The Opelousas courier., 1894-06-16

Not far distant, about % miles up
our railroad, we have an immense
sugar refinery, where a ready sale
I may be found for the CANE offered, thus
afording the cane raiser, who contem-
plates disposing of his cane by the
ton, an opportunity for the sale of the
same.
On the whole we claim that Opelou-
sas and its vicinity is one Of the most
desirable situations in the State and
should attract the attention of the
home-seeker at M
1t is question with some as to which
is the most profitable crop, rice or sn-
gar-cane, but to one conversant with
the cultivation and average yield of
both, all doubt soon becomes dispelled
and the general verdict is in favor of
cane, where the proper facilities exist
for its disposal. 1t is not an overes-
innate to assert that at least $50 will
result to the cane-grower as a net
profit on his average production,
while with rice neither his gross sales
nor his average profit would be quite
so large. The average yield Of cane
per acre is about 20 tons, while that
of rice is about IL barrels. Cane is
worth 81 per ton f. o. b., and rice
ranges in price from So to 81 per bar
rel, 50 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
oopo rro,y;pr mill avooa1 NV / that
which proceeds from rice-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 16l 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 cnl-
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.
We can fayorably in oul
public school system with most of the
localities in the country. We have
recently provided ourselves with a
High School building in the town OF
Opelousas at. a cost. of $4,000
1t has beautiful and spacious grounds
and a neat and commodious building
equipped with most of the necessary
adjuncts to teaching, such as maps,
charts, globes, chemical apparatus, etc.
Our sister town, Washington, has a
good public school building, and her
public schools under the efficient su
pervisiop Of their able principal are
rendering valuable service in the equip
ment of the minds of her children for
meeting life's duties and responsible
ties.
Nearly all the Christian religious
sects are represented among US, and in
the town of Opelousas, the county site
Of st. Landry parish, the Roman Cath
olics, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyte-
rians and Episcopalians have churches.
Our State and local governments are
generally Democratic, owing to the
fact that a preponderance Of the intel
ligent people here are of that political
faitE.3 =, but were it not for ones politi-
cal Affiliations, necessarily on account
of thS 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, and no
doubt, as the result of such a course, a
better condition of government would
exist. However, every one is 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 us
build up and develop the country, as
sist us in r%eclaiming the waste places,
and invest your money where it pays
I to make investments. All questions
propounded will be promptly answered
and all information regarding this ia
vored land and it's opportunities will
be cheerfully impaired by addressing