The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-05
Southwestern Louisiana a Field
of Most Allu1ing Prospects for
Men Who Seek to Better Their
Condition. .''
SOLID SUBSTANCE IN
LAND OF EVANGEILNE
Aladdin-Lil<e Advancement of a
Country Once Peopled by the
Meek and Lowly Acadians of
Poetic Fame.
RY HERBERT NANDERHOOF,

and a competence sure 1Or CnOSe VINO
will work intelligently on farm, in fac
tory, or in merchandise. I am writing
now of southwestern Louisiana, that
stored section of the state to which the
Acadians fled when driven out OF Nova
Scotia Here for years the people of
Evangeline led an idylic, pastoral ex
iStenCe. Grandually, with the Infusion az
new blood, there sprang up new stock,
the sCions of which We're not content with
getting mere living from the earth as
their pregenitors were. They realized the
richness of the soil and other natural aG-
vanages, and in time the region round
about OpelOusas became the home OF great
cotton and sugar: cane plantations. from
which fortunes were mace. Then came
the civil war, with its temporary deVas-
tation. followed later by an influx of peo-
pie from the North, who, unused to the
methods OF the old time planters, in
augurated a radical change in the man
ner of developing the resources of this
section of the state.
Evidences Of Advancement.
New and. in some respects, startling
ideas We're introduced in the cultivation
Of cotton and cane and the domain of
staple and highly profitable crop. as We're
also the better grades Of tobacco. While
il quickly became apparent that corn
and small grains of all kinds hay, po-
tatoes and other vegetables could be
grown with sure profit in the way of
large yields and good prices. The wild
fruits which had satisfied the simple
Acadians gave place to the improved
chards and vineyards rose. as if by magic,
on all sides. Better grades Of live stock
We're introduced. and systematic rotation
of crops. the of natural fertilizers,
and similar methods Of insured luxuriant
pastures on which the cattle WaXed fat.
AS the country advanced and improved
in this manner, thinking men began 10
take advantage of other opportunities
IcI at1I "a
before them. Saw mills were built ana
the mammoth forests gave up a valuable
toll Of understandable timber. Cane mills
put the huge yields of cane into CONDITION
for easy transportation to sugar rehnerles.
Cotton was ginned. sorted and baled at
homo. and in numerous other ways the
people of southwestern Louisiana pronted
nv establishing for themselves industries
tI>c fruits of which had previously been
ga. lered by others. This, In brler, IS
tbs story of progress in the land of Evan
gcline. a progress which is still in its In
fancy, a progress which may be hard to
understand by those who are not &C
quaintcd with the wonderful resources
of the country and the spirit Of advance
ment which now. antmates it's people.
~ Land OF Great. SURPRISES. . Il
Details have been given IN previous let2s
ters concerning the golden wealth which
lies hidden in the soil awaiting only the
garnering hand of the earnest worker.
have written at length ABOUT the ad-
the diversity of crops. the convenience
Of markets, and nearly everything else
of interest to the farmer. fruit grower
and stockman. The vast forests of pine,
oak, hickory. ash. elm, poplar, cypress.
gum. and other understandable timber have
and cotton were the only known crops.
should by this time be reasonably well
understood. although volume upon vol
ume might be devoted to the subject
without exha listing it, or satisfying the
public demand for accurate informa ton.
In fact it is a land of seemingly mex
haustible surprises when one comes to
make personal examination of the nat
ural resources. 1t is a matter o history
that for fully seVenty-five years preceding
and Immediately following the civil war
the most prOtigate and WaSteful methods
were in vogue. This is particularly true
a regards the old plantations where corn
and cotton wre the only known crops.
Lands were kept in these year after year
without fertilizers or rest. even in
telligent rotation. with the result that
they became worn out and were generally
classed as worthless. Planters made no
effort to raise beef pork. depending
upon their cotton factors or agents to
furnish these essential supplies at ex-
orbitant prices. Even chickens were a
luxury. Today. thanks to the adoption
of modern ideas, an Aladdin-like trans
formation has been worked These same
lands. under skillful rotation, are pro-
ducing enormous yields of everything
that can be grown anywhere lin the world
and the farmers and planters Of this
corner of the state are living in luxury
and fast accommodating money.
Field a Virgin One.
But. great and marvellous as this trans
formation has been. the field Is still com
paratively virgin one. The population i:
increasing at a rapid rate, but there arr
thousands upon thousands of acres o.
rich lands as yet untitled anc
to be had al prices which would astonisl
a Northern farmer. Recently l ran across
q man who came here from the Nortl
a few years ago. and is now the owne
and tiller of tract of 500 acre@ "n
-" he said, Il lived on a rented form
the rental being based on valuation 0
1925 per acre. 1t was hard work to ge
O. decent living after paying the reSt un
less the season was exceptionally good
I met with bad luck and had two sue
cessive years of rainy weather and rot
ting crops. Then I picked up and cam
south. I bought this land for a pric
about equivalent to the rent I had bee
paying, and have been prospecting eve
since. The terms were easy. the crop
good. and it is now all paid for ! lik
advising all my friends to come: here
IF the conditions were more generally IN
6erstoed Northern people would rush her
in droves. .-.~ -" -
Chances for Money Making :.
Attractive as are te farming poSsibi
ties, however, my attention is just no
won by the opportunities for profitable in
vestment in other lines. The comm ercis
headquarters of southwestern Louisian
is Opelousas. the main city OF st. Landr
parish. Here, as well as In the othe
cities and towns Of this section, thel
are evidences Of thrift and prosperity
be seen on every side. The CROWN
wealth Of the agricultural community he
naturally made profitable business #
Opelousas and it has outgrown its facil
ties for a satisfactory handling of tt
trade. More factories and mills ares es
pecally needed to work up the produc
of the surrounding country and energet
men with moderate capital, who will tai
pains to make themselves acqua ipte
with the details of supply and deman
will find the field a most inviting on
The people now residing here fully reali;
the necessities of more rapid exteI
sion of these facilities and will liberal
assist those who come here in a spin
of honesty and fair dealing.egs0nes %ey
dence of this may be found sin the ia
that through their efforts the state
Louisiana has enacted legislation whit
eXemptS from taxation for ten years {
factories and railways built before 191
The banking facilities ,appeaEFto9be anp1
and the men at the head of@stlle ,Eario,
Institutions of this ma tnre are progressi
akd liberal, in their : dealings. =. In. S
1.andrytpaIish there are seven banks. wi
O. combined capital; Of SITS. $50 deniai
deposits sof 1896 1876. and surplus and III
divided profits of S245 133. Surely this
most significant indication of local pro
pAEitY - 49,