The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-12
AN ABUNDANCE OF FINE COTTON, TOO
Strong inducements for rIanufac-
turing Enterprises--Heart of a
Most Magnificent Country.
(Staf Correspondence New England I
NewSpapsr League)

| LAFAYETTE, La, June 2.-Lafayette
parish, or which Lafayette Is the seat Is
one OF the smallest and also one OF the
NEST fertile parishes In the state OF Louis
lana. II contains about 300 square miles
or land. every acre OF which is productive.
The extreme length Of the parish is
about 10 miles and It's width is about the
same. It's formation is chiefly prairie,
with some slluvial land along it's eastern
borders. The ancient bluffs OF the Mis-
sissippi run along the southern border.
Situated at an eleys tom Of ~ feet above
the sea and 20 feet above the Bayou
Teche county, II has a healthful climate
with none OF the ailments peculiar TO the
lowlands The city OF Lafayette transacts
the business OF the parish. and as such
is an important point. II has population
or $500. The population Of the entire par
ish is 1900. The people OF city and par
ish are descendants OF the old Acadian
stock settled here IN l76o. and as orderly,
charming and lovable as were ever met
with anywhere. Their only aristocracy
Is one OF gentility. ard manners, not
money, determine persons position as
a resident in their city or country. AL
though all OF the residents of the city
speak English fuently most OF the busl-
ness men speak French, too. over 90 per
cent OF the population Is OF French des-
cent. These men and their. forefathers
have dwelt In Lafayette parish for more
than a century.
The people of the city OF Lafayette are
progressive and public-spirited and alive
to every opportunity that presents itself
for the advancement of the city or parish.
Their city has all the improvements OF
big municipalities IN the way Of lighting
or water works. Some $4,000 was spent
on these two plants. which are modern In
every way The water works has two
pumps. two driven wells and q reservoir
capacity OF 1o5. 900 gallons. The supply is
ZOO 900 gallons per day. Water is sent all
over the city at pressure OF so pounds
hut IN case OF fire this can be raised 20
i4o ana 1eo pounds. Every street IN the
city is lighted by incandescent and arc
lights. Tho city has seven fine schools
and the parish 81 It's advantages as an
educational centre will be firmly fixed X
the location OF the state Industrial school
Is secured fer the city. Lafayette has
put In the strongest OF bids for the school
and has everything in the way Of envir-
onmept and enterprise In their favor.
The lands of Lafayette parish will grow
temperate or sub-tropical climate. This
is sweeping assertion, but Is amply
born borne out by the facts facts The as. son .nor Is
mously fertile. The average depth OF the
soil is about IL inches, and 4 rests on
clay snSso %hSh hb nSos ah ~ sn9 nroSncoS ros in
so heavy. The strength OF the soil Is evil |
denced by the fact that there are fields In |
cultivated for three-quarters OF a century |
and are yet abundant producers No fer
tillzer need be used on the soil, but many |
pPoductiveness SGtehH % has been greatly increased
by increasing the richness. The soil is
light and moist and pulverizes easily:
The Mississippi olnns, tne % sholeh, inn6s DsnS ns
the parish from food. The lands are at
least 20 feet higher than the bottom lands
Sugar cane forms the principal produc-
tion OF the parish, the total crop averag-
ing lse, 900 tons. The cane Is grown ~ TO
e to tor tSe to anS se per so the
higher price being moro frequently ap-
proximated. The average net pront 10
the farmer on the cane is figured at about
$40 per acre which Il less than the price
OF good cane land In most cases. The
cultivation OF cane requires no more Ia
usually planted every four years tho
first planting suficing for the two sue
cesslve years growth. In Lafayette there
planting has been kept In the ground for
four years and produced well. The tme
OF harvesting the cane extends from OCT.
farmer brings his cane 10 the district re-
nnery and sells II as beforementioned, at
the ruling price per ton. There are three
tons capacity in "a hours. and they are
run continuously for the 30 days or tho
season. There are 30 syrup mills, run ON
The process OF sugar making is ex-
interesting. and IS nowhere bet
ter done than In the reflnerfos OF Lafay-
ette The first crush or the cane JUICE
is put in large tanks. wherein II Is treat
ed with sulphur fumes and lime. In tho
heater II is brought TO the boiling point
where tho clear juice is separated from
he scum, and then concentrated into
,yuP This syrup is sent to other a Sr, iarge ,nso
he vacuum pan, where II Is grsnuiatea
is dssharssd Into bnrs mixer ths sheaSs snsn
II commerce ~ separated from the mo- .
asses. The first molasses Is sold as ,
me final molasses is sold 20 manfactur-
rs OF alcohol The refuse cane. called
Jsgasse. Is used for fuel.
Formerly cane, cane "a 'y tby. prUrsapie ro.p on =
made his own sugar. Now, the small |
"a rmer gets the greatest degree Of profit |
niu. The farmer planting but 10 acres OF
,ane can md Just az ready q market and ,
-ets Just as good a price as the one plant !
ne 80 acres. All this has tended TO in
rease the number Of small farmers and
ring much new acreage under cul- |
ivatlon. one man can cultivate 80 acres
o be 1900 or moro yearly, !
Cotton ls a very profitable crop in La
ayette parish. Planters now make three .
ma with the African iimbiess cotton now
icing introduced can make three 10 four .
,aies per acre. The cotton produced In |
lafayette, es well az that OF most OF The !
'arishes. which finds It's way eventually
o the lafayette market Possesses spin
ing qualities fully equal. II not superior,
flssisslppi Bends and on the black, waxy | q
ands OF Texas. and is eagerly sought | I
fter by all New Orleans exporters and r
omestic buyers. whose trade lies In OBJ | o
aiming for actual consumption by Euro q
can and American mills q quality % cot | q
IN that srnn runs sn from ~ to ~ inch staple.
ler, possessing a syirality that insures u