The Opelousas courier., 1883-02-03

W AZ hlhkAS -
all parish and State purposes. The
lands are assessed on the average of
about $500 per acre. The parish is
divided into nine school districts, AID
some fity schools are III operation en-
months of the year The taxes are
levied as follows: lands 1876, GAO, live
stock $727, $50, vehicles $a5,2O0, mrr
chandise 1867, 200, poll tax $3.50, aiI
yer ware 600, $40. corporation prope'ty
$644, $50, parish property S2,S58.200
VACANT LANDS
Are abundant and consist Of three
classes: State lands, which may. yet
be had in seven townships such lands
may be had at from SOC. per acre a"d
upward, aud some excellent farms may
be obtained in this manner, Hon.
VIM. FL. Harris, Commissioner at Agrl-
culture aud Immigration Of Louisiana,
at New Orleans, may be addressed on
the subject of State lands. United
States Government lands may be had
in forty eight townships. Concerning
such lands the United States land off
GERS of this district may be correspond
ed, with at New Orleans, La. Private
lands are for sale in all parts of the
parish at from $I.25 to S. per acre for
wild aud from SIS to $40 per acre for
improved farms. Such lands in Hi
nois, Indiana and Ohio would be worth
from $50 to 500 per acre. Titles are
good and investors when dealing with
the gentlemen mentioned in ~this-revisw
can rely on honorable treatment.
Cotton is the staple product, and
usually from II half to n and a half
and ever two bales of 500 pounds is
made per acre, owing to the season,
care in handling, etc. Sugar cane is
grown quite largely and the usual pro
duct is about two ~hogsheads of sugar
aud two aud IL half barrels of molasses
per acre, the gross value of which is
about S175. Deducting all expenses
aud with proper handling, sugar plant
ing will pay II net profit of $75 per
acre. This, it will be seen, exceeds
the profits in wheat in the Northwest.
Corn yields 25 to 40 Bushels per acre,
and with proper cultivation, so bush
els. Oats, IS to go bushels. Rice is
also successfully and p~roftably cult.
yated and yields 35 to 45 bushels per
acre. AS high as $50 bushels of sweet
potatoes are grown per acre, and Irish
potatoes reach perfection. All other
root crops and vegetables grow we'll
wherever cultivated, and fine openings
for large market gardens to supply with
early vegetables the northern and east
ern cities are now found, transportation
facilities being now direct and first,
class. Little attention has been paid
to fruit culture, but it is q success and
a profitable occupation. Grapes of
many varieties are grown with success
and good profit. Stock raising is one
of the chief industries of St. Landry,
as is shown by the assessment of live
stock. Some blooded stock has been
intoduced. The raising of fine blooded
stock should occupy to greater extent
the inhabitants of this parish, as the
excellent water. the mild climate and
the more than MI hundred varieties OF
native grasses, all abundant and nntri.
lions, make it a stock. raiser's paradise,
where fortunes await any one who will
pursue this occupation. Domestic
grasses, like Glover, Timothy, Millet
aud Blue Grass, grow well and yield
enormous returns. About one half of
st. Landry is prairie, open and free
from trees and underbrnsh, ready for
the PloW and reaper. The men of the
North and West, who are habituated
to prairie farming, would be delighted
with this country. Men with a capital
of from 1000 to $4,000 can here, in
q short time, create for themselves
comfortable homes, and such are invit-
ed to examine into it's advantages.
Much valuable timber is found, and no
portion is quite barren of at least sufi
Gent for fuel and fencing. The varie-
ties predominating are Long Leaf Pine,
several varieties of Oak, Ash, Hickory,
Sycamore, Magnolia, Holly, Cypress
and numerous other varieties of yalua-
BILE woods, which invite the attention
of mill men, and wooden and fur
niture, wagon, carriage and other man
nfactnrers. Timber lands are sold al
from OIL to SO per acre. The parish ID
well watered by large bayous and
streams, affording over 400 miles OF
navigation, besides Thoroughly draining
and watering every portion. But little
of the parish is subject to overflow, and
no part of the great Southwest could
be more desirable as a field for immi.
grants from a sanitary point of view
Many Northern and Western men, al
well as Canadians. have located in st
Landry and even further South, anl
they are no more subject to malaria
fevers and spidemics there than in iii
nois ar Minnesota. The summers ar
not so exceedingly hot as some urge
as tile fresh Gulf breezes, ever keeping
the air in motion, tempers the effects
of the sun, and renders it, upon TIN
whole, very agreeable. No winter eve
curses this country. and no time neet
be lost by the planter or farmer On &C
count of inclement weather. Living j
cheap, and household expenses neet
not be as heavy by one-third as in TIL
Northwestern States. Intelligent whit
labor 10 in great demand and com
mands ample wages the year around
Sheep raising on the uplands is a yer,
profitable business in st. Landry, AM
many fine fiocks are found there.
THE COLONY SYSTEM
Is the true way of settling a new coun
try. and as large bodies of lands, sa,
from 1000 to 10000 acres, may now b
had in one body, it would be we'll 70
intending immigrants from other State
to make up colonies of from ten to fort,
families and send representatives dow
and examine the land, make selection
of location 10 a body. Money can b
saved by so doing, and representative
of silch colonies may make fayorabl