The Louisiana Democrat., 1880-09-08
mo-. 2.

foxes, panthers, raccoons, opossums'
squirrels, minks, beavers, wolves and
skunks are quite common, though
not in sufficient numbers to do any
harm.
LABOR AND WAGES.
On the large cotton and sugar
plantations negro labor is mainly
employed, but there are considera-
Bile number of Industrious white men
with families who have settled on
these lands; many of them have be-
come proprietors and others rent
land. All are prosperous and are
quite Independent. In reliability
labor has much improved within the
past few years, but there is not
sutficiency Of it. Industrious white
men can find employment at remun-
erative wages, and limited number
of mechanics could find steady work.
The wages of field hands are from
$l2 to $lS per month, with rations,
and 81 per day during the busy sea-
son. Mechanics receive from 50 to
So per day. In the share system, the
tenant receives one-half the crop
when team, tools and feed are fur
nished, and one-third when rations
are added. The introduction of Chi
nese labor mas never been agitated to
any extent, and there might be some
doubt as TO how it would be regarded.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
Educational facilities are only such
as are afforded by the public school
system, and few private schools
There have been about twenty pub
lie schools distributed throughout
the Parish, and it hoped there may
be sufticiency of funds TO keep that
number open eight months Of the
year. The principal religious de-
nominations ere the Methodists,
Episcopalians and Catholics, these
have churches located throughout
the Parish.
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.
| There is abundant water power. .af-
forded by the numerous creeks and
streams in the Parish. This'power,
as yet, is only utilized as a motive
power for gins and mills, but could
be made available for factories of va
rious kinds. The volume of water
that passes through the bayou Rap
ides which unites with the Red River
just above the Town of Alexandria,
is sufficient to drive the machinery
Of the larger Cotton Mills. How
5000 these wasted forces may be
made to employ their energies in
building up the waste places, and
adding to the wealth of the State,
depends only upon enterprise and
0 necessary capital.
4 IMMIGRATION.
: Within the past ten years there
r has been considerable immigration
mainly from Southern States East Of
the Mississippi river. Immigrante
x who settle in the Parish generally
n remain here, and this influx Of pop.
l. ulation has greatly benefited some
10 portions Of it. The prefer
!, ence has been generally in favor o
- the uplands, but there is a growing
J. disposition to settle on the riche
a. lands along the river and bayous
N The people of the Parish will vel
20 come all who come within her Dor
~ y ders to seek homes, and to join will
~ ~ them in developing her magnifcen
VI resources. Here they will find rel
ep resentatives from every Norther
Is State, and almost from every coun
IN try in Europe, constituting one cou
" munity; none need fear pcrsecutio
u or prescription.
There are three lines of projected raj
roads which pass through Alcxant
nl- ria, the Parish seat; a branch of Mo
se. gan's Texas Railroad, now in cours
If of construction, and completed to
- point only sixty miles distant fro
Fef Alexandria, will assuredly be con
are pleted by the 1st of April, 1888
n.y. The New Orleans Pacific, 1t is b
at lieved, will be finished to this poi
:. within year at most. A third, II
q" Natchez, Vidalia and Trinity, is all
icy pushing in this direction. The col
as pletion of the Morgan Railroad
,r's Alexandria will give east commur
|, an cation with New Orleans and 9th
~ parts of the country.
INDUCEMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS TO 1
os MIGRANTS.
NC No part Of the State offers great
late advantages and inducements to t
cto- immigrant than Rapides Pali,h.
ales Here will be found every variety
mo soil, while the diversity in natu
features is very great; wooded hil
ie'n rolling uplands, prairie and
sing luvial plains of unexcelled fertil
nost are comprised within the area of
if Parish. Comfortable homes can
.ro found in every quarter. There i
w large quantity Of public land u
ior which homesteads of one hund
'ish. and sixty acres can be obtained b
residence of "a few years, at no c,
ba. The climate is everywhere salul
M, Gus. The profits of farming
~ uk Dss:aas d.: -