The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1917-02-24
SHORT REVIEW or WEST
FELiClANk! PAST AND
PRESENT.
BY Hon. Harry d Wilson State Com.
missioner OF Agriculture and
immigration.

This Is one OF the old-time pioneer
parishes of the State. and was settled
by an excellent class OF people from
New Jersey, Maryland. Virginia, the
Caro9inas, and Georgia, way back In
the days of Spanish domination. and
Ia 1903, when Louisiana was eeded TO
the United States, the section hoasted
of as prosperous. energetic and pro-
gressiye people ms could be found any.
where in the territory.
Old statistics show that their fields
we're blooming with good crops Of In.
digo, corn, hay, oats, potatoes, and
cotton, The latter though was sold In
the seed and IL was not the great
king" that IL grew 10 be when, years
after, the sin vas invented Besides
the crops enumerated, good horses.
cattle hogs, and sheep were raised on
every farm, and with all kinds Of poul.
try. plenty Of eggs. butter. and milk.
there vas no such thing as suffering
on those farms.
Sugar then made It's appearance, and
the FelieiaRians. never allowing them.
selves 10 be laggards In anything, soon
had the country dotted with the brick
chimneys of the then up.to-date sugar
houses.
In the meantime railroads had made
their appearance la the United States
and the FelicianIaps Immediately com
meneed preparing for two roads, one
from Bayou Sara TO Woodsille and
one from Clinton TO Port Hudson. said
20 be the third and fourth reads built
In the Union.
The grand old homes OF this parish
are the visible witnesses Of what this
country once was; In other words. that
she was always abreast with every
progressive wave, and as an evidence
of her intellectual standing We sill
simply mention that two of her citizens
were we'll known aud respected gov.
ernors of the State.
Furthermore. when the grea; crash
between the States came the number
and gallaatry OF her soldier boys are
records that are we'll known and have
enduring fame
II is said that history repeats itself,
and II West FeIiciana with her 2l90o0
acres or more Of land does not shine
forth as In the past We shall be very
much disappointed The parish Is now
making about 2oOo bales Of cotton,
1856 tons Of sugar, over 100000 bushels
OF corn. about loco barrels Of syrup,
and 220 zoe gallons Of molasses, 6oo9
10 sooo tons Of hay. thousands OF
bushels Of oats, and thousands of both
sweet and Irish potatoes are made and
shipped. Several hundreds Of carloads
Of cattle and hogs, and over 100000
gallons of milk are shipped or sold
during the year. and ten million feet
of lumber. Being an ideal poultry
country the farmers can have all the
chickens. eggs butter and milk, which.
with any kinds of vegetables they
choose to raise, ought to make them
feel that they must again become
leaders In all that is good and great
for any country.
II asked what other product West
Felieiana could add successfully TO
her harvests, the Agricultural Depart
ment. having thoroughly investigated
the growth Of soy beans and its excel.
lent products. oil and meal, and know
Ing that the soil Of West Felieiana is
particularly adapted TO It's culture, un.
hesitaiingiy advises the planting Of