The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1885-12-05
LAFAYETTE-VERMIlION.

The following paragraph is taken
from the Lafayette advertiser of the
18th ult. ::
The co operation Of the parishes
of Lafayette and Vermilion will
| doubtless secure the extension of the
Louisiana Central railroad from La,
fayette 10 Abbeville. In regard to
the importance Of such a railroad we
would merely mention that one gin
alone-Mr. john Brookshiers-at
Abbeville has this season, received
and ginned over three-quartesS Of a
million Of pounds Of cotton. And
when VIC call to mind that sugar
and rice are two Of the main pro
ducts of Vermilion parish, we can
begin to form some idea of the great
amount Of products destined for
transportation to New Orleans and
elsewhere. In addition to the cot
ton, sugar and rice, it is one Of the
best stock parishes in the State.
The lower Vermilion, with fast
transportation would becone'a vast
orange grove and early vegetable
market garden, to say nothing of the
fact that Fermilion bay is one of the
best localities for fish and oysters
on the Louisiana coast, and would
become a resort for sportmen who
are fond of ducks, geese, snipe and
deer.
Lafayette and Vermilion parishes
never presented greater inducements
Ito the Industrious c~ultivator of the
soil than they do at present, and we
predict soon to hear of a large num-
Der of the immigration destined for
the South, avaiIing themselves Of the
opportunity offering every day in
the purchasing of cheap and good
lands in these parishes, Thousands
of unoccupied lauds car DE Lad to
THE actual settler at moderate prices
and On easy terms. Tie soil and
climate are unsurpassed in fertility
and salubrity. Though it behot in
the summer months, strangers ex-
press their delight 10 finding the
weather so much more pleasant than
lin the North, East or West. The
constant breeze we have here during
the summer is healthy, ins~igorating,
and every way delightful. Undoabt-
eddy the climate of Louisiana, and
especially this portion, is more tie
Isirable than any other part of this
Igreat Union. Everything that is
produced in this State a be sue
cessfully raised in this portion Of
Louisiana.
The prairies of southwestern
Louisiana are admirably fitted to
rearing of cattle, horses and mules,
and the more rolling lands are pecu-
Iliarly adapted to the raising Of sheep.
Hogs thrive we'll, and wild game Of
Iall kinds abound in abundance. The
prairies of Louisiana differ from
those of the Northwestern States !;
and the most obvious difference is
the fact that we have in Louisiana
no such vast extents Of prairies with
out any visible timber. At the mo.
ment you start westward the land
lscape salutes yoa in all the loneliness
of a blosseming prairie in its first
|luxWience of green under the tender
early sun. The flowers are nun.
berless. When you have counted a
couple OF dozen varieties, you End
you have oaly begun. Beneath vast
and hollow heavens, and moulded
in colossal calm" the naked prairie
rolls away, league after league, I'M.
broken to the Cult. Obi the glory
of a Louisiana prairie under a YER
teal sun! the light, the color, the
distance, the vast solitude and 81.
lence, the limitless level, the ever
lasting rest A flock of white
cranes rise flashing 10 the light and
soar away ; a mirage lifts the lofty
timber that outlines a distant river
and shows you the stream shining
beneath, shaking silver vapor at his
feet ; in the creek besides you fear.