The Louisiana Democrat., 1880-09-08
ALEXANDRIA, La, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER s, 1880.

eastern portion. The creek bottoms
produce good crops, and considerable
stock is raised. 1t is a fine lumber
region and has good water power ia.
cilities. The population is mainly
white.
PoPULA IoN.-CHARACTER OF THE
PEOPLE.
The total population, as shown by
the census of 1880, is 24,6S1. The
whites number !2,1l1 and the ne
groes 1850. The increase in popu-
lat;on during the past ten years has
been about 43 per cent. The white
population mainly consists of native
born Anglo-Americans. but there are
many from other States, a'consider-
able number being from the North
ern and Eastern sections of the
Union. There are quite a number
of foreigners, including Irish, French
and Germans; the French Creoles
are few in number. The Jews con-
stitute considerable element of the
mercantile community.
In their general character the peo-
pie are laws abiding, industrious and
hospitable. Murder and the graver
crimes are of rare occurrence, and
there has been a total exemption
from the disturbances incident to
politics. Freedom Of thought and
speech are recognized as the right
and privilege of the citizen, and mu-
tual confidence and good feelings
prevail among all classes.
Agriculture constitutes the chief
employment Of the people, and in
circum stances they are generally
contented and prosperous. Extreme
poverty does not exist, and there are
no paupers. The general condition
of all classes is rapidly improving,
and the majority, by the exercise of
moderate frugality, realize hand
some surplus after the payment OF
yearly expenses.
CLIMATE AND HEALTH.
The climate is mild during all
seasons; the extremes of heat and
cold are never felt. Work on the
farms is carried on throughout the
year. The average temperature du
ring Winter is about 400, and about
500 in Summer. Snow seldom falls
and ice is only found at intervals du
ring the continuance of cold weather
, Streams are never frozen. The rain
fall is greatest during the Winte
and early Spring; severe drought
are seldom experienced.
The healthfulness of the Parish i
f not excelled by any portion of tn
2 South, and is as nearly perfect a
;. that of any country. Occasional ca
, ses of bilious and intermittent fe
i vers, mild in form, yielding readil
to medical treatment, are the mos
4 common forms of sickness in Sum
n mer; colds and rare cases of pner
s monia occur during Winter. Fro,
o epidemics the Parish has been sir
o larly free. Instances of longevit
e among the resident population al
IS quite common. Foreigners and nj
is tives of the higher latitudes exper
f.. ence no inconvenience in becomin
n acclimated, and encounter exposu
# to all the vicissitudes of the wealth
IS with the same impunity as the n
~ tive population. Sunstrokes seldo
- or neverOccur, and no enervating {
ID fects of climate are experienced.
&c TOWNS.
Alexandria. the Parish seat, 81
tb uated upon the West bank of r.
,; River, one hundred and fifty mil
at above its mouth, is a Town of CO
n siderable Importance and has a pc
n, ulation of 1000. 1t stands at t
ia head of low water navigation on r
River, and is the business center a
chief shipping point Of an immen'
rv ly fertile region. The Town stan
zs on plain which stretches Sou
on ward to the Gulf of Mexico. 1t G.
,or tains numerous churches and seve
,u schools, and is now rapidly impr
are lug. Pineville, which stands on
20 opposite side Of the river, is the
ms ond Town in the Parish, and
;,o about 600 inhabitants. A large b
.o, mess is done by the merchants
;s this place, and it ships large qu
in tity of cotton. Gheneyville, Ka
tb mie, Cotile and Lecomte are villa
,or of some note. All of them are 81
ck ated in the valley section.
7ho SOILS.
rk- These may be classed under til
ere heads, as regards their character