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

point (it being the head ofsteamboat
navigation and a beautiful town of
some twelve or fifteen hundred in
/ habitants), let us turn our faces
southwest. Crossing the bayou Car
ron in the rear of Washington, we
ascend the bluff, and are upon the
common table land which extends
to the bayous Cane, Mallet, Brulee,
etc. Passing amidst farms and a
gently undulating country, we, at
the distance of six miles, reach Ope-
lous, the seat Of justice, and one OF
the handsomest and most pleasant
towns in the State, containing some
two thousand or more inhabitants.
1t is beautifully located, exceedingly
healthy, and is susceptible Of being
made one of the most important OF
our rural cities. 1t has a large and
fertile country to supply, and from
which, with the introduction ofcapi-
tai and energy, it must inevitably
reap a large benefit. FlourlshlnS
schools are to be found here. And,
in a social point of view, we believe
that our community will compare
favorably with any place Of its ex-
tent. Here will be found that i'll
nate Doliteness and delicate hospi-
tally which so highly characterize
our French citizens, combined with
intelligence and refinement. The
American population embraces sew
cral families of high culture, pol
ished manners, and that general
knowledge of the world which lends
a charm to social intercourse. In
fine. with location of great beauty,
a back country Of great resources,
Ncarness to water communication
and a railroad almost completed, in
the midst of a genial climate and
hcaIthful in all respects, with good
institutions of learning and an in
telligent and polished society, we
feel warranted i'll asserting that no
locality in the Southern States com
bines more, if as many, inducements
as we offer to people of all classes to
come here and make their homes
with us.
A BEAUTIFUL ROLLING PRAIRIE
DOTTED WITH FARMS.
Leaving the town of Opelousas,
and turning our faces towards the
setting sun, we pass on over a beau
tiful rolling prairie country, dotted
with farms in a high state of cult
walton.
At the distance of some seven
miles from town we reach a point in
the prairie region where the timber
of the bayou Mallet OH the north,
and the Plaquemine Brul6e OH the
south, iuts out, enclosing that belt
of land known as the Plaquemine
ridge. The width of this ridge is,
from one line of timber to the other,
some six miles. The land from the
centre of the ridge inclines gently
to either stream, attor(ling every IA
cility for drainage, and favorable
ground for building. The farmers
within this prairie paradise have
added to its charms by planting
groves of the oak and china trees,
which resemble fairy islands in a
desert. In addition to these bright
spots, in the spring Of the year, the
growing corn, the towering trees
and shrubs, and the earth with it's
llxuriant enamel Of green, furnish
us with picture pleasing to the eye
and filing the heart with thanks
giving to the Creator for such "a
goodly habitation."
PRAIRIE HAYES.
This beautiful prairie is every
thing that can be desired. Fine
lands, good water, timber, etc. Cat
tie and horses are the chief objects
Of care; and from the immense
range and small per cent. loss, this
branch Of industry is very lucrative.
Hay Off superior quality can be cut
on this prairie, the yield being two
or more tons to the acre. Cotton,
corn and sugar cane do finely. Sheep
and hogs increase very rapidly.
Meat keeps perfectly well here, and
farmers say they seldom lose any
from the changes of the weather.
Packing-houses might be profit
ably erected in this section, as safe
ly and at less cost than in Cincin-
natl or Louisville. The great salt
mine of Judge Avery can be easily
reached from this point by water.
The best Of oak and cypress is at
hand for the making Of barrels, and
the hoop poles stand ready to be
fashioned into barrel hoops; and
New Orleans and Galveston invite
to their marts. Every variety of
field produce thrives here, and gar
den vegetables and fruits Of all
kinds-thus giving great variety to
labor and furnishing all those neces-
saries which tend to give pleasure
to man. Tide water reaches this
point, and the sea breeze comes with
health and comfort in it's breath.
The Louisiana Western Railroad
passes through this lovely section.
THE EASTERN SECTION.
We have furnished our readers
with partial, skeleton-like descrip-
ton of the northern, middle, and
western portions of the parish, and
we now turn to the eastern section.