The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-04-17
FROM LOUISIANA.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

JENNINGS, La, March 25, 1886.
We have spent two weeks very
pleasantly at this new but noted set
tlement and as the people of Iowa
and especially of Howard county
have heard good deal, pro anG
con-, of which Jennings is the "hub, y
we will give herewith, briefly and in
general terms, the result of what We
have seen and heard. We came here
merely to visit relatives and old time
friends and for recreation and pleas,
ure. We have made no investments
here. We have no intention or desire
to boom or run down the country.
We are simply recording impressions
made ton the wing'--impressions that
further observation and longer visit
might change in short making a short
visit with the readers of the TINES,
whose interests and pleasure it is our
constant aim to promote, whether at
home or abroad .
Jennings is new town, founded
only three or four years ago. 1t is a
station on the Southern Pacific Rail
road; lS4 miles from New Orleans; 10
miles from the Texas line; and ahont
40 miles from the gulf in Calcasieu
parish, or county az we would say in
The North, The town proper contains,
besides the depot, ab mt 25 houses, a
hotel, two stores, blacksmith shop, a
station cottage, a lumber yard, drug
store, shoe shop, and y picture gal,
lery. Another large store building is
being built, to be completed and
opened in thirty days. There are
several carpenters; two doctors; mum
Der of land agents and spectators ;
and some whose trade or profession is
not known, from lack Of opportunity
to proclaim or practice the same.
There is said to be young lawyer
from Iowa improving claim near
town, and who will doubtless hang
out his shingle soon. A preacher,
Rev, Mr.. Jones, an old,time resident
of Lime Springs, who has been en-
gagged In home missionary work in
California and other States, and who
has selected some land here for fu-
ture home, is expected here In q few
weeks to organize union church, FOR
which lot has been donated. There
may be masons here, but If so, they
have not left their mark in the town,
as none of the houses are plastered +;
the foundations are cypress blocks
there are no brick or stone chimneys,
pipe or sort Of tile being used in
stead; and the eisterns are cypress
tanks above ground, Some of the old |
settlers houses In the country are mud
plastered and have chimneys made Of |
clay, moss and sticks There are two
small schools in town, one in public
hall and the other in a private resi-
ience, A union Sunday school ia held
IN the hall.
The above sketch would not be com
Dlete without adding that we have not
counted the new houses in course of
ERECTION Northern men have bought
OTIS in town lately on which they in
end TO build as soon as they can
complete their arrangements, Being
he centre Of this prairie, the growth
# Jennings will be in pace and line
With the settlement and developments
i the country tributary to it Of which
We shall speak in its turn,
Mr., s, T. Cary is the station agent
nd bis son Curtis is his assistant, ex-
ress agent and telegraph operator,
Toward Cary is railway mail clerk on
be Southern Pacific r, r., from New |
'rleans to Galveston. Mr.. w. Il.
,aniels, formerly Of Lime springs,
perates the lumber yard here. Mr.. /
Iontanya, formerly Of Cresco, is the .
lacksmith. Mr., Cary and Mi. Dan Z
is own valuable lands, both improved q
I'd unimproVed, near town, 4
Jennings is said to be 40 feet above
le Mermentaa river, q miles distant,
nd go feet above the gulf
The residents are intelligent, eouFte-
us and social hopeful and ambitious
N better and larger things for Jon-
ings In the not very distant future.
We have made several excursions
nd pie-Ries into the country and to
be bayous, rivers and lakes 10 this
icinity. The prairie, Of which Jen-
ings IS the market center, embraces
n area of about six miles ii width by
weltysfonF in length, nearly all Of
vhieh was government land two Or
bFes years ago; bat now al Is taken
p in homestead, prs-emtion and tree
laims, except perhaps a little at the
aFEhest distance,
on aee9ant Of The excess IL Iowa
lttIeFs pyeY those from other States,
is IS called the HIoWB Colony This