USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 39
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· tion. It also defined the nature and duties of certain special courts provided for the parish of Orleans and the city of New Orleans.
The nature, organization and powers of the present judiciary system of the state, including the special courts provided for the parish of Orleans and the city of New Orleans, is elaborately set forth in articles 84 to 158 inclusive of the constitution of 1898 (q. v.)
Coushatta, the parish seat of Red River parish is located on the east bank of the Red river in the central part of the parish, and on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation company. This location was formerly known as Coushatta Chute, but the name was changed to Coushatta when it became the seat of parochial government in 1871. The town was incorporated on April 22, 1872; is the principal market for one of the richest agricultural districts of the state ; has a number of stores and factories and one bank. The first telegraph line was completed between Minden and Coushatta in 1875, and in July of the same year the line was com- pleted as far as Natchitoches. The first church dates back to 1850, when a Baptist society was organized at Coushatta Chute. Two years later a church was built upon government land, but as the Baptists had no claim to the land a Methodist preacher named Read settled here and used the building as a dwelling, and it was not until 1880 that the church proper was started -in Coushatta, and completed in October. In the same year the Coushatta Male and Female seminary was chartered. The Armistead oil mill across the river from the town is one of the leading manufactures of this district. The population in 1900 was 600.
Covington, the seat of St. Tammany parish, is beautifully located in the western part of the parish, between the Bogue Falia and the Tchefuncte river just above their junction, and on a dry, sandy soil that is easily drained, which makes the site an ideal one for a city. The town was first incorporated under the name of Wharton on March 19, 1813, when it "was dedicated to Thomas Jefferson by his fellow citizen, John W. Collins." By the act of the legislature, approved March 11, 1816, the name was changed to Covington. and in 1829 it was made the parish seat. Covington is well pro- vided with transportation facilities. A branch of the New Orleans Great Northern R. R. passes through the town and connects with the Queen & Crescent at Slidell, a branch of the Illinois Central system connects Covington with Baton Rouge, the St. Tammany & New Orleans Railroad and Ferry company has an electric line connecting Covington with Mandeville, from which point steamers run to New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain, and there is a line of steamers running direct from Covington to New Orleans. As Covington is situated in the long leaf pine district, lumbering is the principal business interest, though there are other manufactures, including ice, brick. etc. Being surrounded by open pine woods and well supplied with a fine quality of artesian water, the town is popular as a health resort, and is visited annually by over 100,000 visitors. There are two banks, three newspapers, a public library,
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a good fire department, a beautiful public park, recently opened, overlooking the Bogue Falia river, a good public school system, several private educational institutions, including Dixon academy and St. Joseph's college, a well conducted electric light plant. and churches of all the leading religious denominations. The city's trade in groceries and grain amount to over $1,200,000 annually, and the business in other mercantile lines is in proportion. Cov- ington is preeminently a city of homes, and the two building and loan associations are both doing a good business in building up the place by increasing the number of home owners. The population at the beginning of 1909 was estimated at 4,000.
Coxe, Daniel, was the son of an English physician, and inherited from his father a claim to all the territory lying between the 31st and 36th parallels of north latitude extending from the Atlantic coast westward to the South Sea. (See Explorations, Early.) This claim included all that portion of the present State of Lou- isiana lying west of the Mississippi river and north of the 31st parallel. There is some evidence that Coxe made two attempts to found settlements under the claim, but that evidence is not fully authenticated. Winsor says that the English ship met and turned back by Bienville at the place known as the English Turn was one of a fleet sent by Coxe to establish his claim. Coxe was at one time a member of the New Jersey council and was the leader of a political party to secure the removal of Gov. Hunter of that colony about 1716. His grandson. Tench Coxe, has been called "the father of cotton growing in the United States."
Craighead, Edwin B., educator, was born at Ham's Prairie, Mo., March 3, 1861. In 1883 he graduated at Central college, Fayette, Mo., after which he took post graduate studies in Vanderbilt uni- versity of Nashville, Tenn. He then spent two years in Europe, chiefly at Paris and Leipsic, where he finished his studies. On Aug. 6, 1889, he married Miss Kate Johnson, and from 1890 to 1893 was professor of Greek in Wofford college, Spartanburg, S. C. He was elected president of the South Carolina Agricultural and Me- chanical college at Clemson in 1893 and remained there until 1897, when he went to Central college, Fayette, Mo., with which institu- tion he was connected until 1904. when he was elected president of the Tulane university of Louisiana.
