The Opelousas courier., 1907-09-07

ing acreageS:
Ti,nberian asa IN 800 5sS' '"SS
Pasture and low SWampS Only.......... $4,000
Total 4S1 900
The three parishes combined
show the following distribution of
ands in acres
TimIcrtd lands $1,000
Marsh and pasture lands 3o2,O NO
Grand LII 900
You will see from the above that
these three parishes, the richest and
most populous of the state, have
not one-third of their rich lands
improved and in cultivation. From
the same authorities | find that the
crops of sugar, cotton, rice, mo,
lasses and cotton seed, that. are
shipped from these parishes, not
taking into accounts what is used
at home, amounts to $10,2S0,OO0.
L am confident that one-half of
the $4,000 acres of marsh and tim
bered lands can be easily and
cheaply protected from overtiows
and made fit for se~ttlerssand Guilt
yation. When this is done, the
population and wealth of this sec
ton will quickly double, independ-
ent of the millions of dollars that
would result from the converting OF
the forests into lumber and other
market values.
BY applying this same process of
reasoning to all the unimproved
lands Of the state, what an i'm
mense resource this state has yet
undeyeloped! Up to the present,
by an immense expenditure for
ieSsasese e only a small PSertiop of these
rich lands have been recia!ined-
not more than one-eighth OF the
whole.
These facts prompt me to believe
that it is the duty of every citizen
and voter to require that the guber'
material candidates, and others,
should commit themselves fully on
these views, pledging themselves
not only to the continuance OF the
present levee system, but to it's ex-
tension to the end of retaining
more land every year. Not one
dollar Of the money raised by taxa
ton for this purpose should be dl,
verified. And the proceeds from the
sale of swamp lands should be
faithfully applied to this work only:
Not a dollar of these funds should
be used for the construction OF
locks and the dredging OF bayous
for purpose of navigation.
We have candidates for office,
from governor down, roaming over
the state making the air ring by
telling the voters of the great re,
forms they will bring about if they
are elected, but, SO far as L have
seen, not one has suggested any
practical plan for doing anything
towards the protection or reciama-
ton of the millions OF acres of over
flowed landslide richest in the
world. | have repeatedly suggested
the divorcing of the Mississippi and
the Atchafalaya rivers, allowing
the Red to discharge its waters
through the Atchafalaya. This
would lower the highest floods from
two to three feet, and its result
would be the reclamation OF over a
million acres-and without the
building of levees.
This plan would be OF great al,
vantage to the valley of the Red
river. The flow of the Red river
flood waters as matters are now is
checked by the great volume OF the
Mississippi floods, which annually
find their way to the sea through
the Atchafalaya basin. AS mat
tiers are there is the constant men.
G or danger of the Mississippi
taking the Atchafalaya's shorter
route to the sea. This would 1000
some ten or twelve parishes and
leave the great metropolis OF the
South-New Orleans-Wlthout a
river.
The Plaquemine locks will amply
provide for all. the navigation nee,
essities of southwestern Louisiana,
affording a shorter and safer route
than the present one through Old
river.
IF seems to me that these quesi
tions are of greater weight thaT
, many of those now being presented
TO the voters of this state. \
e. Il. KING.