St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-05-21
"In Providence we trust"-everybody else cash
DO We Wish Immigration mr.
Do We Mott

If we do, the question has not beer
put fairly and understandingly before
the people. There seems but one idea
prevalent upon the subject, fostered BY
sentimental speeches, and newspaper
articles, and that is one which land
owners do not receive with favor. They
are called upon to part with some OF
their lands perhaps at a sacrifice, to
encourage the tide of immigration, and
they are naturally averse to trying the
costly experiment, pro bono publico
Upon no other grounds can We under
stand the apathy and Indifference, which
prevails in the community On this vital
subject. It is high time the mistake
should be rectifed, and our people be
made to understand that immigration
instead of depriving them of any ad-
vantages, will increase them tenfold.
In this greatparish, there are thousands,
upon thousands Of acres, which can be
purchased at government prices and in
some localities from 80 cents to So per
acre. Good lands, eligibly situated.
where the industrious, thrifty settler
can make as comfortable and pleasant a
home as anywhere in Louisiana.
Toinvestigate the location and quality
Of these lands, the prices at which they
can be procured, the products to which
they are specially adapted, should be
the business Of the immigration asso-
ton which has just been organized in
Opelousas. The results should then
be given to the public in plain, statis-
teal form, SO that the stranger who
wishes to settle at the South, will un-
derstand the exact capabilities of St
Landry for meeting his wishes, or the
state of his finances. No spasmotlic
effort will do any good. If we need
immigration-and no people need it
more-persistent, steady efforts must be
made to set the advantages of the parish
as home before the people of other
States, and to do it not once, but con-
stantly as matter of Importance to our
own interests. And is it not 500 Will
not all classes and conditions of men be
benefited by an increase of population
Doctors, lawyers, merchants specially,
to whom the increased products of their
parish is immediate and increased pros
perity, should at once see the necessity
of encouraging the immigration com
mittee in any effort it may make for
the general interest.
Wesuggest that this committee should
acquaint themselves with the situation
OF the German settlers in st. Landry
who are doing very we'll, and incor-
porate in their reports whatever facts
may be of interest to the immigrant.
Some action should be taken on their
part to divert the tide of immigration
which passes directly through the parish
to Texas. Hundreds of immigrants pass
through every week, and not an indi-
vidual stops with US, though it would
take but a small number from the vast
moving mass to populate our spare
lands. Immigration is like stream
it can be diverted from its course and
turned into other channels if proper
measures are only taken. Look at East
Feliciana. She has managed to attract
IN immense number of immigrants,
though her lands are old and worn out
and she has not half the advantages st.
Landry can offer. Her people. however,
ire energetic, far-seeing and fully alive
20 their own interests, and that will
give her an advantage over many of
Ter sister parishes, with richer soil and
! more delightful climate.
In st. Landry we can offer the settler
} great variety of soil. The culture of
,mall grains, particularly rice, is a i
iecided success here and will be one Of
,ur most productive industries. Lands
hat were looked upon by the cane and |
cotton planter, as utterly worthless |
before the war, are now green with |
,rops which are more certain, and in
as profitable as the great
taples, and cultivated with much less
abor and expense. The culture of
mall grain seems too, more specially
Idapted to white labor than cane or
cotton and requires less capital.
1t is to be hoped our people will
vaken up to the fact that unless some
hing is done to attract emigrants to
'ur parish we will lose vast source of
wealth and future prosperity. We trust
he committee of our immigration asso-
iation, will give some form and sub
lance to practicable plans on that sub
oct. But it needs the whole community
0 be interested in the matter or the
will effect little good.
The deadlock in the United States
enate has at last been broken. The
resident Amounted State Senator Rob-