Crane, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Rapides parish, is about 4 miles south of Bovce, the most convenient railroad sta- tion, and abont 10 miles west of Alexandria, the parish seat.
Cravens, a village in the southeastern part of Vernon parish, is a station on the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe R. R., about 20 miles southeast of Leesville, the parish seat. It has a money order post- office, an express office, and is the trading center for a considerable district.
Crawford, a post-hamlet and station in the western part of St. Mary parish, is on a branch of the Southern Pacific R. R., in a rich sugar district, is a trading and shipping point of some consequence, and in 1900 had a population of 210.
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Creole, a post-village in the southeastern part of Cameron parish, is about 3 miles from the coast and 12 miles directly east of Cam- eron, the parish seat. It has some oyster industries and in 1900 had a population of 47.
Creoles .- Webster defines the word creole as meaning "One born in America or the West Indies of European ancestors." Charles Gayarre, in a lecture on "Creoles of History and Creoles of Romance," at Tulane university, on April 25, 1885, stated that the word creole originated from the Spanish word "criollo," from the verb criar (to create) ; that this word was invented by the Spaniards to distinguish their children, natives of their conquered colonial possessions, from the original inhabitants, and that to be a "criollo" was considered a sort of honor. The transition from the Spanish "criollo" to the French "creole" was easy, and in time the term was extended to cover animals and plants, hence such expressions as creole horses, creole chickens, creole figs, etc. Negroes born in tropical countries are also sometimes called cre- oles, but, according to the definition above quoted, this is an erroneous use of the term, as the negro's ancestors were not European.
Among the white people of Louisiana during the French and Spanish dominations this use of the word was never tolerated. The colonial troops were divided into four distinct classes: 1-reg- ulars, or troops sent from Europe: 2-the militia, which was com- posed of European descendants called creoles; 3-friendly Indians; 4-negroes, who were called upon to perform military duty in emergencies. The last two classes were separate from and were never considered as forming part of the militia. In 1749 Gov. Vau- dreuil said: "It is to be regretted that there are not more creoles. They are the best to fight the Indians," etc. Amalgamation or commingling of the races was discouraged : priests were forbidden to marry blacks and whites, and in 1751 Gov. Vaudreuil issued a decree that "Any Frenchman harboring a black slave for the pur- pose of inducing him or her to lead a scandalous life, shall be whipped by the public executioner and sentenced to the galleys for life."
In 1767, when the Marchioness of Abrado came from Peru to marry Gov. Ulloa, to whom she had been previously betrothed, she brought with her a number of Peruvian women who were her personal friends. Owing to the dark complexions of these women, the white women (creoles) of Louisiana took them for mulattoes and for a time refused all social recognition to the marchioness, because of her association with what they regarded as members of an inferior race. In view of these historic facts, it is neither proper nor just to apply the term creole to any member of the colored race, and the use of the word in that sense is very properly resented by the French and Spanish descendants of Louisiana. Among the real creoles were many who achieved prominence in the fields of art, science and literature, or who occupied high positions in the social world. Abbé Viel was a creole. So were Audubon, Aubert
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Dubayet, Paul Morphy, the great chess player, Gottschalk, the musician, Mrs. Gen. Wilkinson, Mrs. Edward Livingston, two of Gov. Claiborne's wives, and the list of distinguished creoles might be multiplied indefinitely.
Crescent, a village in the eastern part of Iberville parish, is a station on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 3 miles south of Plaque- mine, the parish seat. It lies in a fine agricultural country, has lumber industries, a money order postoffice and in 1900 had a population of 100.
Creston, a village and station in the northern part of Natchitoches parish, is on the Louisiana & Northwest R. R., about 15 miles north of Natchitoches. the parish seat. It has a money order post- office and is a trading center for the surrounding country.
Crew Lake, a money order postoffice in the western part of Richland parish, is situated on Bayou Lafourche and the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific R. R., about 8 miles west of Rayville, the parish seat. It has an express office and is a shipping point of some importance.
Crichton, a post-hamlet in the western part of Red River parish, is situated on the line of the Louisiana Railway & Navigation com- pany, about 8 miles northwest of Coushatta, the parish seat.
