The Opelousas courier., 1883-01-27

months of ihp year The taxes are
leyiea us follows: lands 50, 37G,040, lily"
stock 1927, $50, vehicles S85,2W0. mrr
rilanlise 1867 200, poll tax 81 $50. XII
vtr ware $20.:34O. corporation property
$644, $50, parish property s~2,s5s.2oo
VACANT LANDS
Are abundant and consist OF three
classes: State lands, which may yet
br had III sever townships; sucli lands
may he had at from soc. per acre anfi
upward, and some excellent farms may
be obtained in this manner, Hon
VIM. Fl. Harris, Commissioner OF Asti-
culture and immigration of Louisiana,
at New Orleans, may be addressed Oh
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 $1.25 to S. per acre for
| wild and from S. to $40 per acre for
improved farms. Such lands in Hi
nois, Indiana and Ohio would be worth
from $50 to 800 per acre. Titles are
good aud investors when dealing with
the gentlemen mentioned in this review
can rely on honorable treatment.
Cotton is the staple product, and
usually from one. half to one and a half
and even two bales of 500 pounds is
made per acre, owing to the season,
care in handling, etc. Sugar cane is
g~rowmquite largely and the usual pro
duct is about two h~ogsheads of sugar
and two and IL half barrels of molasses
per acre, the gross value of which is
about $l75. Deducting all expenses
and with proper handling, sugar plant
ing Mill pay IA net profit of $75 per
acre. This, it will be seen, exceeds
the profits in wheat in the Northwest.
| Corn yields % to 40 bushels per acre,
and with proper cultivation, so bush
els. Oats, 35 to 90 bushels. Rice is
also successfully and proftably cult
waited and yields 35 to 45 bushels per
acre. AS high as $50 bushels of sweet
potatoes arc grown per acre, aud Irish
potatoes reach perfection. All other
root crops and vegetables grow well
wherever cultivated, and fine openings
for large market gardens to supply with
early vegetables the northern and east
ein cities are now found, transportation
facilities being now direct and first
class. Little attention has been paid
to fruit culture, but it is a success and
a profitable occupation. Grapes of
many varieties are grown with succsss
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
intodnced. The raising of fine bIooded
stock should occupy to a greater extent
the Inhabitants of this parish. as the
excellent water. the mild climate aud
the more than one hundred varieties of
native grasses, all abundant and nutri-
tious, make it u stock. raiser's paradise,
where fortunes await any one who will
parsne this occupation. Domestic
grasses, like Glover, Timothy, Millet
and Blue Grass, grow well and yield
enormous returns. About one half of
st. Landry is prairie, open and free
from trees and underbrush, ready for
the pillow and reaper. The men of the
North and West, who are habitnated
to prairie farming, would be delighted
with this country. Men with q capital
of from $1,000 to $4,000 can here, in
a short time, create for themselves
comfortable homes, and such are invit-
ed to examine into its advantages.
Much valuable timber is found, and no
portion is quite barren of at least sufi.
cient 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 valua-
bic woods, which invite the attention
of mill men, and wooden ware and fur
nitnre, wagon, carriage and other man
ufacturers. Timber lands are sold at
from 81 to $$2 per acre. The parish is
well watered by large bayeus and
streams, affording yer 400 miles Of
navigation, besides Thoroughly draining
and watering every portion. But little
of the parish is subject to overflow, aud
no part of the great Southwest could
be more desirable as a field for immi.
grants from o sanitary point of view.
Many Northern and Western men, as
we'll as Canadians, have located in st.
Landry and even further South, and
they are no more subject to malarial
fevers and epidemics there than in iii.
nois or Minnesota. The summers are
not so exceedingly hot as some urge,
as the fresh Gulf breezes, ever keeping
the air in motion, tempers the effects
of the sun, and renders it, upon the
whole, very agreeable. No winter ever
curses this country, and no time need
be lost by the planter or farmer on ac-
count of inclement weather. Living is
cheap, and household expenses need
not be as heavy by a e-third as in the
Northwestern States. Intelligent white
labor is in great demand and com
mands ample wages the year around.
Sheep raising ID the nplands is a very
profitable business in St. Landry. and
many fine fiocks are found there.
TIE COLONY SYSTEM
Is the true way of settling q new conn
try, and as large bodies of lands, say
from 1000 to 10000 acres. may now be
had III one body, it wonld be well for
intending immigrants from other States
to make up colonies of from ten to farty.
families and send representatives down.
and examine the land, make selection
of location in q body. Money can be
saved by SO doing, aud representatives
of slcl colonies may make favorable
rates with the railway companies
Cash should he paid for land ut the
time Of purchasing, rs money a lie
saved thereby. although easy terms Of
pay ment, with Il low rate of interest,
q VI ri ruta iul,nn aIncisal en-. ..na.