The Opelousas courier., 1893-02-04
Southwestern Louisiana.
Extent and Population.

Extent and Population.
The section %ofcountry lying south of
the 31st parallel west of the Atehafa-
laya and east of the Sabine rivers may
be said to constitute the territory which
is called Southwestern Louisiana. 1t
has q population of about 100000
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,
and the southern portion of the par
isles aSAvoyelles, Rapides and Yer
non.
Typographical and Geographical Charac-
teristics.
THO general conformation Of the
country is level, except in the north
westerly portion, where it is somewhat
billy and contains N 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 linz
its. where it is swamp, and though of
unsurpassed fertility and Astounding
with o 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 is known geological
ly az 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
q scene of serene and marvellous
beauty, and while the natural arrange
ments of the genes presented here is
not such as to inspire the mental con-
ditions of sublimity which one would
experience on being thrown in contact
with lofty mountains, deep canyons,
rushing cataracts, frightfal p~recipices
or the vast expanse of ocean as it un-
folds itself before our eyes and leads
us to the recognition of that ininitude
of power which awes the mind with its
terrific grandeur. and reminds MS that
despite q great knowledge in the
arts and sciences, we can with our e.
mite faculties. take in but a moiety oil
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.
It 10 D that imparts serenity to the
soul and pleasant contentment to the
mind. Il is the offspring of a sense
OF rep0se, or rest in nature, and pro-
dnces q feeling correspondent TO the
absence of domestic troubles, or cares.
in o well regulated and prosperous
family. Lit tends to smooth down the
rugged spots in bur natures and gives
20 our feelings that placidity and calm
ness which are inspired by our sur
ronndings when nature ID in q state of
repose, and the earth presents none of
her rugged and SCARED places, the ci-
casFices of ancient c~atastr0phies to oh.
trude upon our vision or ruf1e the
smooth current of our sensibilities.
Such are the impressions produced on
the mind by the natural phenomena of
0ur country az contrasted with the
effects of the scenery of some other
Ours is serene, beautiful and
pleasing. Theirs Is awful, snblime,
grand and oftimes terror inspiring.
Climate.
But there is another consideration
which weighs heavily i'm favor of South
western Louisiana as a dwelling place,
and that is the superior advantages
Df its soil and climate. Here one ID
not troubled of heat and cold, as In 9th i
more northern and pent in districts. /
The gentle brsezes from our Mexican [
9nif are not INSTRUCTED by the inter- {
OF mountain ranges and im- /
nense and impenetrable forests, nor /
ire the SUMS ray reflected by the rocks
IN mountain sides and made converg- /
'tt on the valleys beneath, but health.
III and inyigorating fresh breeges pro- /
'eed directly up the plains nnOpposed I
q their march inland, dispensing com d
orr and yigor To those who are 30 for 4
innate ns to have cast their lots In this L
aVOred cline. The thermometer in &
has an average fuctuation here /,
4 from 40 to 70 degrees ; of course IT 8
sometimes below 40; it even goes d
'eyond the freezing point; but this is Ii
le case for only a few days duringg
le winter, and the rest Of this term 8,
be said to be free of frost, and
&c % pleasant outdoors, lii fair wealth ID
I all the winter through. Til summer d,
Ae mercury ranges from so to 96 de- &
fees, registering the latter temporal 5,
are but seldom. Such chronicles ofl 4,
anstroke and death as are being de- 81
alled BIZ Che papers published Id New IL
ORR. Chicago, Philadelphia, Louis. III