The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-17

Shreveport can be estimated when II is
stated that the river Is the fourth in
length of navigation and commercial
Importance i'm the United States. From
its source in the Staken Plains of Texas
to It's meeting with the Mississippi IL
trayerses a distance of 1900 miles, over
1000 miles of which are navigable for
nearly the entire year. Several regular
lines of passenger and freight boats ply
between Shreveport and New Orleans
and intermediate points on the river,
and its tributaries. Beside these there
are many lines which run on no regu-
lar schedule.
With Shreveport's fine transportation
facilities and it's enormous territory for
trade there seems little reason to doubt
that less than a decade will see the
present population OF $4,000 doubled.
Cotton Is now the main dependence
OF Shreveport and as an inland market
for this great staple il is fast approach
ing the largest in the South. Last year
over 250, 900 bales OF cotton were hand
led and this year it is expected that
the 10000 mark will be exceeded. The
cotton handled is the best that Is grown
in the famous districts of Arkansas,
Texas and Louisiana. New England
takes a liberal share Of the cotton ham
died in Shreveport, and the remainder
Is largely exported.
Shreyeport's enterprise can be seen
in it's public buildings, many of which
are the best of their kind in the state
A public school building now about fin
ished at a cost OF 1000 Is the equaN
OF any I'm the South. The county court
house OF Caddo parish. situated In
Shreveport, IL "a splendid specimen OF
modern architecture, the result OF COM
petition of architects from all over the
country. This building cost $4,000.
gst... ...tI Ian a
their costs are given: city hall and
market. $4,000; parish prison. $50 600;
fair building, $4,000: Y. NJ. G. n. build
ING. Sl2 900: government building. $llO,-
GOO: opera house, $4,000; charity hos
pitnl. $50 600 Several churches OF the
city have been erected at an expense
varying from s20,O0O 90 100000. Other
public improvements are the Red River
bridge. which cost S250.000. and the wa
ter works system, which cost S25O,OOO.
shreveport has two lines OF electric
RAILWAYS which cost 10 build and equip
I'm excess of Sl50O00. aud. by The way,
shreveport claims to be- tho pioneer In
electric street railroad building.
The property growth OF Shreveport
bcsi Illustrated by comparing the 81
600 n0O valuation Of today with the sin
gle log cabin OF 1886 Taxes assessed on
about 80 per cent. of actual valuation
are ample for the public needs OF the
ritv. An excellent paid fire department
gives splendid protection to property.
The sewerage system was the first TO
be installed I'm any city OF the South
west. six public schools, high school
four seminaries and many private
schools furnish the education OF the
city
Shreveport Is n healthy city, and its
climate is very equab,e. The extreme
nAnae AZ the thermpmettr N 20 60 % de-
rrees above zero. The mean temporal
ture is g8 degree humidity of utmOs-
phrre. 20 degrees. aud the average rain-
fall. - inches per luuum. The mortal I
fty az mo clty iB figured at Jess than lC
Der thousand. Inclusive 0f the negro.
There n comparaUvely little manu-
facturlnE Ina Shreveport outside ~ the
congresses and oil mills. Labor j.
plenty and intelligent ana cheap fual
and trsnspnrtafien 1uer excellent in-
Iueemcnts fpr The lpra-ior oi fsc,orics.
While in Shreveport the representa-