The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-10-02

one-half of the entire assessment of the
parish. OF this large amount of live
stock it is estimated that seven-eighths
are horned cattle, and the remainder
Creole horses, bred for expectation.
and other animals employed for domes-
tic use. Sheep raising has of late be-
gun to attract some attention, particu-
larry in the northern portion of the
parish, where they thrive well and re-
quire but little care. OF late many
stockmen have begun to improve the
breed of their animals, it being found
that superior grades of stock can be
reared as successfully as the common
breeds, and with the assurance of real
izing better prices in the market.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
The parish seat of Justice bears the
name of the lake upon the banks of
which it is located, Lake Charles. 1t
contains population of $40, and is a
lumber manufacturing town. Up to
the completion of railway connection
with New Orleans its trade has prin-
cipalIy been with Galveston, to which
place a line of sehooners RUNS regularly.
Lake Charles is proverbially healthy,
being bounded on the east by prairie
country over hundred miles in extent,
on the south by prairies and salt water
marshes, and on the north and west by
vast pine forests. 1t has a good
courthouse and Jail, telegraph,of
railway depot, six churches, five
schools, three hotels, ten retail mer-
chants, three restaurants, two sad
dlery shops. two boot and shoe shops,
one tailor; two drug stores, two
butchers, three lawyers, three practie-
ing physicians, two jewellers, one den
fist, two blacksmith shops, two barber
shops, five carpenters, one shipyard,
two news stands, two bakeries, a
Masonic hall, temperance council,
eight bar-rooms and one newspaper
the Lake Charles Echo. Within a
radius of three miles are located eleven
steam sawmills and five planning mills.
There is also one steam gFist mill and
u steam rice mill within the corporate
limits of the town. The streets are
graded and well drained, and the
corporation is clear Of debt, with
surplus of funds on. hand. Improve
ments are progressing in various parts
of the town, so that one can constantly
hear the sound of the saw and ham
mer. Two new churches are in
course of erection, also a hall for the
German Mutual Benevolent Associa-
ton. Unimproved town lots, 66 10y
900 feet, range in value from $50
to $500, while unimproved prairie
land near town can be had at from
SIS to $40 per acre. Lake Charles is
thirty five miles east Of the Texas line,
and 2l6 miles west of New Orleans by
rail.
West Lake Charles is the name Of
small but growing village imme-
diately across the lake from Lake
Charles. 1t has population of about
one hundred, which is identified with
the sawmill interest Of that section:
Bagdad, two mills above West Lake
Charles, ou the Calcas!eu river, is also
a thrifty settlement of about $50
persons, and boasts of four stores, two
steam sawmills,a planning mill, schools
etc.
At Sugar Town, in the northeastern
portion of the parish, there is a steam
sawnlil, u steam cotton gin and press,
steam ,.rist mill and rice mill, with
stores, schools, etc.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
Oranges, figs, grapes, plums. pears,
ounces, perslinmons, pomegranates,
cherries, strawberries and blaekberrles
are grown in abundance and perfec-
ton in Calcasieu, while, as an evidence
of the mildness of the climate, lemons
and bananas have successfully matnred
in the open air. Apples do well in
the upper part of the parish, but
peaches, except in the pine woods, are
generally inferior, owing tothe subsoil
of clay and want of proper cultivation.
Orange culture in the vicinity of Lake
Charles has been seriously interrupted
during the past two years by the
raVages of the sscale insect, mostsof
the bearing groves and nurseries having
been totally destroyed. Other portions
of the parish, however, have escaped
without avisitation, and the business
is being largely increased. All kinds
Of garden vegetables can be cultivated
successfully and abundantly through
out the parish.
GAME AND FISH.
Game abounds in the pine woods
bear, deer, turkeys and squirrels; the
prairies are well supplied with pralf,e
chickens, plover, snipe and gwoodcock,
while on the water-courses are found
almost eVerykind of water fowl during
the winter season. The rivers, Lakes
and creeks also abound with itrolir
perch, mnllett, gaspargo, buffalo, ca
and other varieties of fish, and AZ
Calcasieu Pass oysters. shrimp, crabs