The Opelousas courier., 1890-12-13
Washington.
sY. LANDRY PARISH, Sept. &, 1883.
Ea;tor of the South illustrated

written about, OuG Stlii DoE ci@IthS u@'U n
not sufficiently been presented to peo- r
ME abroad in order for them to fully 8
realize her magnificent advantages In =
soil, products, climate and health. Now !
that a new impetus has been given III :
migration by the organization OF a reg =.
nlarly organized bureau in New Or ,
leans, of which the South illustrated Ia ;
the able official journal, your CORES
poadent would ask a portion OF your
valuable space to present the claims OF
Washington, more particularly as a
mechanical and manufacturing centre:
Few localities, inside or outside OF
the stats. are 40 faverably situated in
all Of those surroundings, which WI
bald up and maintain, for an inoen-
| mite period, so many indnstrial enter
prisss. We know Of no place that OF
| fsrs 80 many inducements to the safe
Investment of capital whore 50 many
having enterprises could be established
without a clash of conflicting inter
eets. I'll,
Washington is situated six miles
from ODelousas, iust below the conan-
epca Of the bayous Cecedrie and b@uf,
an the Courtableau. In age it is coe-
val with tbs commencement OF Opeloa'
sas. and up to the time of building the
MORAN railroad through to Alexandra
il was the main if net the sole shipping
noiut of the entire parish. There IS
snlsndid navigation for the largest
steamers for Mise months in the year to
New Orleans, the route being down the
C~ourtableau, thence into tne Atshaia,
lava, thence into the mouth OF the hed
river to the Mississippi, requiring tnlf'
ty.six hours to make the entire run
from Washington to the Crescent City
Sugar. Gotten, and other produce were
! brought down the bayous Cocodrie y
, Rnuf 10 barges aud small steamers for
: rashippent OF Washington Oh the large
Q hoats. But while the railroads have
: diverted a considerable portion OF the
original commerce, the local trade OF
0 the surrounding country has steadily
inoreased with the growth of popula,,
y tion and the advancing development OF
= tha rieh lands environing it. The TO-
eat agricultural soil in st. Landry lies
q aronSd Warrington. North. east and
d south are bayou lands whose fertility
,, cannot be surpassed in Southwestern
b Louisiana. With ordinary cultivation,
!. and without the use Of fertilizers, GOOD
J : crops are the rule and not exception
= These lands are i~nteltigently and tho
II roughly cultivated, and when gooa sea.
ss sons prevail from 2 to 4 hogsneaos o
or sugar, from 40 to so bushels OF cor
Is and from l to II bales OF cotton can o.
l. made to. tbs acre. West OF the fowl
as lie the broad prairies, threaded her.
and there with woodlands, whose sei
oe is but little inferior in fertility to TIT
~ a~lluyial lands. The finest crops OF SD
car can cotton, corn, rice, oats, mill
rs iat. sweet and Irish potatoes are pro
duced on these lands, without fertl'iz
he ers and with ordinary cultivation. /
Iss tbs way of fruits, almost all Vafietle
to are crown. and the Mount Hope nuE
al sery. owned by Mr.. T. j. Lacy, on
Iv mile south of Washington, is amps
n. nroof of what the soil will do in fruits
,e- Mr.. Laoy never fails to take nrst prize
We in all the fairs for fne pears, peache'
r. cranes. Japanese persirnmons, et'
ses Figg. hlackberries, muecadines an
wild grapes are 90 abundant that the
are not yet utilized by drying or can
ming. Vegetables Of every variety al
cultivated and grown to perlectio,
Although the country is pretty thick
- settled, yet lands can be mad on re-
- sonable terms and prices-from Sl0
Joy $50 per acre, according to improv'
oss msnts aaa proximity to bayou front
~ railroad. House rent in town is qui
ail low. ranging from $5 to SIS per mont
~ according to size ofthe building. Tow
70 nroperty can also be bought on reaso
~ aable terms and prices. We have spoI
.a W an of the agricultural advantages SO
Y. rounding the place to chow the sol
ioh ard PERMANENT basis which suppor
ite prosperity in the future ; and nc
nss we nroposs to point ont its other mat
sss rial advantages that give it still great
" possibilities whenever capital steps
aon with its ssopen sesame and unioo
the hidden wealth of this most favor
- y locality.
Of Washington is built on the west 81
lists of the bayou Ceurtableau,, on a hi
and rollinr situation which acts az
natural watershed in draining it e
ara west to the two bayous that fla
ate its limits. Tt has a population OF abb
1890 inhabitants, and the health OF
place will compare favorably with
hav other sections Of the parish. There
"a. some thirty business establishments
rad various kinds, including dry goo,
nch groceries, drug stores, warehouses,
the keries, confectioners, hotels, saioo
hat ice house, etc., beaide the usual NJ
tied bar Of barber shops, shoemakers, bla'
smith and wagon ahcps, %restaurar
iect livery stables, etc. There L. a bl
and sash factory, planning mill, cot
saed oil mill, single and saw mill,
in cooper shop. Cisterns Of all sizes
tha Also manufactured. There are !
/, its resident physicians and n der
yer. surgeon.
he There are several churches IeI
;nts ~eentina the different Christian dent
ras ingtions, and the Jewish citizens b
~ their synagogue. There are sew
Che schools, public and private, which
3 of under the direction Of competent tea
ers, and whose sessions continue =
roes sin to I'D months in the year. e
civ- among the educational institution'
viah. The Mount Carmel Convent, for 20
nro. ladies, whose able management
in. curriculum will compare with any 9
liar institution of learning in the co
try. The Rev. Father Jouan is
mar. resident priest, an able and zeal
raau pastor, and has a large congrega1
who under his charge,
free In the way OF amusements the t.
I'll, has Two excellent brass bRnds, ST.