St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-08-10
Southern Louisiana.

! | will try to answer through your col
umns some of the many letters of inquiry
am receiving from many parts of the
North and West.
The climate here is the best in the
| United States of which we have any
knowledge. 1t is never very hot, seldom
above 90, and it does not often freeze.
The soil is sandy loan and very pro-
ductive when properly cultivated. have
seen better crops of all kinds here than |
ever saw in any of the Western States.
AS for vegetables, it is the best country
in the world. Many kinds of vegetables
can be planted every month in the year,
and as soon as we harvest one crop we
plant another. Why should it not be a
good country for any one especially a
poor man. We might write many wonder
full things we have seen, but fearing they
would not be believed will not bore you.
1t is hard for man reared at the North
or the West to realize that it is a contin-
uous seed time and harvest, but many fail
to continue planting and SO lose one crop.
This was our experience but we saw our
mistake in time to rectify it.
We have been travelling along the line
of the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf
railroad from tide water to fifty miles
North, visiting nearly every family two or
three miles each side of the line, and we
did not see or hear of a sick person on or
near this road.
We saw, and visited with many fami-
lies from all the Northern States from
New York to California Many came as a
last resort thinking they might be bene-
flied in health, others to be cured by
change of climate.
We attended celebration of the 4th of
July by the Northern people, many Creoles
joining US, and from all we asked the ques-
ton, "how do you like the South? and
from all, we received the same answer -
I'VE would not 60 back North to live, as
we like this country much the best
The natives of this country are French
or Creoles They are a very intelligent,
polite, hospitable people and as soon as
they are convinced that man is here to
make home by fair and honest means
will extend hearty welcome and any as
sistance they can. Many of our Northern
people can learn lessons of politeness from
these people. AS to politics man can
speak his mind as freely here as in any
place in the United States.
This country will in the near future,
compete successfully with Southern Cal
ifornia in the production of all kinds of
fruit and we can supply the States north
of US with all the vegetables they may
want, fresh from our gardens every day in
the winter and some kinds of fruit every
month in the year, as soon as the railroad
is completed Oysters can be had at the
coast and all our bayous are full of good
fish. The water is good and the wells are
not usually more than fifteen to thirty-fve
feet deep, while many in the cities and
country use cisterns. We have beautiful
prairies and the best of timber country.
The hottest day here this year was on
July not quite 90. We would advise
all who think of trying to better their
location to come and see Louisiana and be
convinced. All do not see alike To any
one who would like to come here to make
home by honest labor, we will take pleas
ure in answering questions when addressed
with stamp. No spectators need apply
T +. C., IN Sauk Centre Herald.