The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-03-07

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and harvesting a rice crop by steam,
is estimated at $40 per acre, exclusive
of seed, which will probably cost $3.50
to 81 extra. The rice straw tits pro.
posed to utilize for cattle feed, as
soon as arrangements can be made to
get the stock. Mr.. Watkins expects
this year to put up 200 miles of wire
fence for pasture for 100000 head
of cattle, and to do this it will require
10000 posts and ten car loads of
wire, of ten tons each.
A TELEPHONE LINE
will shortly be erected by him be-
tween Lake Charles and Leesburg,
passing his works, the length of line
being 35 miles.
AvAsT PRINCIPALlTT
is the domain purchased in 1883 by
Mr.. Watkins. But few consider its
extent; but its western boundary is
the Sabine river; it extends eastward
along the Gulf coast over 100 miles,
and inland from IA to SO miles, the
northern limit being three to five
miles above tire railroad. Within this
scope some land has been entered by
others, but the balance---nearly all
was purchased by Mr.. Watkins,
About two-tbirds of it was State
land, bought at l2I cents per acre,
and is, or will be made, suitable for
rice, while the balance is adapted to q
diversity Of crops.
ALONG THE GUILE COAST,
for about so miles of the 100, a natu-
raj levce or sand bank has been form
ed, from one-haIf mile to one mile in
width, aud sufficiently high, excepting
at two points, to resist the highest
tides in ordinary stoTms. Penetrated
at about equal distances by navigable
streams-the Sabine on the west, with
fine harbOr near its mouth the Cal
casicu, 80 miles east, with 10 miles of
naviguble water above Lake Charles,
and 81 below, including 80 Of Cal |
caseu river lS miles through Calcas-
leu Lake and miles more down the
same river to the Gulf with the Mer-
mentnu river 80 miles eastward and |
Bayou Vurmilion about the same dis
tance still farther east--all running
parallel from the north to the south,
and emptyng into the Gulf of Mexico,
Southwestern Louisiana has a grand |
future, now the more quickly because
of the investment of Mr.. Watkins.
North of Mr.. Watkins purchase are
THOUSANDS OF ACRES
of rich State and United States lands,
mostly prairie, which can be bought
at from rs cents to $l,25 per acre, or
entered under the homestead, pre-
omption or timber acts. These lands
are surrounded by all kinds of timber.
According to the testimony of Flor
ida gentleman, who has visited this
section, it is as well adapted to orange
culture as is that State. Maps of any
township, showing the vacant land,
can be had at either the State Land
Office at Baton Rouge or from the U.
S. Registrar at New Orleans, for the
sum of 81 each. The prairie region
extends about 20 miles above the
rairoad-perharps 100000 acres are
embraced in the open region above
Mr., Watkins purchase.
NATURAL WATER SHED,
extending from Dennison, Texas, to
within 30 miles of New Orleans, Gov
ering all of Louisiana south of Red
river and west Of Bayou Teche, has
never been touched by the floods from
the Mississippi. This exemption from
overflow will be a powerful incentive
to induce immigrants to this section.
Lake Charles, the commercial and
geographical center of this vast re
gion, is 2lS miles west of New Or
leans and l44 east Of Houston.
COMMENCEMENT OF TIE IMPROVEMENT.
This million acres of land was pur-
chased from January TO May, 1888,
by Mr. Watkins, after he had spent
weeks il carefully examining the
country-nono knowing who the quiet,
young gentleman was, or
suspccting his purpose. On the nth
of November, the same year, the first
workman arrived and began the work
Of constructing dredges, etc. Since
then he has built 80 boats of all sizes,
steamboats,, quarter boats,
pIowboats, bargcs and
other craft.
4 WASTE CHANGED TO PROTECTIVE II
FIELDS. Fl
As we stood OH the leyee, on the
east bank of Lake Caloasieu, and
looked over the thousands of acres of
waste lands-always too low and
marshy for any cultivation whatever,
and mostly too wet ior even grazing
we fully realized the mag
nitude of the work here undertaken ,
by Mr.. Watkins. To reclaim all this !,
waste, and make it the most product !
i've of all lands in Louisiana, is indeed
a work to immortalize its protector.
No indiyidul Of ordinary means, or ,
parishes so small in population as !
.hese are, could command the means
o reclaim such a vast region-henee
he advent Of gentleman Of such /
Imple means is hailed with great satis-
action by all the good people Of this !
egion. II
As mentioned above, We made
even mile tour, with our boats,
hrouoh tlta canals and Visitad ope of .