The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-06-30
]. L. KNOEPFLER
Tells of the Work of the State Imrni-
grafton Office.

has been in charge of J. l.. knoeptler,
through failure to make appropriation
for that Office and the action of the SEN
ate finance committee in reinstating the
appropriation, but only after an appeal
from Mr.. Knoepf1er, has attracted some
attention to this office and the work
done.
In an interesting statement making
a review of the entire affair, Mr.. Kno-
epfler says:
'We have four German colonies in
Louisiana. One is situated at St. Leo,
near Rayne, in Arcadia parish. The
nucleus of this colony was twenty-five
families, and it now consists of 400
families. The second colony is near
Clinton, in East Feliciana Parish. 1t
commenced with ten families and now
has forty families. The third colony is
near Ponchatoula, in Tangipahoa Par
ish, and now consists of seventy-five
families, having commenced with four
The fourth colony is in Covington, St.
Tammany Parish. 1t is comprised of
forty families, having started with three.
The Germans are thrifty, enterprising
race, and have succeeded here as in their
own country.
"The Belgians are another success
full people. twenty-five years ago four
Belgian families came over and set
tied near Alexandria These families
having succeeded more families were
encouraged to come, and today We have
colony of eighty families. These peo-
pie came from Flanders, which is sit
uated on the border of Holland We
may say that the occupation of farming
was an inheritance to them, as for many
years all generations have followed the
calling. Their truck farms are de-
light to the eye. By their strict atten-
ton to them some have accumulated
money. Some are even wealthy. The
Belgians are a healthy, happy people and
are highly respected citizens of Alex
andria.
The Hungarians, although coming
somewhat later in Louisiana, have new
ertheless made their mark About
twelve years ago two Hungarian fami
lies landed in Hammond, on the Hi
nois Central railroad, and formed a
nucleus of what is today thriving
little colony of Hungarians. Today we
have a colony of sixty successful and
happy families
From their own station, Albany, on
the Hammond and Baton Rouge Rail
road, they shipped last year fifty solid
carloads of strawberries, each car con
tanning from 800 to $50 crates of straw
berries, which returned to them over
$4,000 in cash. Besides this, they ship
ped from Hammond. all their beans and
other truck, which netted them quite d
nice sum. They are proud of their sue
cess, and no doubt have written of it
10 their countrymen, who will be en-
couraged to also locate in Louisiana
There are great many Hollanders
in Louisiana, but so far they have never
settled in colonies. The same can be
said of the Danes, the Swedes and the
Norwegians, of the Scandinavian races.
There is, however, movement on foot
now to create Scandinavian colony
near Homer and Gibsland, La. The
Capitol Land Co, of Chicago, control
ing good deal of land in Point Coupee,
Iberia, Iberville and St. Martin Parish
es, is now trying to settle this land with
Croatians and Servians.
These races have already sent a
representative down here to look into
the situation. We think he has made
a good report The Servians. as well
as the Croatians, are reputed to be good
farmers. and they are especially good
for stock raising. such as hogs, and
they have also made a success in the
dairy and creamery business.
The different railroad lines are do
ing graf deal towards assisting i'm
migration The Southern Pacific, the
Rock Island, the Frisco. the Kansas
City Southern and the Illinois Central
are now distributing literature on Lou
isiana. This department (the Depart
ment of Imnigration) is also sending
out good deal of literature, and this
with the railroad. literature. has brought
large number of letters from prospec-
tive settlers. and the outlook IS very
fine for further immigration.
Immigrants arriving in the port of
New Orleans 1908 1909:
In 1908. 3,42I immigrants; IN 1909,
1896 immigrants; total immigrants.
6.z4z. Out of this number zoos remain
ed in Louisiana.
arrived via Galveston. destined for
Louisiana, IooS-Iooo, az Immigrants.
Out of this number. eight German fam
lies located at Alexandria, two Ger
man families located at Clinton, and
twenty-five German families located at
Pontrhatouta The remaining number