St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-08-21

C.p,c-POpuIafiOn,e extent, &C., &c.
BOUNDARIES, AREA, AND MEANS OF
TRANSPORTATION.
Tn view Of the fact that but little
ID known of this section Of Louisi-
ana. we purpose to lay before our
readers and the general public as
nrecise a description of our parish
and as complete history of it as
onr own personal knowledge will
afford.
The parish of st. Landry is next
to the largest one i'll the State. 1t
* bounded on the north by the par
ishes of Rapides and Avoyelles, on
the east by the last named parish
and the Atchafalaya river, Oh the
south by bayou Turtle Tail (Which
separates it from the parishes of
LAFAYETTE, st. Martin and Vermil-
lion) and the bayou Carancro, and
on the west by the Mermentau river
and bayou Nez Pique. These limits
embrace about sixty-tive townships
equal to one million four hundred
and fue thousand acres Il 400, 00O).
1t will be seen that the parish is
mostly surrounded by water, giving
it somewhat the character of an
island. This fact will undoubtedly
have great weight with men of prac-
teal sense, especially the farmer and
stock raiser, with whom water is of
prime Importance. Besides its value
for the purposes of stock-raising,
there is the greater one, if possible,
Of affording the means of transpor-
tation. On the east are the bayou
Courtableau and the Atchafalaya
river, connecting with the Missis-
sippi river and thence to New Or
leans; and on the west the Mermen-
tau river opens to us the ports of
Galveston and New Orleans, ria the
Gulf Of Mexico. With the compile
ton of the Morgan line Of railroad
to Opelousas, a direct communica-
ton will be established to New Or
leans. This important work will be
accomplished in very short time,
as working parties are now almost
within sight Of Opelousas. And not
only will a direct line be opened to
New Orleans, but one, also, via the
Louisiana Western Railroad, at the
town of Verlnilionville, to Lake
Charles, in Calcasieu parish, and
thence to Houston and other points
in Texas. The Morgan line, which
is to extend to Alexandria, will
bring us in direct communication
with the great Red River valley.
DIVERSITY OF NATURAL WEALTH
Perhaps no inland parish is more
bountifully provided with the means
and facilities required by the farmer,
stock raiser, mechanic, and laborer
than the parish ofSt. Landry-when
its area and the diversity of it's natu-
raj wealth are taken into considera-
ton. Our sister parishes of Lafa-
yette, Vermillion, st. Martin, he
ria, Calcasieu, Cameron and st. Ma
ry possess as rich soil, and have
also great advantages for transpor-
tation; but the quantity Of land
within their borders subject to over
flow, and embraced within the linn
it's of the sea marsh and lakes, com
prises the largest portion Of their
area, leaving comparatively q small
portion for CIVILIZATIONS
The diversity which our parish
presents-from the hill to the gently
nndulating prairie, from the dense
forest to the grand natural meadow
gives full scope for the many tastes
and pursuits Of man. There are To-
calities, too, where the scenery is
both pleasing and picturesque, and
where the tired denizen of the city
may find rest and peace, and even
solitude, should they desire it.
Within the limits thus imperfectly
described there is room for thou
sands of families, possessing intelli
gence and yersed in all the later i'm
provements in agriculture, endowed
with high purposes Of progress, and
who desire to elevate their own con-
dition by ell-directed and skillful
farming operations. We will wei
come all such with open arms.
THE NORTHWESTERN SECTION.
The northwestern section of our
parish is bounded by the bayou Nez
Pique OIL the west, the bayou Croco-
ollie on the north and east, and the
bayou Cane on the south and south
west. The area embraced within
this circle amounts to nearly $4,000
acres Of land.
This portion of our parish presents
% formation somewhat different from
the other parts, inasmuch as we are
in the hill country. These elevations
are the southwestern termination of
the same hills which extend through
northern and middle Mississippi,
and are otfshoots from the Appala-
chan range of mountains which
form the eastern boundary Of the
great basin of the Mississippi river.
Within this region we have an ex-
tensive deposite of beautiful black
and pebbles, as the main geo
logical features; and beach, pine,
magnolia, oak and hickory, the for
est growth; with clear running
brooks and pelucid lakes, Astounding