The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1878-11-09

Ipoltion Of Cameron parish lying
aiong the gulf coast, from the Crane
Cheniele island OH the east tc
Johnson's Bayou on the west.
| The Grand Cheniere is an island,
lying parallel with the Mermentau
river, and extending from its mouth
iiortllwardly about twenty miles.
A narrow strip Of land, averaging
halfa mile in width, and lying along
the river Mermentau, is the only
portion of this island ft fer cnltiya-
ton, the remainder being salt marsh
bordered By the Gulf of Mexico.
The only road on the island runs
north and south, along the south
ern edge OF this marrow strip of ara
BILE land, which ii cut up into small
farms, running back to the Mer-
mentau riyer. We had heard for
many years marvellous accounts OF
the fertility Of this arabic land on
the Grand Cheniere, of ifs being
uniformly held at 4 valuation Of
fifty dollars per acre, and especially
Of its merits Us fruit growing re-
gion, but a personal inspection sat
isfied us that these accounts were
notexaggeIated. The soil is light
loan, except near the river, where it
lis much heavier. On nearly every
farm there IL fine growth oforange
trees, presenting the appearance Of
an orange grove nearly twenty
miles long. The scale insect has
never visited this island, and these
orange trees are remarkable for
their thrifty and vigorous growth, |
bearing quality and excellence OIL
fruit. zn a very few years the or i
ange crop Of the Grand Cheniere
viii amount annually TO several
thousand dollars. Cotton,
sugar cane, sweet potatoes, and all
kinds OF fruit trees thrive here, and
with an unusually fertile soil |
and healthy climate the inhabitants
Df the Grand Ghenicre are evidently
prosperous and happy
people. From Grand Cheniere
westward about twenty miles, to
yalcasieu Pass, where the court
loase Of Cameron parish il located,
he public road runs along d high
'idge near the Gulf Coast. These
'idges Of arabic land, running par
lllel with the coast, generalss from
me hundred TO one hundred and
ifty yards vide, with salt marshes
,etween then, are apeculiar feature
4 this parish Here, as Oh the I
srand Cheniere, small and highly Fl
cultivated farms are the rule, nearly
Al of them llayinga few fruit trees, d
pcluding the orange. tits claimed /
" the farmers of this section, as 4
70 approach the Calcasieu Pass, 4
bat their arabic land is really bet /
~. Il
er than that of the Grand CEenierc, y
ecause of heavier Soil. This claim Z
lay be due To 4 natural rivalry (
m0ng farmers, but IL Is certain ihe
oil 0f this Latter neighborhood is
excellent quality. There is AL U
sady quite A village growing up s
round the court house, which il =
Gated Oh the eastern STORE Of the y
aicasieu Pass, about two miles y
,eye its confluence with the Gulf y
be Pass-that portion Of the Cal, y
'sieu river between the Gulf ofI X
exieo aud the lower end OF Calca- n
eu I4ake-is about six miles long. II
ae current here Is very strong
hen the tide is running out, and 4
+ nearly The whole distance The :,
a of the river ~ covered with :,
'ster reefs. Tie oysters aie now
excellent condition. and of s,asnnA Ss
u quality, n
Guessing tbe Calcasiea Pass, at Y
tf's ferry, The road from there to "a