The Opelousas courier., 1892-08-20

Epressed brick, of a rich dark-Ted color
and are beautifully finished within
Then Messrs. Roos s. Son have mex
Egiven this architect q contract for build.
ing a large two story store, with a from
tage OF the same pressed brick. / an
not to be beguiled into chr0nicling all
the progress of the town, for the size OF
Opelousas forbids it. But it would be
gross oversight, even sheer, wantOn
neglect, not to notice such improve
ments as / have glanced at. Another
improvement since / was here is in
street lighting by gasoline. And still
another is a sewage system through iron
pipes emptying into one of the creeks
which are SO contributary to the excel
lent drainage of the town. Opelousas
has, ever since / knew it, had exception
ally well-kept streets. These, with the
conformation of the land, the contigu-
Gus streams and her permeable soil gives
the town superb drainage. Opelousas
has always been a busy centre of trade,
and although other towns divide with
her now, she still quite Folds her own,
ii she has not increased it. She used to
reach far away, even to Vermillion par
ish, away down into Calcasieu, and even
have a virtual monopoly therein. The
AlilCliSG ~GRE1OpCIlCu hkh6IC HAS GIfEH
Ssirth to Jennings, Crowley and Rayne,
but this development has resulted in
such an increase in products that the
result is rather the gain of these new
towns than the loss of Opelousas. Her
merchants are thoroughly conversant
with business, have a large patronage
transmitted from sire to son, have am
pie means, bid boldly for trade, carry a
large line of goods, and keep pace with
affairs. They, too, have caught on
to rice and improved agricultural i'm
nroyements. | am favored with some
statements from the books of several
which give in a general way.
Thus Mr.. Alphonse Levy, of the firm
OF j. Meyers e. Co., tells me that they
have sold this year ab%outtwenty engines
and pumps, and could have sold more.
Last year (their first in this line Of
goodsl they sold eight. They have so
far booked orders for tWenty-four
threshers and engines. Thus far they
have orders for thirty h~arvesters and
binders. Last year they sold about $780,
600 worth of machinery. This year they
will sell at least $4,000 worth. Year
before last they sold fifty binders. Joe
Bloch another prominent merchant, sold
in 1891 ffty-fve reapers and binders and
six mowers. The total value of these
was $1,000. Orders so far for binders,
will sell this year at least
100 which will be worth, at $3.50 each,
$4,000. Mr.. Bloch does not handle en-
gines nor pumps.
Messrs. Clements g. Wilson have sold
forty SIX reapers and binders last year.
This spring 1853 riding cultivators, be-
other agricultural implements.
0palnucac hoo n fanaofa cop.;,our
sided oVer by Mrs. MI. Nj. Hays, with
lady assistants in various branches.
There are Catholic converts here for
both white and colored pupils. The
town is vigorously moving to erect a
schoolhouse, to cost $4,000, and have S2,-
900 or $4,000 in hand. The affair is com
mitted to the ladies of the town, who
devoted themselves to securing
funds by this and that in the ordinary
mode, such as entertainments, etc. A
little while ago the town voted a special
of21 mills toward this schoolhouse.
This question of tax or no tax of course,
had to be submitted to the corporation.
Before the election these twenty-five
a special committee, made a most
and efficient canvass of the town.
Entering their carriages, they visited
voters, and made such effective appeals
as wives, mothers, sWeethearts and sis
as gave them a glorious victory in
behalf OF grand progress, higher educa-
ton and civic ad0rnment.
Another improvement determined up
on is a cotton compress here. This is
not talk. The LOT has been selected
near the depot and the machinery or
The population here is about two thou
sand. 1t would impress one ais more
than that. But the town is spacious,
spread, out over q very large area, for
seems very cheap. The room
around buildings gives air, light, COM
tort, breeze. Every home seems snugly |
snsconced in greenery, and looks happy !
Under the great trees, so old and tall. |
never savassuch an air of content in |
such q prevailing way as here.
1t is hardly necessary to say that Opel
,usas is amply provided with churches.
believe every Christian denomination
las its congregation and church.
& ## M IR HTTTrADn i