St. Landry democrat., 1881-04-09
louisiana.
IN. 0. City Item. ]


Louisiana from the first has been a
sort of fable land-the playground of
nature in her frolic moods. Until the
waters from watersheds thousands of
miles distant were walled out, the
whole OF the lower delta, during the
season Of spring floods, stood as the
young earth was said to stand in Gene
sis, "ont of the water and in the WATER
The site OF the present city of New
Orleans was like the rest OF the low al
luvium, natures structure having to be
improved upon before it could become
liabitable place. Indeed tile site was
subject to double threat, that of over
flow from the river on the one side,
and from Lake Pontchartrain on the
other, when storm tides prevailed.
There were, however, some compensa
ting advantages i'll the situation. The
great river had not only brought the
material Of which the soil of the delta
tant North it brought with it's volume
that fresh GOODNESS and moisture which
at all seasons makes the climate of
Louisiana SO delightful. More than
this; it would serve as the grand artery
of the commerce of d continent, as soon
as that commerce was developed along
its fertile banks.
The dream of the founders of the
city now promises a fuliillment so mag
niticent as to dwarf the dream itself by
facts which outrun fable. When the
railroads were in the height of their
prosperity it was the boast of those who
controlled them that they had rendered
the Mississippi worthless by tapping
the great valley which it drained with
iron rivers whose mouths were at the
Atlantic seaboard. This boast is prov
ing barren one, to the discontinue of
those who made it; and now the iron
lines OF traffic and travel are beginning
to turn in this direction, and, fortunately
for their projectors, no rival water ways
can cut Oft their trade.
But New Orleans is by no means LOU
isiana, and the whole land is as much
a marvel as the city is. From the rich
red lands of Red river to the prairics of
Opelousas, and thence to the beautiful
Teche, the poetical and the romantic
are everywhere present. When you
approach the Gulf coast, while still in a
wilderness OF marshes, the wondrous
islands OF Petit Anse present themselves.
OF these elevated outposts there are
three in number, Grand Cote, Avery's
Island and Orange Island. The highest
of them is IL hundred and fifty feet
above the level of the sea, and how
they were raised to such height above
the surrounding region is d geological
problem we have not space to discuss.
Grand Cote is Il rich and productive
sugar plantation belonging to Mir. VIM.
f. Weeks. On Avery's Island is situated
that vast deposit OF pure salt which has
attracted SO much Of scientific attention,
and in whose productive development a
large force of men is now employed.
Orange Island belongs to that famous
actor and genial gentleman, Joseph
Jefferson, and is one of the most
beautiful spots within the limits of the
State. Its orange groves consist of
many thousand trees Of the choicest
yarities, and its lands are remarkable
for their fertility. On the north and
west the island is bounded by beauti-
full fresh water lake, which is constantly
filled with delicious fish, and on its hills
Craze herds and tlocks Of the choicest
varieties.
Such are some of the peculiarities of
this loWland Louisiana.