Crop Pest Commission .- The Louisiana crop pest commission was called into existence by Act. No. 6, of the special session of the general assembly held in Dec., 1903, which was promptly approved by Gov. Heard, who had suggested such legislation in his proclamation calling the extraordinary session. Under the pro- visions of the act the commission was made to consist of the goy- ernor, who was to be ex-officio chairman, the commissioner of agriculture, the director of the state experiment station, the station entomologist, and two experienced cotton planters, residents of the state, to be appointed by the governor for a term of four years. The main reason for the establishment of such a commission was to combat the ravages of the Mexican boll weevil upon the cotton crop of Louisiana, though the commission was given "full and plenary power to deal with all crop and fruit pests and such con- tagious and infectious crop and fruit diseases as, in the opinion of the commission, may be prevented, controlled or eradicated." The commission was also given power to make, publish and en- force rules to prevent the introduction or spread of the Mexican boll weevil. and it was further provided that any firm, corporation or individual, except a duly recognized state or Federal entomolo- gist, having in possession Mexican boll weevil in any form-pupa, larva or egg-might be fined in any sum from $25 to $1,000, to which might be added imprisonment from 10 days to 6 months. Every violation of the commission's rules and regulations was like- wise punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $1.000. with imprisonment at the discretion of the court from 30 days to 6 months, all fines to be placed to the credit of the commission, the funds to be used in the prosecution of its work. An appropriation of $25,000 was made as a beginning and the commission did its
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first practical work during the crop season of 1904. Since that time a great deal has been accomplished, not only in making warfare on the boll weevil, but also in educating the farmers of the state as to the nature and habits of the various insects that act as crop pests, the value of birds as insect exterminators, etc. In July, 1908, Prof. Wilmon Newell, state entomologist and secretary of the commis- sion, announced the discovery of a poison more effective than Paris green in the destruction of the weevil and less injurious to the cot- ton plants to which it may be applied. The planters of the state have learned many useful lessons from the work of the commission, and the indications are that it will be continued as a permanent institution.
Crosskeys, a post-hamlet in the extreme southeastern part of Caddo parish, is situated on the Red river, about 2 miles north of Howard, the nearest railroad station, and 25 miles southeast of Shreveport, the parish seat.
Crowley, the "Rice City of America," and the capital of Acadia parish, has an ideal location, about midway between New Orleans and Houston, with neither of these important centers too far away to interfere with quick shipments necessary with large distributing 'markets, nor too near to detract from the commercial importance of Crowley. In 1885 the site of this town was a prairie over which cattle and stunted Acadian ponies roamed at will, and as far as the eye could see there stretched the rolling prairie unbroken save here and there by a growth of trees along some bayou or coulee. Near the water courses, the Acadian farmers planted rice on a small scale, but the broad stretches between the streams were given over to grazing, as cattle raising had been the most important industry on these prairies from the earliest settlement of Louisiana. The value of the land was extremely low, as shown by the fact that in 1886, the 174-acre tract upon which the business district of Crowley has grown up, was sold for the sum of $80.00, or a little less than 45 cents an acre. The parish of Acadia was created out of the southwestern part of St. Landry parish in 1886 and Crowley was chosen as the parish seat. The town was laid out with broad streets and avenues and has over 20 miles of well graded and cared for public thoroughfares. The avenues all run north and south and the streets east and west. In Jan., 1888, the town was incorporated. and it enjoys one of the finest climates in the country, as the warm months of the summer are cooled by the gulf breezes, which make it equal to Florida or California as a resort.
One of the finest courthouses in southwestern Louisiana is located here, built at a cost of $75,000 in 1902. The city owns the electric light and waterworks systems, and has built an excellent drainage and sewerage system. It has a $25,000 city hall and public market, and one of the best equipped fire departments of any city of its size in the country. The financial affairs of Crowley, which amount to millions of dollars annually, are taken care of by the 3 substan- tial banks of the city, the First National, the Bank of Acadia and the Crowley State bank. All of them own their own banking
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houses, some of the finest business blocks in the city. Employment is given to hundreds of men in the machine shops, 3 iron working shops, and in the branch houses of 3 of the largest harvesting machinery and engine manufacturers, 3 implement, wagon and buggy houses, ice factory, bottling works, 3 lumber yards, brick yards, wood working shops, sash, door and blind factories, and many other institutions.
