The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1885-11-07
VeRMlLlOH PARISH.

Vermilion Parish borders on the
Gulf of Mexico, and lies between 20
deg. 80 min. and 80 deg. 10 min.
north latitude /; the 18th meridian Of
Longitude west of Washington,
passes through this parish. 1t is
about 40 miles long by 40 miles
vide, of irregular width. and con-
tains about 1000 square miles area.
1t is partially bonded on the west,
by the Mermentau river, which is ma.
vigahle for snail steamers and shoon.
ers, the whole year through. About
Il miles west Of its eastern bounda-
ry flows the Vermilion river or ba-
you, which passes entirely through
the parish from its northern limits,
to tho Vermilion bay, on the north
esn boundary. This river is navi-
gable at all stages Of water, for
steamboats, and schooners. the whole
length Of the parish and to Lafa-
|yette above !; and a steamer is con
stantly employed on this river,
making weekly trips to Morgan
City, where it connects with the
Louisiana and Texas Railroad to
New Orleans. Ia addition to this
steamer numerous schooners ply on
the river in the lumber trade. No
portion Of the parish is distant from
constant navigation.
Along the shores Of the Gulf Of
Mexico and the Vermilion bay. the
land is low and composed Of. sea
marsh, for a distance from 5 to II
miles. This marsh is a very rich
soil, and in many place. firm enough
to pasture cattle on, but ia times Of
high winds from the south, it is
flooded with sea water. There are
a few high ridges about IN the marsh,
and along the shores Of the bays and
gulf. called the Chsnieres, which do
not overflow, and are inhabited.
The remainder Of the marsh is unip.
habited. The parish also abounds
in beautiful lakes. Lake Arthur on
the western boundary, is a beautiful,
clear lake, with high clean banks.
Here are many orange groves plant
ed and the orange thriyes. On the
eastern boundary is Lake Simonet or
Peigneur. The ihermometeri in sum
mer seldom reaches 50 deg. and very
rarely 50 deg; about 81 deg. in the
warm weather of summer. In win
ter, it rarely ever reaches 80 deg.
Ice is formed perhaps two or three
times during a winter, but sometimes
not at ali. Snow is not seer %oftener
than once in ten years. There is never
any ice in the streams or lakes. In
the summer the heat Of the sun isl
tempered by the cool breeze from
the sea, so that in the hottest days it
is cool in the shade, as anyone could
desire. All the strips of timber 10
the parish run north and south, so as
to leave the sea breezes full sweep
over the prairies with its cool,
health giving freshness. This breeze
so moderates the heat, that working
in the sun throughout the sammer is
not oppressive.
The prairies are like one intending
meadow, the grasses growing very
high, adding much to the %softness OF
the picture, and are admirably
adapted to the rearing of cattle,
horses and mules, and the more roll.
ling lands peculiarly fitted to the
raising of sheep. The soil on these
prairies are unsurpassed in fertility
and s%alubrity. They produce cot
ton, corn, and all kinds of cereals
grown IN this section. In the is
lands of shade the residents build
their houses, where they live con-
tentedly, varying the monotony oil
tilling the soil with hunting. fishing,
and herding their stock, sugar. cot
ton, tobacco, rice, and in fact all the
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