The Opelousas courier., 1885-01-24
Area and Physical Character og
ST. Landry Parish, Louisiana,
with Inducements il Offers
Trannigrants.

The parish being in the southwest
ern portion of the State, lying between
parallel lines Of ATTITUDES 80 and 81 de-
grees. Embracing a territory from 10
to so miles in length from North to
South, and the same distance from
East to West. 1t is one of the largest
parishes in the State, and its popula-
tion is al ,000-with a predominance of
whites. The voting population is over
5000. The parish contains about one
million three hundred and fifty thou
sand acres, equally divided between
wood land and prairie. About 4 Of the
land is we'll adapted to planting and
grazing purposes. 1t is intersected by
rivers and numerous water courses, af-
fording ample facilities for manufactur-
ing purposes: The streams are nearly
all clothed with fine timber, in many
places over O mile wide. The land
generally lies we'll for.cultiyation. Be-
tween the timbered streams fine nat
ural meadows are spread out and
densely covered with Il fine and luxu-
RANT grass which affords pasturage for
immense herds of horses and cattle the
year round. -
More than one-half of the white po-
pulation are engaged strictly in agricul-
tural pursuits, and are as robust and
healthy as any similar number offarmer.
The soil is rich and productive, with
a salubrious climate, and lands can be
purchased very cheap; unimproved
land a be bought at from 81 to $5
per acre, and improved land from $5 to
$40 per acre. The extreme eastern
portion of the parish is principally bot
tom land, and generally heavily tim
bered. The soil is inexhaustible, and
produces as fine corn. cotton and cane
as n in the State. The timber is un.
surpassed for building PURPOSES, and
making hogsheads and barrels for sugar
planters. The Atchafalaya river on
the east, connects this parish. BY steam
boat navigation VITA Nav Orleans.
Bayou Courtableau, formed BY the juno
ton of Cocodrie and Bout, affords ma
vigation to Washington. r
The route is SHOWN the Coartableau to
the Atchafalaya. thence up the latter
TO the Mississippi, and thence to New
Orleans. Until the late advent of the
railroads bayou B@uf was the channel
Of transportation for the planter, by
means of barges to Washington. Bayou
Jocodrie affords means of transporta-
ion to the lumbermen. The PIaaue-
nine Brnlee, the Mallet, the Came and
yez-Piqu6, are fine streams, but not
lavigabfe.
The Mermentan, formed BY, the Neg
'iqu6, Came and Pladuemine Rrulee,
ga fns naEigablezstream. Vessels as
end it some 20 miles for lumber, which
! takenrts Texas, Havana and the Mex
can ports.
Upon some hese streams are good
ocations for orange orchards, andlarge
Of timber are found suitable for
Il the purposes ofbnilding.and fencing.
nd they afford an unfailing supply of
for stock. The parish has 23D
niles of navigable streams. The sur
ace cultivated id st. Landry yearly
mounts to about one hundred thou
and acres. The crops, fruits and gar
lens Of the parish are less troubled by I
Insects and vermin, and less liable to-
lisease than they are ii higher lati-
udes in other parts of the United
The sugar yield has generally
magnificent. Cotton also has been |
good. Our parish 10 penetrated by
hree railroads. One running 90 miles
through the eastern portionxof the par
one rs miles through The southern
and one IS miles through the
entire. afording convenient travel and &
transportation. With our rivers and
aiiroads, the parish presents advan-
ages second to no otlfsE portion of our
onntfy. Our parish has d healthy To-
alton, witha pure and einvigoratingI'
and q fine body of farming !.
aud; and offerssunsurpassed induce. Z
nents to immigrants and capitalistss
. ships annually from $4,000 10 So
90 bales of cotton to New Orleans.
Il re-