The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-10-18
Letter from VVhIsIxychltto.
WnrsKroHrro, Oct. 8, 1884.

WHIsKYomTTo, oct. D, 1854.
To the Lake Charles Echo:
have read with much interest the
description of that portion of oui
parish in and around Jennings Sta
tion, by your Iowa correspondents
and recognize the correctness of their
statements. What they say in regard
to tho natural advantages of that sec.
tion may, with equal justice, be said
of other portions of the parish with,
perhaps, several natural advantages
added thereto.
l will give you brief statement in
regard to our pine woods section.
Persons who have been raised in a
prairie country, when emigrating,
naturally seek such country to set
tie in, aud probably prefer it from the
fact that it brings to mind old asso-
Citations and more nearly resembles
their old homes. And this, together
with the proximity of railroad, has
no doubt had its influence in leading
the Iowa colony TO settle in and about
Jennings.
This is all right, and we believe
they will never regret the change, for
their energy and industry will in few
years make the prairie flourish like a
green bay tree.
But to those who prefer timbered
country, this section, on the various
creeks in the vicinity of Sugartown,
is surpassed by no other part of the
parish. Our pine woods soil is equal
ly as good as the prairie. While some
Of the lands on the. creek bottoms are
equal to any in the State.
This part of the parish is what may
be termed a rolling prairie, densely
timbered with tall pines OF the long
leaf variety. Interspersed among the
pines, where the soil 10 very rich and
moist, may be seen small groves of
oak saplings identifying the scene
and so convenient for making hot
fires in winter time.
The creeks, which vary from four
to ten miles apart, are thickly covered,
for a quarter Of a mile on each side,
with hard wood growth Of oak,
beech, ash, hickory, maple magnolia,
ETC., which furnishes a yearly mast suf.
ficient to fatten the numerous hogs
which get their living the year round
on the creek bottoms. The whole
face Of the country is covered with
tall grass during the spring, summer
and fall months, which furnishes for
age for all the cattle and horses that
man desires to keep, requiring but
little feed and attention during the
winter,
Sheep get their living and do well
the wear round without feed or shell
ter. Our water is far superior to
that of the prairies, being pure, clear,
and cold in the hottest weather, and
being free from saline substances, 1t is
soft, and washes like rain water.
Water is obtained from wells at a
depth of ls to 40 feet, Numerous
springs of excellent water also abound
ia many localities,
Our soil is light and easily cultiva-
ted one man, with creole pony, can
plow and tend as or 80 acres in corn,
and cotton, The poorer soils are
easily fertiIized. am told by those
who have tried II, that the pine straw,
which lies scattered ell over the woods.
when placed upder corn, on the poor
est land, will produce 40 or so bush
els to the acre. know from expert
enee that, when rotted, il makes .
very geod fertilizer,
TO show what little extra labor
will do for this soil, one Of my neigh
boFs, year or two since, took IN
acre Of what was called worn ontpinc
woods land, laid oft his ground In
deep fuFrama, filed the fnFFowa VITA
sheep manure, hedded On y, and
planted cotton, III the fall he gath
cred sTe0 pounds Of seed cotton fFeHt
that sete equivalent TO aboHttwo and
4 half bales of lint--eqnal 70 anything
Mississippi bottoms can do.
Our crops hre oorns cotton, rice,
sugar cane, irish and sweet p1tstoaa,
tobacco, peae, oats, turnips epd gar
den vegetables Of All kinds. OF fruits,