The Opelousas courier., 1886-01-23

TO lMaDlllGy TO answer Ill GuLS CUuACctlVh l
may remark that within the past three years
principally within the past two, some
THREE HUNDRED NORTHERN PEOPLE
principally from northern Iowa, have settled
here, part in this parish, but more in Calcasieu,
and are doing well and are delighted with the
change. The climate is very healthtnl.
Typhoid fever, diphtheria, and diseases of that
nature are almost unknown. There is some
malaria, but not more ] think than in Page
county. I saw and heard of but little sickness,
either among natives OF others. The region is
not as good for corn as southwestern Iowa,
though The yield is from IS to so bushels per
sore. If put in early it is a certain crop. The
natives raise but little and pay but little atten.
ton to it, scarcely ever cultivating it more than
once, and that with q pillow that a Page county
farmer would not allow to be seen on his
farm, much less used The price ranges from
40c to $I.00 per Neutrality-suspicious. higher
than that. It ought to be a successful crop.
Potatoes, both sweet and Irish are easily raised
and yield abundantly. Two crops per year
are raised on the same ground. They COM
mand a good price and are a profitable crop
/ have seer many bee hives, and those engag.
ed in it claim that the country and climate are
peculiarly adapted to that culture. Grass
grows with
WONDERFUL LUxURIANCE.
Among the natives making hay is almost un.
known, and is not fed, except to work horses
in the towns. but the Iowans settling here
have been putting it up for the New Orleans
market, where IL has been selling this winter
al $13 per ton. On the prairie over which
the stock ranged they cut and put up 8 tons
per acre. Some Of these grasses remain green
throughout the winter, and perpetuatly green
pastures can be had as easily as not. The ma
tive cattle betake themselves in winter. iii
large numbers, to the swamps where the
switch cane abonnds and upon that they
get very fat. In these swamps, too. hogs
thrive through the winter.
SMALL GRAINS DO WELL,
but no one ever attempted . raise wheat here,
SO far as j can hear, and as to whether it could
be successfully cultivated, can nc. say.
Vegetables of all kinds thrive wonderfully aud
the gardens are, or should be, green all the
year. The present crop Of cabbage is just
heading. The New Orleans papers state that
strawberries from the open field have been
brought into town within the past day or two.
In this town are a couple of apple trees
which are doing well. They are seedlings, but
it is believed that fruit will do, at least, fairly
well. The orange is a tender tree. and this
town is too far north for its culture, though a
few miles south, particularly along the streams,
they are easily raised. They can be raised
here easily, suficientin number for the family
use, by planting near buildings. LISA
GREAT PEAR COUNTRY.
Ounces in abundance and the finest I ever
saw fgs, peaches, nectarines, apricots, black
berries, raspberries. ~strawberries-I caunot re-
member all-can do no better than here.
ii is impossible that any country should
surpass this for cattle, horses or hogs. The
abundant pasturage, the plentiful and palatable
water, the easy culture Of the many grains,
upon which to work or fattsn, insures the
largest returns for the smallest Investment of
labor. Poultry do far better than with us. /
heard Of no disease among them they lay as
well In winter no In summer and the market
for both eggs and fowls is as good or better
than with us.
o CHOLERA TOO, Is UNKNOWN HERE,
though swine are 50 scarce that ii would take
a good while for the news to become general
had il invaded the country.
The cost of living is or ought to be low.
The products of the garden, yard and farm
ought nearly TO sustain q family though moth.
ing were sold. How could an Iowa farmer,
conducting his business here as he does there,
fail to become rich Why can be not make
here two dollars for every one possible theraf
If he comes and sees for himself, / am persuad-
ed that he viii conclude he can. Are hot
these people prosperous you inquired No!
The country is as poor or nearly 80, as at the
close Of the war. IL seems paradoxical that
my prior statements can be true and this last
true toe, yet it is correct. The causes are:
The war left
THIS COUNTRY PHOSPHATE,
while ths North was more popuIous, more
prosperous than when iii commenced. Both
Federal and Confederate armies swept and
resWept it again and again. Fences, houses,
gins, sugar houses were injured or destroyed.
Business of all kinds had ceased. Desoiatiom
4reigned. The principal wealth of the North
lay id her labor, the true basis Of all wealth;
thatewealth she had III abundance and of the
best kind. Not SO these people. The whites
knew nothing of work. They had to learn
how and there was no teacher. The blacks,
relieved from the coercion of slavery and With
the crudest of ideas about freedom, confounded
liberty with Incidence and neither the ambi-
ton melted BY education nor the stimulus Of
want compelled exertion. Without capital
either in money labor or experience how could
IL be expected that the Waste places should be
rebuilsa Again, this people
HAVE MADE THE MIsTAKE
of attempting to run too large farms. Were
they much closer managers than most of them,
and were negro labor much more reliable than
IL Ii, sae experience of the North with large
farms would lead ns 10 expect failure. Then
too great reliance Is placed on d single crop,
hreadsEnda md meats are imported rom the
North corn is The principal meat, strange to
Then additional to that, and worse than
ali else, fas credit syslem-and thas fTirhtfuily
abNsed~prevaiis. Theswonder u, n0b1Iiat tlle
country conducted by these methods ii So
poor but that it exists under them at all. But
Will not Northern men be prosefibeda Not a
bit yon
WILL BE HEARTILY WELCOMED.
as those who preceded You hare been, Can
Northern mon, with safety and without cdiun,
express their sentiments As freely as in
Iowa; Just as ] have done while here iust as
these Whehave been here for the past two or
three years have been doing. But suppose the
immigrant Id be d radical republican 4 So
the better. You can be spared from
Iowa. and but about 100 Of such is needed 10
make this parish Of that faith.
JAMES McCABE.
A Republican organ says with
the death Of Robert ToOmbs passes
away the rebellion Well, hardly.
John Sherman is gagged. il is true, but
is unmuzzled, and Blaine may
break loose at any moment.-Conrier
Journal.
Before Che present year closes poo