St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-06-12
Western Louisiana.


Western Louisiana.
Editor of the n. o. Times:
Opelousas, the parish seat Of ST. Ian
dry, is a neat, prosperous town OF about
5000 inhabitants, situated on an eleya-
ted prairie some six miles from Wash
ington, to which point nearly all freight
has been shipped by steamboat to New
Orleans and other ports but now with
the Morgan road completed, direct COM
munication will be had by rail to New
Orleans and all other points in the
country. 1t will be of immense benefit
to the inhabitants of this locality, they
having been, | may say, shut out for
months at times by low water, causing
considerable interruption to commerce.
But now that light is drawing on them
10y rail communication, the people are
waking up to activity and enterprise.
Many talk OF erecting new buildings
just as soon AS cheap lumber can be
brought by rail from Lake Charles. A
few months after that, the visitor will
not find OpelOusas as it is to-day, but
will see many changes in the way OF
buildings, with numerous new ,mer-
chants located there. This town, | am
Of opinion, will rank next to il not
are very polite, refined and well edu-
Gated, as also those in the surrounding
districts. Nowhere in the South will
the visitor meet with warmer recep-
ton than in this place.
| must in this say Il few words in re-
gard to New Orleans enterprise, Mr..
Editor, really and truly believe the
Crescent City is waking up. We have
been sleeping a long time, but life is
showing itself now, our merchants are
beginning to appreciate the many
benefits which this road will bring us
by securing permanent footholds before
Northern aud Western drummers enter
the field. 10 have business we must
seek it, The day has passed when it
will come. We must look it up-go
after it. This is what some Of our
concerns are doing.
[ am of opinion we yet have vitality
that our city with the present prospects
will grow and prosper, but there are
many more firms that should be in the
field. This section Of country is broad
and wide enough for all to come and
try it. St. Landry is one OF the largest,
most populous and, | may say the rich
leans. Why should we allow others to
reach Once we let it go, it will he most
difficult to bring back. Let us stand
up and doing now is the time ere the
busy season is upon us.
The land in this parish is high, rich,
rolling prairie, all above overflow, easily
cultivated, producing fine crops Of cot
ton, corn, sugar and many other articles
too numerous to mentiOn-like Yer
million and Lafayette parishes in many
respects. AS to soil and climate this is
a fine country for immigrants to settle
in. The lands can be had on moderate
terms in almost any quantity from fifty
acres up. Small farms of this size will
produce ample for the support of a
family if properly cultivated. Were
an emigration company established to
buy up a large quantity of land and
divide it up in lots of SO or 100 acres
each, in two years their location would
be the envy of this country. Your late
editorial on this point has attracted
considerable attention from several /
have met with. Many are anxious to
see such a company started. Some in
this locality would, 11odoubt, subscribe
to the capital stock, it once under way.
One party told me that were such a
project on foot he would take $500 in
SGOCk III tnc ConpdHy. LILO ndflHS ny
idea who g Irishman" was, | advised
the Times; so, possibly, he may write
you on this subject. Now that the
Supreme Court has given an able and
learned decision in favor Of the premiums
bonds, our people will feel as it were a
load lifted off their shoulders. Our
bonds will assume prominent and
improving market value, confidence will
be restored in financial circles, money
that has been locked up will come into
circulation, and with the. prospect of
abundant crops there should be little or
no difficulty in establishing an enligra-
ton company with a subscribed capital
of $4,000 or 100000. An institution
with this amOunt-one-half paid up
would do more good to our State and
people than 100000 advanced by COM
houses. Were this matter
brought properly before our people the
required amount could easily be OBJ
tanned. '.= I.
No doubt the Morgan Road would aid
in this enterprise and become subscribers
to the concern. They would have the
carrying of all freights were the settle.
ment made near to their line of road,7
and would receive permanent benefit
Ill tiio time- ny transporting HE pIOuuce
and articles for the people. Z Let a.
charter be written up, with eomretent
men as officers, and subscribers viii be
obtained ere many weeks. This is a
safe and paying investment to the sub
scribefs. one in which there is no risk.
run by taking stock, as it. is amply Sc,
cured by the land purchased, to be
divided up into small farms. / know
at least dozen parties WHO would now
be willing to buy land in small lots at
good prices were they given time to
pay for same. In haste for mail.
Respectfully, IRIsHMAN. :!
Opefousas, June 8, 1880. 49,
Tho,man who saws advertising does