The Opelousas courier., 1893-02-25

result to the grower as a mel
profit on his average production
while with rice neither his gross sales
nor his average profit would be quite
so large. The average yields of cane
per acre is about 90 tons, while that
Of rice is about 12 barrels. Cane is
worth 81 per ton f. o. b., and rice
ranges in price from SO to $4 per bar
rel, so we may fairly estimate So as
about the average price. Now basing
our estimate on the above figures,
which we consider about fair, it will
readily be seen that the profit from
ane,growing will exceed by j that
which proceeds from riee-growing
In the last six years the pro
duction of rice in Southwestern
Louisiana has increased from 1890
to an estimated crop of zoo, 900 barrels
of l6I lbs eachin 1892, and the pros
pect now is that the crop of 1892 will
nearly double that of 1891.
There are men in this section Of the
country who have engaged in the cul-
tivation of rice and sugar within the
last 5 years, who when they began had
comparatively nothing and COM
menced their operations on the credit
system, but who are now independent,
having amassed a handsome compe-
tency, and who have invested it in
good homes, surrounded with all the
comforts and pleasures of rural life,
and who live there under their own
vine and fig tree, a life of prosperous
peace and contented ease. They have
fought the wolf away from the door
and established themselves on a solid
basis.
schools and Churches.
W. are not blessed here with as
good a system of schools as is to be
found in the Northern, Western and
some of the Southern States, but we
have good school laws and a spirit to
wards intellectual and moral advance
nfent seems to be awakening, and as
new people flow in and the country
becomes more thickly settled, and its
resources better developed we may
look forward to marked progress in the
way of education and the more gene
raj dissemination of knowledge.
Nearly all the Christian religious
seets are represented among us, and in
the town of Opelousas, the county site
of st. Landry parish, the Roman Cath
olics, Bapticts, Methodists, Presbyte-
rians and Episcopalians have churches.
Politics.
Our State and local governments are
generally Democratic, owing to the
fact that a preponderance of the intel
ligent people here are of CHAT political
faith, but were it not for politi.
cal affiliations, necessarily on account
of the presence Of the negro in politics.
there would be more division in politi
cal sentiment among the whites, poll
teal contests would be better defined
and conducted on party issues, arh no
doubt, as the result of such a course, a
better condition of government would
exist. However, every one lis free to
act as he pleases in most instances and
it makes no difference what ticket one
votes, if he possesses the proper ele
ments of manhood and character, he
is respected and has extended to
him the same social attention as
if he were a member of the dom
inant party. So to all who desire
to cast their lot among us we ex-
tend, regardless of creed or political
faith, a hearty welcome. Come to
Southwest Louisiana and help MS
build up and develop the country, as
sist us in reclaiming the waste places,
and invest your money where it pays
to make investments. All questions
propounded will be promptly answered
and all information regarding this ia
yored land and it's opportunities will
be cheerfully impaired by addressing
The G. j. Thompson Real Estate
Agency, at Opelousas, La.