The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1891-04-25

St. Landry.

If we can get the assistance of per-
sons living in the several districts OF
our parish, giving us such lntorma-
ton as may enable us to do so success
fully, we propose to introduce the
parish of St. Landry, as far as our cir
culation may enable us, to the attention
of people living at a distance.
We have large area OF territory "
ing vacant or uncultivated which is
equal in quality to that already under
fence, and we feel satisfied that if the
advantages offered here, were known
extensively elsewhere, we might soon
see an immigration of intelligent,
useful and enterprisiDg families come
among us and take up the line OF
march in the direction of progress.
Our resources are, as yet incaleulable,
because no we'll directed and properly
exerted effort has ever been made to
discover what they are, or what they
NAV be made. The parish is among
the oldest in the State, having been in
eorporated in 1907, with nineteen
others, to-wit: Ascension, Assumption,
Avoy yelles, Concordia, East Baton
Rouge, Iberville, La Fonrche, Orleans,
(which was re- e-incorporated in 1897
Onachita, Plaquemine, Pointe Coupee,
Rapides. st. Bernard, St. Charles, st.
John and ST. Martin
This parish had 2276 square miles OF
territory at the time OF its incorpora-
ton. Acadia has recently been taken
from it, leaving still a traction over
L4OO miles, or quite enough for the
formation of still another new parish
The parish of Acadia does not rank
in point of natural capacity for produc-
tiveness, with very large portion OF
the present parish of st. Landry. And
in saving so, we do not wish to dis
parage the inviting features OF that en-
terprising young parish. She ls the
worthy offspring of illustrloas parent
age, and has shown herself such, in the
astounding progress made in the utiiiz-
alton of it's natural resources. Far see
+ ing men-men of liberal ideas-and re-
solute enterprise, settled there FORUM
atelv. when the infant was first placed
upon its feet-they taught it to stand up
to walk, and to run in the race OF pro-
gress, and although still an infant, as II
were, it has already bounded ahead OF
older parishes, and now aspires to the
very first prizes to be won ID sach
| races. The men of means have been
at work first neritiRg attention, now
commanding it. Not only here but tar
ont in the Northwest, and wherever IN
onr broad land, men are suffering from
extreme cold, or from the seanty pro-
] dnctiyeness of the soil, the press has
been industriously employed and the
tidings of land of health and plenty
have been waited far and near, by this
silent, yet potent missionary, until the
1 curiosity of homeless heads OF worthy
| families, has become fixed upon tne
proclaimed advantages aboundIne
i there. and a constant influx of honest
/ hardy. industrious, and producing mer
have located and are settling in tht
i Darish. All this, and much more W.
migkt add, to the honor OF that new
1 parish and those noble men OF enter
prise, while the old empire OF st
4 Landry plods her weary way along
fettered by incidence, and contentlnI
itself with the theories and ideas
ages past. The sun shines on no par
of earth with more generousness IN 10
beams, than here.
The soil is productive even unto pro
4 djgality. The seasons are mild beyon
the ready conception of men of th
8 North. and in short, all nature show
itself in its blandest and most fascinat
lEAp phases here in this dormant br
most excellent old parish.
Now we propose to make some excl
ton to do for it, that which has bee
done for Acadia. In aid of this, "
earnestly solicit information from a
quarters of the parish. We need agr
cultural, arboricultural and all othe
: statistics, that may enable US to photo
graph st. Landry, and present it to o.
readers as nature has made it.