The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1885-03-21
a "Trip to Rayneo

Last week wc had occasion To visit
the thriving little city of Rayne, ou bu-
siness matters, and, although having
heard OF its rapid growtt, and progress,
we were not prepared 10. realize the
wonderful development made in that
section of our parish within SO short II
period Of time. Four or five years ago
we passed the site, now known as Rayne,
then called Poupeville, with only two
stores, blacksmith and wagon shop to
dignity it with the name of a hamlet.
Now 1t is All incorporated town whose
limits cover mile and one half square,
with commodious business houses front
ing on each side of the La. Western R.
R., and neat residences spreading out
in every direction, facing we'll graded
streets, and forming the pleasant home
eff about six hundred as hospitable, en-
ergetic, and thrifty inhabitants as oc-
cupy any country. The youngest town
in St. Landry, yet this young giant in
progress ard strength has long since
thrown off its swaddling clothes Of
childhood, and in its marvellous strides
of advancement bids fair to outstrip
the majority of the older places of our
parish. The business element is COM
posed of men representing different
States and our own parish and State !,
men full of push and vitality wide-
awake to that liberal minded policy
which is making that section of st. Lam
dry the cynosure aud attraction of peo-
pie in the older States aud who are pur-
chasing homes there by the dozens.
Many persons from the North, West,
and South have already bought homes
and settled in and around Rayne, and
Others are rapidly coming in. There is
perfect boom in the land business and
not many years hence that entire. sec.
ton will be the most thickfy populated
portion of st. Landry Aud this acces-
sion of the residents being principally
from the thrifty and Industrious farm
ers and mechanics of the North and
West will inoculate new vigor and new
ideas into the minds of the original in
labitants, who, before, were satisfied
with their quiet and nneyentful condi-
tion in life, and satisfied TO remain as
their foretatheis did half century
ago. Already this spirit is conspicu-
uusly manifested by the life and anima-
tion which rule the people there Dur-
ing our sajoarn, We met gentlemen from
Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Min
nesota, Connecticutand Mississippi, all of
whom were intelligent men, with more
or less capital, who were seeking homes
in that portion OF our parish. Our friend,
w w. DnSon, tile real estate agent
there, .,yas kept busy showing them
lands, and before they left had sold
homes to nearly every one of them.
They were enthusiastic over the soil
and climate OF that section, and will
doubtless influence many others of their
neIghbors to settle there. Mr. Duson is
a thorough going business man, a spien
did real estate agent, and has thorough
II advertised bis section of the parish.
He believes III printers lux, is liberal
in his business principles, which com
bined with his affable social qualities
have built him fair business in south
vest St Landry.
In the line of trade and occupations,
Rayne includes every thing to make up
a lively, enjoyable, and progressive lit
tie city. There are four hotels, among
which the City Hotel, kept by our kind
host, e @. Bruner, affords tile most
pleasant and comfortable quarters to
the trading public; eight houses doing 4
general merchandise aud grocery trade
one large sash, blinds, &c, establish
ment; two first class dug stores one
lumber yard; t.so saloons. In profess
1sions, occupations aud trades there are
two ply sicians, tNo real estate agents,
three notaries, Que auctioneer, one JUS
tlce OF the peace, two painters, one ba-
ker, one shoemaker, one butcher, SOW
eral carpenters, one barber, two black
smiths, one rick-mason, &c. There
is also large town hall and dramatic
hall, at which frequent dramatic per-
formances take place by home amateurs
and other theatrical troupes. There
are two large churches, Catholic and
Methodist; two schools, one public one
private Six trains pass through the
town daily, over tile La. Western, and
Strangers are constantly stopping off in
town, winch adds materially toits anima-
ted appearance. Aud we would not for
get the Rayne Brass Band, led by Prof.
Chappuis, whose delightful music we
had the pleasure of listening to while
there.
1t our readers call this puff to the
thriving little city of Rayne, we say that
her wide-aWake people deserve all We
have said and more.
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