The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1915-12-02

Louisiana has vast area OF
fertile land in an undeveloped
state and also large acreage in
partial and haphazard state "t
cultivation. She has besider her
virgin highlands. thousands OF
acres of marsh land susceptible of
reclamation at the proper time
She has a large supply of as fertile
soil as is to be found in any part
of the country, while the demand
is greatly lacking. In conse-
uuence, her lands 60 begging
even at rock bottom prices, rIdI-
cuously low as measured by their
Inherent worth and by values
obtaining for poorer lands in other
more populated states. Undoubt-
edly we are in sad need of more
population, especially in our rural
districts and on our farms. A
demand must be created for the
states greatest resource, her fertile
soils. With the advent OF IN
creased farming activity in our
state, a new era of prosperity, the
like of which we have never
dreamed of. will make US forget
ful of the days of adversely and
want.
Nearly every other developing
state has felt the wave Of immi-
grafton that has taken place
throughout the country but
| Louisiana has been overlooked or
passed up in this migration. The
day of dawn is approaching. The
area of vacant and low-priced farm,
1 lands is fast diminishing. we
can see plain evidence Of discern
lng investors an d Immigrant
farmers casting their eyes or
! Louisiana's undeveloped resources.
THE transportation companies
traversing our state are making a
special effort to assist In tue de
! velopment, and their Immigration
Iepartment are sending out valu'-
able instructive literature that is
spreading broadcast in every stat
! facts about the great possibilities
Of orr soil. The state has q
| " n 7, ttffs ard l lr valuable 4G commodl.
ADVERTISING NEEDED.
Just as in any other business, a
| campaign of advertising and pu3.
llcity must be inaugurated tt
obtain results. Until very recent
| ly our state has figured very un'
fortunately in the public press q
the country. We have beer
rather ''de-advertised'' if the Ca.
preston is permissible. The
newspapers of the country hay
gloated in exaggerations of Oul
floods and fevers. our mOsqultoe:
and our swamps. our unbearabie
temperatures and excessive raiu'
falls, making US out to be a pes,'
hole of humanity. We ourselvas
took very little care to refute the
charges. In fact we became al
most pessimistic ourselves. There
is very little known outside the
state of our incompatible soil, ard
strangers travelling throug b
marvel at the wonderful agricui-
aural opportunities.
With all the modesty of candor
it can be asserted truthfully that
Louisiana offers to real farmers
and investors golden possibilities.
Without an exaggeration of facts
we can invite immigrants ard
canital to our lands. While there
| is such a need of immigration,
there has been no concerted action
or serious efforts made by the
state, or by individuals, or by
communities to obtain this needed
| increase Of farm population,
Until there is such a movement
intensified and fortified by the
real sentiment of the people in its
favor, we cannot expect the in-
migration wave to sift in. We
only obtain what we go after.
Then too there are many existing
conditions that must be changed
to make the state favorable field
for immigration.
Co-OPERATIoN NEEDED.
Our people, as individuals and
as communities must practice CO.
operation, not only amongst them
selves but in their dealings with
newcomers. Strangers must be
welcomed, looked upon not as
LA =. hoIne,I fr;avI