The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-08-01

WELSH, ''Ihe Best town on the map is 6
thriving prosperous, growing city Of approx
mately two thousand people, situated in the
exact geographical center of the newly created
and exceedingly fertile parish Of Jefferson
Davis. 1t is located on the main line of the
Southern Pacific railroad, one of the greatest
transcontinental lines of the country, and en-
joys the transportation facilities that this mag
nihcent road furnishes Ten passenger trains
stop here daily, receiving and dscharging their
freight of humanity. Welsh is located almost
exactly midway between the two greatest
Southern cities, New Orleans and Houston, be-
ing 1876 miles from the former and 166 miles
from the latter. 1t is also practically equ-
distant from the Gulf of Mexico on the south,
and boundless virgin pine forests Of the north,
being approximately thirty miles from each of
these great climatic equalizers. Thus wheth
er the winds blow from the south or from the
NORTH the happy citizen of Welsh is famed
either by the balmy salt laden breezes from the
broad expanse of old ocean, or the fragrant bal
sam-spiced ozone that has been gathering it's
health giving properties while passing over
four hundred miles Of practically unbroken vir-
gin pine forests To live in this section of the
Gulf Coast country and breathe its life giving
air is a pleasure in itself that cannot be sur
passed.
Welsh is surrounded by broad expanse of
fertile praires, interspersed with numerous
streams and beautiful groves of pine, oak, gum
and other hardwood trees pendant from whose
branches festoons Of Spanish moss form
graceful lacy curtains for sylvan dells of unsur-
passed beauty. The prairies such as have not
already been converted into prosperous farms
and fields, are covered with succulent grasses
that support hundreds of cattle that grow and
tatten for their owners at practically no ex-
pense either for food or shelter the entire wear
round.
The streams are well stocked with the finest
KIND OF fish, Of which an hundred may often be
caught before breakfast, while upon their
placid bosoms, in the proper season, uncounted
thousands Of wild ducks, geese and other water
loWl, dlsport themselves after their long Jour
neys from the frozen north. Both the fish and
the game furnish unending sport for the snorts-
man and an ever enjoyable supply Of game for
the table,
But while there is still some virgin prairie
surrounding Welsh, much of it has already
been converted into highly productive and
profitable farms, which are not only enabling
their owners to make an independent living but
are making them more clear money on their in
Vestment than can be made on farming land of
any other section of the United States, as we
snail endeaVor to prove to you later on Even
more than this, while making a splendid living
ana saving competency for the proverbia
rainy day, or old age, the farmers of the Welsh
vicinity are developing beautiful homes. where
enjoying the song of the hooking bird, the deli
cate perfume OF the orange blossom, and the
stately magnolia, and famed by the cooling
breezes from the Gulf, or the life giving ozone
from the pine forests, they may enjoy the bless
lngs OF living without experiencing the frigid
cold or the scorching heat of the winters and
summers Of the more northern states.
The population of Welsh is composed Of an
proxmately two thousand moral lawabiding
citizens, pretty evenly divided between the /
thrifty hustlers from the north, and the leisure
loving natives of the south, with a small negro
Populatlon, barely enough to supply the neces-
sary household help. Due to the combined
elements OF the pioneer and the native soutb-
erner IN the population of Welsh. there Is
louhd mere happy combination of the free
heartedness OF the new country, and the eener-
GUS hospitality of the Old South so blended as