The Opelousas courier., 1882-04-15
Happy opeloasas.
IN. 0. Pieayune. |

j
I In view of the dismal ruin wrought
by the overflow not merely in8 large
regions of Louisiana, but also in Ar
kansas and Mississippi, the exemption
OF the Opslousas country from over
flow is cause for self reorganization on
the part of it's favored inhabitants, aud
affords an occasien-te invite fmmigra4
ton. Of this4opportunity the Opelou-
sas CouRfER makes good use. From
the edge of the Magnolia Mills that
border the T6che, the bluff rolls away
back to the Sabine, on this side prairie,
on thatswoodland, all fertile, good, and
almost vacant. There is not a soul
drowned out in the rich bottoms which
might not find here harbor aud heme,
if too tired to battle longer with the
rolling waters, or too sick of the sweep
ing flood to risk any more hiding be-
hind earthworks which make the coun-
try look like battle field.
The richness of these refertilized
lowlands forbids their desertion, and
will attract to them more than will
leave; but in the presence of so sfFach
loss there are sOnie who will not longer
stay, and we like the CoURIER's pluck
in reminding such that there is . region
in Louisiana waiting to receives them
and TO enrich them. 1t invites them
very justly" to come and fud that
peace and calm in life, that security
and possible plenty, which is the prom
ised reward of industry and fruga1fty."
We hazard nothing III saying that
the CoURIERs description of the ad-
vantages of the Opeiousas country is
undeTdrawn, not overdrawn or exag-
gerated. st. Landry is large parish
Except Caddo, Rapides and Orleans,
no other parish in the State has half as
much population as st. Landry, and
yet it has less than seventeen aud
six-tenths persons TO the square mile,
even Switzerland, whose inhospitable
mountains are practically inaccessible
half the year, has above one hundred
and seventy -seveh persons to the
square mile, and the Netherlands, where
they keep the sea back with granite
walls and pump their drainage out of
their country. nourish no less than
three hundred aud twelve and eighty
six hundredths persons to the square
aails. - ST. Landry has 1920 square
miles of woodland aud 1856 square
miles of upland prairie. That includes
$50 square miles of oak uplands, $50
square miles Of pine lands. and 600
square miles of the Mississippi bottom
(between the Atcliafas va aud Teche)
The Morgan railroad gives the parish
NEST excellent and uninterrupted cem-
munieation the year round The
amount of titled land is only about
140. 600 acres, and yet the parish fur
nishes q great variety of soil and of
agricultural possibilities. Cotton, su-
gar cane, corn, sweet potatoes, pastur-
age foraeattle and horses. Dairy pre-
ducts for this city might be wholly
supplied by st. Landry Every farmer
could make his own meat, corn, hay,
and most of the other supplies requir
ed to provide q luxurious table. Hon
ey, butter, eggs, chickens, garden deli
caeies--whatever the rural heart re-
quires tocomplete its content, should
be forthcoming in Sc. Landy from the
generous soil aud climate. IF there ID
an Arcadia in Louisiana able to con-
sole the State for all herewoes it ought
to be found in st. Landry.
We repeat. that there is no need for
q single lnan. woman or child to leave
this State because worn out and weary
of struggling against the fosd. kt is
but few miles for all such to reach
ground beyond overflow, ground whose
tillers, except thoroughly unprovided
wifh prudence, will always remain
4x}afava want