The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-10-23
NO. B..


burnt, an excellent lime for mechan;ca,
purposes. During the late war the form
er owner burnt several ktlns, and sold the
lime to be used for such purposes. This
alone invests 1t with an economic value.
But the question of furnishing from a
louisiana quarry agricultural lime to a
country sadly in need of it has not vet
seriously entered into the minds of Lou
isianans themselves. SO far as the ag-
gregate wealth and prosperity of the
State are concerned, there is more involy-
ed in the production and application of
lime in the agricultural pursuits Of the
State than all the values which attach to
marble for nss in the arts alone. Il NAV
be one or two generations off, but the
time viii come when the sruth -of this
avernent will be acknowledged
The timber upon your lands Will be
valuable to any enterprise connected with
this marble. There are magnificent pine
forests, consisting of the fines trees for
lumber production. | took the dimeu-
siois OF one tree which gave a diameter
OF eser four feet. Indeed, for all the
purposes of building or other uses to
which Timber may be applied in con-
Quoting large marble business, the pine
timber specifically inexhaustible. There
is also in the valley and along the creek
that runs through your lands good deal
of large white oak timber, suitable for
the production of slaves and the manu-
facture of barrels for use in the shipment
of mechanical aud agricultural lime. 1t
is noteworthy. likewise, that black wal
nut and red cedar grow upon some Of the
marble ledges. These, however, are not
in sufficient quantity to invest them with
any special commercial value. / was
much interested in the springs / visited
upon your property. 1t was quite sur
prise to me to see a very bold spring of
pure cool and delicious limestone water
gushing up in what had hitherto re-
garded rs an allnyiaf and tertiary district
of country. In the matter Of water it
seems an oasis in the desert. Near by the
spring isanother bold one having xhat
appears to be very pure iron sediment.
| suspect this water Of containing lime,
as its close proximity to one the lime.
rs its occurrence at the base Of one Of the
lime ridges indicate that It comes from
an alkaline shade bearing an ABUNDANCE
Of iron sulphurrets, just ss / have seen 1t
at marble localities in the rocks Of the
Hmionian age have no doubt this
water possesses valuable medicinal prop
critics.
II is proper to remark that the valley,
rs | have been Informed by residents,
leading from the marble lands to the
Dugdemonia, distant about six miles, fur
nishes an easy grade for the construction
Of tramway for the delivery Of the pro-
luce OF the quaries on boats.
The conclusions arrived at in my own
mind from the suming up OF my obsirva-
ions and investigation is that you have
property presenting ample inducements /
o large capital and enterprise. There
$ no ostensible reason to my mind why
four property situated as it Is - much
,earer New Orleans, and numer5 oeher
,oints needing the material 1t can 6,ip-
'ly than any other like property, should
lcf be the basis OF a new and profitable
Industry in your State. CD. SMITH.
!. New Orleans, May Is, 1885.