St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-03-30

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words notice In this regard, she IS WIN
ont neer in the nation. This distinction
has advantages too great for adequ com
ment, These waterways furnish high
ways for commerce, and are influential (or
can be made SOY to check excessive rates o, !.
transportation. They give abundant anu
even inexhaustible supplies OF water loi
stock raising, desideratuna that anyone
who has ever raised stock In an aria coun-
try will highly appreciate. Almost every
stream abounds with fish OF very nhe
quality. The main streams are unfall1ng,
fed from far-off sources. The Mississippi
river drains almost half the United States
The Arkansas and Red rivers course sew
eral States and Territories, and draw their
supplies of water q vast distance from
their mouths.
So pervading or penetrating is the nav
liability of many of the streams OF Louis
lana, that at thousands of homes the pas
senger and his freight can be landed al
most literally at his very door. And there
is open to all such Unlimited opportunities
fol. bathing, sailing, boating, etc. The lum-
bermen find in many of these streams the
cheapest and safest of all means of rafting
his timber to the mill, and if he will, of
~A~
smaller streams are unlimited opportu-
mites for fish ponds, and one can have the
option of catching several species of fish
from the brook, or one or more species
from the fsh-pond.
Louisiana abounds in lakes Cthere are
over three thousand miles of them, many
of them navigable), salt and fresh. In the
former are found oysters, crab and shrimp
0he true cray-fsh so dear to Englishmnen).
In the latter are also many choice species OF
fish. Many of these lakes are navigable and
beautifully wooded, and some day will be
beautiied with homes cherished as winter
resorts. This aspect of these lakes has
never had the consideration it deserves.
Only few spots have received the atten-
ton their loneliness warrants, and will,
ere long, command. Thousands of lovely
villas will! deck their shores within the
next quarter of century, and they will be
graced with the most aesthetic features
of Horticulture and arboriculture. The
gaily painted yacht will curtsey on their
waters, and the embellishments of archi
lecture will add its charms to their shores.
And in these lovely homes, the graces of
domestic life will embellish and heighten
natural attractions, and nature will render
back its inestimable blessings of health,
and the innocent joys of birdsongs, flowers,
balmy airs and glorious skies. Well
might one dilate at large on the large lus-
cious, innocent, soothing narcotism of the
gulf airs, but space forbids. Mr. Joseph
Jefferson, the world-renowned actor and
impersonator of Rip Van Wrinkle, places
special emphasis ON the bland and heal
ing effects of the climate on overstrung
nerves, and overweight brain, and the
relaxed and overdone business man, at his
winter home near one of these lakes.
There are nearly four thousand miles of
navigable rivers and smaller streams; while
the mileage of brooks is almost incomput-
able.
TIMBER WEALTH.
In her wealth and variety of timber,
Louisiana has no superior, if peer, in the
United States. In point of species of woods,
there are PROBABLY over hundred, and
their value is unequaled by those of any
State in the Union, and their magni6cence
surpassed by none but by few of the giants
of California In ornamental trees, her wide
spreading live oaks have no peer. Their
breadth of foliage, and the deep and cordial
tones of their color are a never failing joy,
to say nothing of their shapeliness. The
Magnolia grGndstlorG is another tree of in
comparable beauty, both of form and foil
age, while it's immense, creamy chalice of
bloom overfiows almost all summer with
an intensity and pervasion of fragrance,
that is almost uncomfortable to some. But
space forbids much regard to the aesthetic
side of Louisiana's flora. The hard woods
many species of oak, several of hickory
(the pecan among them, ash, ETC., are most
superb in size and fibre. Probably no
State in the Union can show such profu-
sion, quality and size of the last three
species. as Louisiana.
In cypress, Louisiana is vastly ahead of
any other State in the Union, not only in
quantity, but in quality. This wood is
making its way into many uses, and within
few years has met with such general
commendation that it is in great demand.
Many mills in Louisiana run entirely on
its 'scut." and the business is one of the
most expanded industries of the state. In
certain localities is found birdseye cypress
especially in demand for ornamental work.
Of yellow pine, Louisiana has one of the
largest supplies of any State in the Union,
and is claimed by some to surpass any
State. This tree grows only in the South.
Of late it's lumber has grown into great ia
vor, and according to Mr.. w. 81. Howcott,
leading authority, has come into extern
sive use in Idaho, Montana, Colorado, New
Mexico, Arizona, etc. 1t has greatly sup
planted other lumber in many Western
cities. According to this authority, there
are over 2400 saw mills in the South, most
of them cutting this lumber; and fifty
millions of dollars have been invested in
Southern pine lands since the last census.
Louisiana has shared largely in these sales,
and millions of acres have been sold to
spectators and lumber manufacturers.
The following compilation from the last
United States census, taken from Mr.. How
colts letter in the Baltimore Mangtactur-
ers' Record of January 5, 1889, shows the
status of Louisiana as to yellow pine:
The forestry bulletins of the last censu
of the United States give the following
estimates of long and short leaf yellow
pine standing June list, 1880. viz:
Long-leaf feet. Short-leaf, feet.
Alabama. .... 1885 COO, 900 ...........
Florida .......... 6,615000,000 .,..........
Georgia. ......... 16,77s 100000 .....t...
Louisiana ..... 49, 598, 900 900 1,625, 000, 600
Mississippi. $500. 1920, 000.000 6,T5, 600, 900
North Carolina. 5.229 Co., 900 ............
South Carolina 5316. OO0,G00 1908 200. 900
Texas .......... 2050S, 100000 26,093. 20o,0 600
Total III. lie. 1000 121, g01, 400, 900
SULPHUR.
Near Lake Charles is what is claimed to
be the largest deposit of sulphur in the
world, a stratum of crystalized sulphur,
three hundred feet thick, of remarkable