
come out in twelve months; and they
are only worth about go cents per log
when they are out. Therefore the Gov
eminent will unGuestionably lose $11,-
400 if she holds the 5000 logs for an
other twelve months. The logs are de-
preciating in value every day, and now
II ~ /
and in few more months they Will be
entirely rotten.
The Government is trying to raft her
logs, and the consequence is every log
she gets to the mill costs Uncle Sam
about one quarter more than the value
of it. Many parties here who lost their
timber through the illegal seizure of
the Government have renewed their
energies, and gone to work and hauled
other timber since the 'sillegal ana con.
strlctive seizure" from patented lands.
And what, Mr.. Editor, do you suppose
has been them fate
Why, Special Agent Carter has a
pretended" U. S. Surveyor here, moth
ing but u strip OF q boy, who does not
know how to set his compass, and con-
sequently is obliged to get an old sur
veyor to set it for him.
Now. this young chap Geo. Brad
ford9 has done a great deal of harm
here, changing ainos every persons
land, and itmoud otbe strange should
he locate piece of Calcasieu land over
in Texas. In consideration of the above
we are prepared to say, without fear OF
contradiction, that he (G. Bradford)
knows no more about surveying than
savage Of the wilds of Africa.
1t is an evident fact that the people
ofsthis place will again be compelled to
call on the Governor of Louisiana for
foodunless relief is speedily had, though
suppose the honorable Governor will
not help thieves, as the good people OF
Calcasieu are called. Bat whether we
are thieves or not, remains for the high
est courts of justice to decide. Many
Of tue parties of the suit of the log war
have confessed judgment through ne
cessity. Poverty stricken, a mau will
condescendt to 40 anything. Can man
RESIST temptation when he sees hisco
panion wrapped in battered garments
and almost famished for the necessary
food to sustain life? We repeat, can
man fUrbear the acceptance Of anything
that promises relief, when he looks at
bis poor, naked and haggard children
crying around him /? All would the
Governor of Louisiana but visit this
county and see for himself the desti-
tute circumstances of this afflicted peo-
pie, he would doubtless have compass
sion on them. Yours, respectfully,
w. ID. j.