The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-05-01
INoUTRERs ANsWEnED.



Editor Cedar Rapids Republican:
Allow me to answer through the
Republican, some of the many inqui
RIGS made by letter regarding this por
ton of Louisiana. While it gives me
pleasure to reply personally to all
Iowa correspondents, it seems to be
impossible, owing to the fullness Of
the information desired. can, in a
general way, make such statements as
will answer the questions of the aver.
age correspondent.
First. The general character Of the
country and its business outlook:
Lake Charles, located on the South
ern Pacific r. r., 2l7 miles west Of
New Orleans, is rapidly growing
town of some 1000 inhabitants. The
town is situated upon the eastern shore
of the lake, on an elevated bank, bor-
dering an immense prairie, stretching
towards the south and cast. The lake
is nearly two and half miles in diam
eter, and the shore almost true circle.
On the western and northern borders
of the lake are huge trees Of cypress
and pine, being the advance lines OF an
immense primeVal forest, extending
hundreds of miles to the northwest.
Through the lake flows the Calcasieu
river, navigable for l35 miles from the
Gulf of Mexico. Lake Charles is thir.
ty miles in direct line from the gulf.
The lumber of this section is consid-
dered the best in the South Immense
mills are cutting and manufacturing
lumber for Texas and Mexico. This
trade ranges from six to ten millions
per annum, mostly in the hands of
northern capitalists, who have intro
dueed northern machinery and me-
chanics. Lake Charles is also the
headquarters of the North American
Land and Timber Company, a syndi-
cate of American and English capital
lists, improving the coast lands.
Goods of all kinds can be purchased
in Lake Charles as low as in Iowa, and
ought 10 be sold lower, because freights
from New York are nearly nominal
as compared with railroad freights.
Lumber is from SO for common to $40
for clear heart pine flooring.
Laborers receive $I.50 per day. car.
penters, $3.50.
1t has been supposed that most of
this section Of the State is marsh.
Very little is marsh in a true sense.
A very little surface drainage frees the
land from water and enables the far
mer t. cultivate most any crop desired.
The land, commonly called marsh land,
is firm and rich. It is most excellent
grass land /; | never saw better. When
this parish is fully settled it will be
found that there is very little waste
land. Government lands can be OBJ
tanned, short distance from the rail
road, on usual terms. All the govern
ment lands of much value will proba-
bly, be taken this season, but excellent
farms can be purchased just now at
very low rates. The native popnla-
tion has never seen lands high and do
not realize the change in conditions.
Products: Native grasses are abund-
ant; cloyers do well; corn, Irish pota-
toes, sweet potatoes, oats, peas, beans,
rice, mIllet and vegetables of all kinds
are produced abundantly. Il is a nat
ural fruit country, Peaches, pears,
grapes. apFicots, oranges, figs, ounces
can be grown without limit, The fig
is as easily grown as the white willow
and as hardy.
Markets Car load lots Of yegeta-
bles from New Orleans TO Chicago are
sixty dollars. Freights to New York
are but trife,
Ii does not require any irrigation to
produce crops; rains are as in Iowa,
only more abundant.
Healthfulness; Along the rivers
there is some malaria, but the open
prairies, the sea marshes and the pine
woods are as healthy as any country.
Northern people are healthier than the
natives, because they take better care
of themselves Ny family have en-
joyed most excellent health during
their residence here. The winters are
very wildNapd the hea. u me summer
not az ~ Oppressive, Ihe SAP alr ifom
the Gulf Of Mexico is not only TONIC,
but IL seems to destroy the germs Of
disease-as people are perfectly neal
thy oa the coast VIVID slaghap' Wasef
al around.
society; axe hortpefn eoulltles'
there y 2 yarlety--plepty "a gooa ri
ciety II one seeks ~