The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-08-22
LOUISIANA
Destined to Become One Of the Greatest
States.


States.
The state of Louisiana covers 26,o0O,-
600 acres, and of this area about 10 ,OoO,-
600 acres are virtually vacant. Yet the
portion Of the commonwealth which is
in cultivation holds the record in the
United States for abundancy Of produc-
ton per acre. The states population
is at the low figure of thirty inhabi-
tants to the square mile. This simple
statement, without establishment, would
suffice to indicate Louisiana's prospects
under the present impetus of foreign
and American immigration.
Louisiana has a railroad in nearly
every parish, and transportation by wat
er in every parish except four. The Mis-
sissippi River forms the eastern state
boundary as far south as Angola, and
thence il courses through the state to
the extreme southern limits at the Gulf
Of Mexico. Besides afiording all the
facilities OF water traffic, the river fur
nishes conveniences for irrigation in
growing rice. The southern part Of the
state faces the gulf. Louisiana has
i,250 miles of coast line
Satisfactory labor is hard to obtain,
and negro labor creates innumerabe EN-
barrassments, but the annual production
of cotton exceeds 100000 bales, and
there are some ten cotton mills and some
fifty-five cotton-seed oil mills. Were
labor conditions favorable, it is estimat-
ed that the cotton trade would be at
least twice as great. Cotton is grown
extensively in practically all sections,
except the southern
Sugar cane is raised in the central
southern and southeastern parts Of the
state The sugar houses, about 450,
consume about 1000 tons Of cane daily.
More than fifty mills use the whole rice
yield. Rice production could be doubled
with little effort. The capacity in this
direction exceeds 100000 acres.
The lumber business of Louisiana has
but Just begun to develop. The forest
area comprises about 17,000000 acres.
Pines predominant, but there are oaks,
hickories, ash, beech, magnolia, poplar,
cypress, willow, gums and other woods.
The opportunities for utilizing the forest
resources are such as to admit of the
NfFitRAANhAAlHl "a fdAAplNI NUHQM0t kkiiZ
industries in the tree regions.
Louisiana oranges, strawberries, figs,
plums, pears and fruits Of all kinds /
are celebrated. The growing Of oranges
and strawberries is steadily increasing
the revenue to the state. Tobacco is |
grown in the northwestern section |
Truck gardening is augmenting marvel
ously in the central eastern and central |
western sections, and cattle raising 4
keeps proportionate pace with agrieul- /
tural interest and effort.
The largest sulphur mine and the larg- (
est salt deposit in the United States are K
in Louisiana. Oil wells exist in the (
extreme southwestern corner, near the I
Texas boundary. Marble beds, Ignite
coal veins and iron ore constitute other
special resources. The chances for oy- <
ster growing are illustrated by the fact
that there are above 1000 square miles
of oyster grounds capable Of service.
The prosperity, development and pros
poets Of Louisiana are well conveyed
BY the Importance Of its metropolis,
New Orleans. Additional steamship
lines to European ports, especially in
The southern countries, tend to show
snaL New orleans has an exceptionally
bright future. New Orleans already
'anks next to New York as an export
'ity. With the new steamship lines and
With the opening Of the Panama Canal,
I Is sure to become aggressive for the
irst honor. New Orleans is now the
argest grain, the largest cotton, the
argest sugar, the largest rice and the
argest lumber port Of the United States,
Is well as the largest foreign fruit
market.
Bearing in mind that Louisiana is only
bout one-third developed, and that even
against oppressive restraints its pros
,erity is remarkable, there is basis
or estimating. although ineompletely,
he opportunities which are Offering and
will be offered through long desired IA
ilities. The states commercial pros
'ects are illimitable. Louisiana Is one
f the Southern states whose advance
nent to high position among the
worlds trade centers is inevitable. 1t
as the resources and the brains, and
requires only more and better labor
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