The Opelousas courier., 1886-03-20
EXCELLENT AND CHEAP LUMBER

is well watered, thoueG in Calcasieu the prairie
is wider and wooAis not so convenient to som
portions of it. Along the Teche there is no
government land, and there is little, if any, in
the bluff deposit district, but in the prairie
there is still considerable The State
lands were acquired by Louisiana under the
swamp land grant, and most OF them have
been taken up by Spectators. throughout
southwestern Louisiana long-leayed, hard-plne
to $l4 per 1000. Cypress, which is nearly
indestructible and is very highly priced, is a
couple of dollars higher. Oak fencing posts
can be had for 2 or 8 cents apiece cypress
posts-they will last for so years-for 5 or
6 cts.
THE WATER is GOOD
and is obtained in abundance at a depth of
from Is to 25 feet, though most OF the natives
use cistern water, the cisterns being huge
cypress tanks and above ground, and most ex-
cellent such water is. About all of the north
ern men I saw had wells During the months
of December and January there is a rainy
season, generally, of about six weeks dura'
ton. and a storm sometimes lasts three or tour
DAYS. Through the remainder OF the season
the rainfall is sufficient for the crops, when
seldom are short if planted early. 1t is claim
ed that a failure Of drops has never been
l aul told That
THE EXTREME OF COLD
is 26o above zero, as far north as Opeiousas
As YOU approach the Gulf it grows warmer.
Snow is seldom seen, and then rarely reaches
the ground. Thin ice sometimes forms during
the nnieht. The cold is very chilly though and
there are occasional days through the winter
when fires are indispensable and when 1t IS un-
comfortable outdoors unless actively at WORK.
Of this weather, though, there is hut little.
Like our own, the weather is extremely Varla,
HE and subject to considerable changes OF
temperature. and those often rapid. Most OF
the fall and winter weather Is perfect ana
THE AIR HAS "A DELICIOUS soFTNEss
that cannot be described, and must be ex-
nerienced to be realized. Northern people
here (and upon their testimony l chiefly rely)
insist that the heat of summe is not so great as
in Iowa. and that it is endured with comfort
for the reasons
LIST. The seasons are so long that work ID
the field need not be pushed as further north.
2nd. That however hot the day is, it is al
ways cool and comfortable in the shade,
3rd. The nights are always delightful, the
| sea breeze tanning you to sleep. They SCOUT
at the notion SO PREVALENT NORTH that "niLe
| men cannot work in this climate, and that oth'
l cl-tua ~ LAG 40 AN
first, they speak from experience.
HAVING DAILY
at the hardest outdoor labor for the two sea-
sons last past, without Inconvenience or injury
As to the second they referred first to their own
experience, and second, enqulred why such
charge should be laid to Louisiana, when no
one thinks of making it against Florida Or
southern California-countries with climates
identical with that Of Louisiana? | confess
to inability to answer. In this connection
may remark that within the past three years
principally within the past two, some
THREE HUNDRED NORTHERN PEOPL
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 healthful,
Typhoid fever, diphtheria, and diseases of thai
nature are almost unknown. There is some
malaria, but not more I 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 a 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 bushel-sometimes higher
than that. 1t ought to be a successful crop
Potatoes, both sweet and Irish are easily raised
and weld abundantly. Two crops per yeal
are raised on the same ground. They com
mand a good price and are a profitable crop
I have seen many bee hives, and those engag
ed in it claim that the country and climate art
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 horse!
in the towns, but the Iowans settling her'
have been putting it up for the New Orleans
market. where it has been selling this winter
al 1913 per ton. On the prairie over which
the stock ranged they cut and put up 3 tom
per acre. Some of these grasses remain greer
throughout the winter, and perpetuatly greer
!, pastures can be had as easily as not. The na
tive cattle betake themselves in winter, il
large numbers, to the swamps where TIT
switch cane abounds and upon that they
get very fat. In these swamps, too, hog
! thrive through the winter.
! SMALL GRAINS DO WELL,
| but no one ever attempted to raise wheat here
t so far as l can hear, and as to whether 1t couit
!, be successfully cultivated, [ can not say
) Vegetables of all kinds thrive wonderfully ant
the gardens are, or should be, green all tint
year. The present crop OF cabbage Is Jus
heading. The New Orleans papers state tina
J. strawberries from the open held have beer
!. brought into town within the past day OF two
3 In this town are a couple of apple tree
8 which are doing well. They are seedlings, bu
il is believed that fruit will do. at least, fairly
well. The orange is a tender tree. and TIL
town is too far north for its culture, though
3 few miles south, particularly along the streams
they are easily raised. They can be raise'
) here easily. sufficient in number for the tamil.
: use. by planting near buildings. LISA
GREAT PEAR COUNTRY.
5 Ounces in abundance and the finest | eve
s saw figs, peaches, nectarines, aprlcots, black
berries, raspbeTries. Strawberries caunot re
member all-can do no better than here.
Ii is impossible that any country shout
i surpass this for cattle, horses or hogs. LII
abundant pasturage, the plentiful and palatabl
9 water, the easy culture OF the many grains
upon which to work or fatten, insures tn
largest returns for the smallest investment {
. labor. Poultry do far better than with us.
heard Of no disease among them they lay
well in winter as in summer and the marke
for both eggs and fowls is as good OF bette
= than with us.
HoG CHOLERA TOO, is UNKNOWN HERE,
8 though swine are so scarce that it would tax
d a good while for the news 10 become gener'
!. had it invaded the country.
The cost of living is or ought to be low
e The products of the garden, yard and farl
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