The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-05-27
THE NEW LOUISIANA.
Interesting Interview About the
Iowa settlement in Calcasieu.


Iowa settlement in Calcasieu.
Mr.. 5. L. Cary. OF jennings, CAL
casieu parish. arrived in the city on
his way to Iowa. which state he left
over three years ago. The object Of
his return to his old home is to bring
ont many OF his old friends and
neighbors to the Iowa settlement in
Calcasieu. that section now looming
up SO prominently as the Mecca for
the settler.
A reprcse NATIVE OF the New Or
leans Times Democrat in the course
OF conversation with Mr.. Cary CLEAN
ed much interesting Information re-
garding the praifies Of CaIcaslcu and
the progress made there by newcom-
ers during the last few years. He
exhibited a jar containing fruits In
the green state he had just picked
before starting to show how far adj
vanced they were as early this.
There were peaches, apricots. necta.
rines, figs, apples, berries, and as a
vegetable sample, u large potato.
Speaking Of southwestern Louisi-
ana, Mr.. Cary said that he was the
first pioneer Of
THE IOWA COLONY,
having reached Jennings on March
81, 1883, when there were only four
buildings there and about twenty
people. He liked the looks OF he
place, and after an inspection con-
cluded to settle. There were thous-
ands Of acres OF government land in
every direction, and no applications
were being made for them. He was
so pleased with the situation that he
wrote back to Iowa, and devoted all
his energies toward bringing out his
old neighbors. He succeeded Sc
well there are more than 200 families
or 1000 individuals from Iowa now
COMFORTABLY LOCATED
there. They have settled on q ridge
about u mile from the Nez Pique
Bayou, which is elevated forty feet
above its waters. This bayou, which
is forty feet deep, is seventy miles
long, and enters into the Mermentau
river, which, after going forty miles,
finds its mouth In the Gulf.
The climate there is almost per-
petual spring, and the rainfall OF 45
inches is evenly distributed over the
whole year. There Is heavy timber
within easy distance and the water
from wells Is pure and healthy. AZ
a sample Of how equable is the heat
Mr.. Cary states that the section hands
on the railroad lost but one half day
from heat during the last three years,
q showing not to be found on any 81
the railroads, even In the North.
The country is eminently fitted for
stock and fruit raising, the native
grasses being both numerous and
abundant. On the prairies there are
thousands Of tons OF rich hay that
rots yearly for want OF gathering
and curing. One grass In particular
has won the highest encomiums. The
carpet grass is superior to the famed
blue grass OF Kentucky. Such are
its nutritious qualities
CATTLE FATTEN ON IT
with sur prising rapidity. In winter
stock DIES not suffer from the terri
BILE cold Of the north. On Calcasie,l
prairie alone $4,000 cattle, lc,OOO
horses aud 1900 sheep winteres!
safely last year. Il is estimated tina,
the cost Of raising 4 four year old
steer Is not much more than 81, and
it can be sold easily for $40. They
require no care, for the prairie at.
fords them range all the year.
In fruits the settlers have made
great progress and orchards are In
creasing on all sides. Apricots, figs,
ounces, pears, nectarines, olives.
plums, pomegranates and peaches
all do well, the latter bearing when
the tree Is two years old.
Hay, which never before received
any attention, is now becoming an
important article. No baiing presses
had been used on the prairie and II
was not deemed possible to pack
hay for shipment without them.
Lately, however, several had been
bought and carloads OF hay were
shipped at good prices. Eight dol
lars per ton had boen received on
such shipments. As Mr.. Cary puts
it: "a man buys land at Sl.25 an
acre and the first year takes OF VI
each acre s. worth Of hay, without
cultivation"
In health the death rate Is about
six per 1000 per annum, rate about
one. halt that Of Iowa. It has long
been the opinion that cattle coming
from the North died In great mum.
bers before they could Be acclima-
tized. In CalcAsieu not moro than
20 per cent succunbed in horned
cattle, and In horses, sheep and hogs
there was no trouble whatever.
Socially, the Iowa settlers are en-
ioying all the pleasant associations
they ever did. Each house has its
piano or organ. Schools are well
organized. and already funds have
been raised to build q Congregational
Church. the first In Louisiana. AZ
10 all new settlements, the people 60
further to see one another, and are
tOnder OF one another than In more
densely populated sections. They
are happy and contented and filed
with enthusiasm over the future.
Mr.. Cary left last night on bis way
Worth. where he expects to organize
large party for his settlement.
As usual, the senate public lands
COMMITTEES is pursuing dilatory tao
tics regarding bills for the forfeiture
i land grants which 1t does not care
70 pass. The public has an eye on
these land grant bills, however. and
il the senate shall fail to pass them
before the conclusion OF the session,
the republican party will labor under
! disadvantage In the approaching
elections.