The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-08-23


| One hundred years ago we were the
cerfs Of foreign government, but BY
the courage of our forefathers we
overthrew the yoke which pressed
heavily on the spirit Of free born
nation, and casting it aside for etern-
ity, claimed the rights Of sovereign
and independent people.
See the progress our country has
made since thenl
Strange as it may seem, the bleak
New England States claimed the
preference. Gradually the West usurp-
ed this prominent place, and the tide
of immigration, almred by cheap
rates and glowing pictures, set in in a
living stream until the West was lift
ed peer to her predecessor
Now, the immigrants of the Old
World, the capitalists Of the North,
are looking with longing eyes at the
facilities the South offers for invest
ment. Soon Louisiana, the garden
spot of the world, which has so long
bsen neglected, will blossom as a
veritable "Eden," whore those who
settle will be as loath to leave as the
mariners who visited the realms Of the
famed "Lotus eaters"
The Exposition is engrossing the
attention Of the civilized world.
Louisiana, the "QueeQ of the South, +"
should recognize the proud position
she has to occupy and seize this OPP
portunity for success. The eyes of
the world viii be upon us, eagerly
watching the display, seeking to in
vest where Inducements are greatest.
Our genial and semi-tropical climate
places within our grasp a variety of
production and diversity Of industry
which cannot be excelled. BY waving
fields of oats and rice, flourish with
equal avidity the sugar cane, cotton
plant and orange tree.
Our recently established oil mills
are turning out thousands of gallons
of oil per day, and as a fertilizer cot
ion seed meal stands predominant.
Rice bran is rapidly working its way
into popular favor, while the fibre of
the sugar cane can be made into pa
per of a superior quality, The Culsi-
walton Of the jnte has been demon
strated to be a success, and we can
supply our own farmers with bagging
and rope.
The majestic cypress tosses its
branches to the sky by the side of the |
giant pine, and the stately gum and
popular, whose value for furniture is
being everywhere recognized, flourish
n countless thousands. Her fertile
ields, rich allnyial lands, healthy pine
Hills and vast prairies offer to the set
Ter the choice he may prefer.
And now TO our latent but vast
mineral productions, which, like Alad- !
Inns lamp, want but to be touched
q unfold to our enraptured gaze the ]
lnthought of treasures that are at our I
Iberia's salt mines, which have but /
ately been worked to advantage, can Z
low be placed in the lead Of any in 1
he land. The "kaolin' or porcelain d
eds of Catahoula can furnish to the
Torld as fine porcelain as the Mand9- {
ins of China can boast of. The Z
narble Of Winn can be placed in jux- 9
lposition with that of Tennessee and I
eturn nnsullied, while the coal of i
the lead Of Bossier, and the
nlphur Of this parish need but to be b
eyeloped TO be mines Of untold i
ealth. n
The Mississippi Valley Railroad has n
lpped the very pitll Of Louisiana, Ii
I'd will heap into the lap Of the D
resent City treasures Of more sub I,
iantial nature than the gold mines of q
alifornia. q,
The Exposition in itself is an as \
ired success, the benefits accruing r.
ON il is a problem for us TO solve. hi
We make an exhibit which will do il
J justice, the yalne Of our property Ii
i'll be enhanced, investments looked re
h, and the welfare of our State se- pa
lred. II We fail 10 do this capital-
Is will seek other outlets, fer they in
II but Judge the prodpctiYeness Of 81
each section by the nature Of IFS in
hibit. OF
let us bnt succeed, and the pine pa
rests which infersect our State win "
converted into cities and towns to an
Gods chosen spot The hum 81 vi
{ bnzz saw ana ringing note Of the pa
,odman viii dispel TIE mist which al
yeIops our beloved State, and she til
4 stand as , pillar ef fire II light ib
sisters oR to prosperity. ml