The Opelousas courier., 1888-09-15
St. Landry Parish.
Its Fertile Soils Healthful Climate and
Abundant Resources Described by
one of its Citizens.

ADunuAnC resources DeScflbeu ny
one of its Citizens.
DR.. d. w. Foster, n of our most
esteemed citizens, has written a letter to
the Ruston (La.) Caligraph, from which
we make the following extracts:
In the first place, we have not only a
beautiful country, but a pleasant, and
healthy, and, productive one also. ]
will soon be 81 years old, and l have
travelled q good deal in the United
States and out of them and | have
had extensive experience in the prac-
tice of medicine in various ATTITUDES
and climates, and during most of the
time | have been connected with plant
ing also, and l ought therefore to be
prepared to give an opinion as to the
salubrity and productiyeness of this
country, where I have resided mainly
for nor than O quarter of a century
and I have to say that | don't know
any other country that combines so
many natural advantages in the, way
of all the necessary elements foS com
here. But to be fully appreciated, our
delightful and desirable country must
be seen and to be fallen in love with,
needs but to be seen.
People need not hesitate to come in
any month in the year to our climate,
which l have found really more pleas
ant as we'll as healthy at all times than
/ have experienced in the North, sum
mer as we'll as winter and as to max
ing crops here, about as good cotton,
potatoes peas, &C., may be made the
first year as any, with really less labor
in the cultivation, as there will be no
crab grass to contend with. The viz
gin soil may DO plowed here for these
crops including cotton, as late as Feb
ruary or March. 1t is frequently done
successfully. And as to health, with
prudential care there is no more risk
here thar in the North Or West, and |
missed our refreshing sea breezes while
| was up there. 1t is u well known fact
that there are more suDstrOkes-prOs
trations from heat-up North than
down South.
Aud l would advise all you good peo
Pile up there who may not be satisfied
where they are to come down and see
for themselves. For if / were to fill
your columns describing our country
and it's advantages ''tIe half would not
be told But with your permission |
will attempt to give SOME outlines of
our st. Landry parish.
For convenience of description and
better understanding of its topography.
| will divide the parish into three par
allel running north and south.
The eastern zone is bounded by the
A~tchafalaya river, a deep n~avigable
stream, along the banks of which are
plantations of wonderful fertility. In
the northern portion of that zone some
of the land rs subject to overflow. but
is densely covered with valuable tim
Der, and intersected with bayous alopa
whose banks are some high and very
productive lands in cultivation. In
the southern part of nat SAFE eastern
belt are rich p~rairies and bayous with
woodlands. In the middle zone, which
is the most choice portion of the parish.
are gently undulating prairies covered
with waving grass and grazing herds
of cattle and horses, dotted with high
land lakelets, and traversed by mean
dering water courses, which are skirt
ed with narrow woodlands, which
make up enchanting landscapes, which
are constantly famed by fresh sea
breezes from the Gulf of Mexico which
.is only about m degree south of us.
And while these breezes are cool and
refreshing and healthful in summer,
they are soft and balmy in the winter,
and thus our temperature is rendered
uniformly mild and pleasant all the
stock live and feed throughout the year
without attention from their owners.
Our soil is q loose vegetable mould
about IL to Is inches deep then q hard
pan of clay exists which is so impervi-
GUS to water that all fertilizers put
upon the land is retained, and the land
can be kept to fabulous productive
ness forever. Our soil here in it's virgin
state will yield from 25 to 40 bushels
of corn, 40 to 60 of oats, ( to | bale
(450 lbs.) of cotton, etc, etc. Gardens
of all kinds of vegetables thrive spring
and fall. Such fruits as peaches, pears,
plums, figs, ETC., do we'll here. All pro-
auctions adapted to southern climate
do we'll here, and of course this is an
excellent stock country. AS fine horses.
cows, hogs, and sheep can be raised
here as anywhere.
The Morgan Railroad from New Or.
leans to Alexandria on Red river runs
through our parish north and south;
the Texas Pacific runs across the north
ern end, and the Southern Pacific near
the southern border, and there is steam
boat navigation thr~ee-fourths of the
year from Washingta3 to New Orleans.
Land sells according to location,
quality, etc.; unimproved at $3.50 TOT
$i2. SO improved at % to $25. d1ock
our grass raised horses, from $50
to $50 and S75 ; milk cows and calves
$12 to $18 and $40.
TTyEy IHE TrT