The Opelousas courier., 1893-02-25
Southwestern Louisiana.
Extent and Population.

Extent and Population.
The section o country lying south of
the 3lst parallel west of the Atchafa-
laya and east of the Sabine rivers may
be said to constitute the territory which
ia called Southwestern Louisiana. 1t
Inns a population of about 200, 900
souls, and includes within it's confines
the whole of the parishes of Acadia.
Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Lafayette,
St. Landry, st. Martin and St. Mary,
an&sthe southern portion of the par
ishes of Avoyelles, Rapides and Yer
non
Typographical and Geographical Charac-
teristics.
The general conformation of the
country is level, except in the north
westerly portion, where it is somewhat
billy and contains one of the finest for
ests of pine and the hardwoods to be
found in the United States. Here
abound all the varieties of oak, cy-
press. beech, maple, poplar. gum, ash,
sycamore, magnolia, etc. South of this
and onward to the Gulf the land is
prairie, except along its eastern lin
It's, where it is swamp, and though of
unsurpassed fertility and Astounding
with q vast expanse Of magnificent
timber, it is subject to overflow from
the freshets Of the Mississippi and Red
rivers. This immense tract of prairie
land is above overflow and stands
generally on what il known geological
" as the bluff formation. It is about
40 feet above the overflow waters of
the Mississippi river, and offers the adj
vantages of good and healthful homes
to such as desire to cast their lots In
this favored section of the State. This
prairie region is not like some of the
great prairies of Texas, and the West,
almost absolutely devoid of fuel and
water. 1t Is interspersed with streams
of running water along whose banks
timber enough is generally found to
supply the wants of the inhabitant in
improving his lands and affording him
aconstant supply of fuel for present
and future consumption. The blend:
ing of prairie and woodland through
this section furnishes the eye with
o scene of serene and marvellous
beauty, and while the natural arrange
ments of tho scenes presented here is
not such as to inspire the mental con-
diti0ns of sublimity which one would
experience on being thrown in contact
rushing cataTacts, frightfnl precipices
or the vast expanse of ocean as it I'M
folds itself before our eyes and leads
ns to the recognition of that infinitnde
of power which aWes the mind with its
terrific grandeur. and reminds as that
despite u great knowledge in the
arts and sciences, we a with our e..
mite faculties. take in but a moiety of
the mysteries of creation, and render
subject to our domination so small a
share of the rude forces of nature as to
impress us with the impotency of our
strength. Yet there is another class
of mental conditions which arise from
the contemplation of natural objects.
Ii is ODe that imparts serenity to the
soul and pleasant contentment to the
mind. It is the offspring of a sense
of repose, or rest in nature, and pro-
dnces a feeling correspondent to the
absence 81 dOmeStic troubles, or cares,
in o we'll regulated and prosperous
family. It tends to smooth down the
rugged spots in our natures and gives
to Our feelings that placidity and calm
Tess which are inspired by our sur
ronndings when nature is in a state of
repOse, and the earth presents none of
her rugged and SCARED places, the eli
catrices of ancient catastrophies to OBJ
trude upon our vision or rnff1e the
smooth current of our sensibilities.
Such are the impressions produced on
the mind by the natural phenomena of
our country rs contrasted with the
effects of the scenery of some other
places. Ours is serene, beautiful and
pleasing. Theirs Ia awful, sublime,
grand and oftimea terror inspiring.
Climate.
But there is another consideration
which weighs heavily IN favor ofSonth
western Louisiana as a dwelling place,
and that 10 the superior advantages
of its soil and climate. Here one is
not troubled of heat and cold, asin 9th
or more northern and pent In districts.
The gentle breezes from our Mexican
Gnlf are not obstructed BIZ the inter
position of mountain ranges and i'm
mense and impenetrable forests, nor
tlleaun's ray reflected BY The rocks
IN mountain sides and made converg
mt on tho valleys beneath, bnt health.
fnl and inyigorating fresh breezes pro-
reed directly mp the plains nnopposed
their march inland, dispensing com
R0rs and vigOr to those who are SO for
innate Asto have cast their lots In this
favored cline. The thermometer Id
has an average fluctuation here j
from 40 to NO degrees of course III
. sometimes below 40; it even goes
tho freezing point bnt this ii
he case for only q few days during i
he winter, and the rest of this term {
nay DO said u be free of frost, and
lis IL PLEASANT outdoors, in fair wealth j
All the winter through. lii summer /
be mercury ranges from so to 96 de- /
.Fees, registering the latter tempora-
but seldom. Such chronicles of /
nnstroke and death as are being do 8
allied BIZ the papers published Id New 4
Eefks Chicago. Philadelphia, Louis i