The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1922-06-17
BAYOU LAFOURCHE.
Texas Mans Views of Conditions
Life and Industry Along Its Banks

A correspondent of thu Dallas
Morning News, who visited lee Bayou
Lafourche section recently,Vtives his
views and impressions of the coun-
try and it's people. in an article pub
lished in that paper on June 4, as
follows:
'"That part of southern Louisiana,
along the BAYOU Lafourche, be-
tween DonaldsonviIle and the Gulf
of Mexico, embracing a strip of ter
ritory about 1875 miles long and half
as wide, and populated by one Of
the few remaining French Creole
colonies, is one of the most pictur-
esque spots in America and most
delightful place to spend vacation
in either winter or summer, accord
ing to B. B. Bates, 531 West Eighth
street, Dallas travelling salesman,
who spent some time in that section
last winter.
'"The Bayou Lafourche is an old
bed of the Mississippi River, rising
in the swamps of southern Louisiana
and flowing roughly parallel to the
Father of Waters for distance of
about 1925 miles into the Gulf. The
country through which the Bayou La
fourche flows is composed largely of
sWamps and marshes, which extend
to within a half mile or less of the
bayou, leaving narrow strip of
fertile land along either side of its
banks, which is a continuous village
street 1925 miles long, populated by
hunters, fishermen, trappers and
small farmers. This is one of the
few sections of southern Louisiana
composed of small farms, ,agricultu-
raj activities elsewhere Consisting
mostly of large plantations.
"Land along the bayou is sold by
the arpent, an old French surveying
measure, based on a frontage of 1872
feet and a depth extending back to
the swamps, whether the distance !,e
100 yards or half mile. The soil
is extremely fertile and farming
operations are carried on practically
twelve months in the year, because
of the mild climate, which rivals the
farfamed seasons Of California.
Potatoes and onions are the principal
crops, and Mr.. Bates says he ate
new potatoes early in January.
Oranges, bananas and other fruits
also are grown in abundance.
"The sWamps along the bayou
abound in shrimp and crawfish, and
one of the principal industries of
that section are large canning
plants, where shrimp are dried and
failed and packed in barrels for
shipment Another leading industry
hardly expected in a country of so
mild climate is the trapping and
dressing Of skins of fur-b bearing ami
mails. The swamps TEEN with mink
otter, raccoon and muskrat, and fur
riers say some Of the best pelts of
this kind come from the swamps
along bayou LAT fourche
The commerce Of that section IS
carried on largely by water transpor-
tation, small boats plying on the
bayou and numerous canals through
Lake Salvador to the Mississippi >and
thence to New Orleans. The old
style sternwheeler freight boat is
one of many such craft used in that
section, similar to the kind plying on
the Mississippi a half century age,
which Mark Twain immortalzed
Smaller boats also are much along
the bayou having launches which are
used for both business
and pleasure.
1.-THE scenery along the Bayou La
fourche, both natural and man.
made, is most picturesque. Wild
flowers and foliage grow in profu-
sion, and the bit of the road along
The bayou bounded on one side by
A 1evee covered with wild Cherokee
roses, and on the other by luxur-
ant growth of Magnolia trees draped
With Spanish moss, is a typical ex-
ample of the scenery in that section.
Many colonial mansions, survivals of
he old South, are found along these
lower bedecked roads, presenting
4 scene which looks as if it might
lave stepped from out the pages Of
Mo-Hun' or 'The Surrey of Eagles
Nest Meadow and 'Woodlawn,'
ypical examples of the old L3ansions,
which, though built more than 100 |
years ago, are still used as residen-
:es, and, in many cases, were con-