The offices of the Crowley Oil & Mineral company, the majority of the stock being held by residents of Crowley, are located in the city. The mercantile houses, which care for the trade of the city and surrounding country are 'excellent and numerous. Today the city of Crowley can boast of being the greatest rice milling center in America. It has 10 of the largest rice mills in the country, with a combined capacity of over 15,000 barrels of rice a day, and handle each season over half a million bags of this cereal. Crowley is the home of the Rice Association of America, the official organization of all the rice growers in the country, and the offices of the presi- dent and secretary of the Rice Millers' and Distributors' association of Louisiana and Texas. In addition to this the city is the head- quarters for 2 of the rice milling and irrigating companies, having mills at Crowley and nearby points, whose canal system covers the southwestern part of Louisiana like a net work, and 8 ware houses with selling agencies are located here. A large oil and feed mill is established in the town for the purpose of using the rice by-prod- ucts. Early in its history the city recognized the necessity of good schools, and the first buildings, which were of wood, were replaced in 1902 by substantial brick and stone structures. There are 3 private institutions, in addition to the public schools of the city, the Acadia college, which has a number of fine buildings, another Protestant institution. and the convent of Perpetual Adoration un- der charge of the Catholic Sisters of Mercy. There are 1 Catholic and 7 Protestant churches located at Crowley. There is a telegrapli office, local and long distance telephone stations, express offices, and in 1900 the town had a population of 4,214. Transportation facilities are excellent and Crowley may be regarded as a consider- able railroad center. It is on the Southern Pacific, the Colorado Southern, New Orleans & Pacific and the Opelousas, Gulf & North- eastern, all of which bring the city in close touch with the great markets of the country and facilitate transportation of the immense rice crops as Crowley is practically the clearing house for the entire product of the parish.
Crowville, a money order postoffice in the northeastern part of Franklin parish, is on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., about 9 miles northeast of Winnsboro, the parish seat, and in 1900 reported a population of 70.
Crozat, Antoine (or Anthony), the son of a French peasant, was born about 1655. Being the foster brother of the only son of his feudal lord, he received a good rudimentary education and at the age of 15 years was placed in a commercial house as a clerk. He soon developed an aptitude for mercantile affairs and in time came
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to be one of the richest merchants in France. By loaning money to the government he won the favor of Louis XIV, was made Marquis du Chatel, and was further rewarded by being granted the exclusive trade with Louisiana. (See Crozat Grant.) He died in 1738.
Crozat Grant .- For more than ten years after the first French colony was planted in Louisiana the settlements on the Gulf coast did not prosper as had been anticipated. France was engaged in wars with other European nations and the colony was neglected. In the winter of 1710 provisions were so scarce that the men were given permission to go and live among the neighboring Indian tribes in order to obtain food. Most of the early settlers had come to America imbued with the idea that it was a land of vast wealth, which was easily to be obtained, and they spent their time in vain search for mines or pearl fisheries instead of opening up plantations. At the beginning of the year 1712 there were not more than 400 people in the colony, of whom 20 were negroes. Every vessel that went to France carried complaints from the governor, Bienville, that he needed more soldiers, horses to work the few plantations that had been opened, various supplies in the way of utensils, etc. He also urged that those who had prospered should be compelled to remain in the colony instead of returning to France, and asked permission to exchange his Indian slaves for West Indian negroes at the rate of three Indians for two negroes, but to all these and many similar requests the French ministry paid no heed .. So far the colony had been a great expense to the crown, and had brought no revenue in return. Therefore, in order to relieve himself of the necessity of giving further support to the settlements in Louisiana, the king decided to entrust the management of the colony to pri- vate hands. Accordingly, on Sept. 14, 1712. Antoine Crozat was given a monopoly of the Louisiana trade for a period of 15 years from that date.
By the provisions of the charter Crozat was granted the exclusive privilege of trading in the territory between Old and New Mexico on the west and the Carolinas on the cast; to all the settlements, roads, ports and rivers therein ; principally the port and road of Dauphine (formerly Massacre) island, the river of St. Louis (here- tofore known as the Mississippi), from the sea to the river Illinois; together with the river St. Philip (previously the Missouri). and the St. Jerome (heretofore known as the Wabash), together with all lands, lakes, and the rivers flowing directly or indirectly into the St. Louis or the Mississippi. The territory was to remain included under the style of the government of Louisiana ; to be a dependency of and subordinate to New France ; the king's territory beyond the Illinois river to be and continue a part of the government of New France : and the king reserved the right to enlarge the government of Louisiana. Crozat was given the right to export from France to Louisiana all sorts of goods during the life of his charter, and all other persons and corporations were prohibited from such exporta- tion. under penalty of having their ships and merchandise confis- cated, the king's officers being pledged to assist and protect Crozat
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in his rights by the seizure of his competitors' vessels and wares.
Permission was given the grantee to open and work mines and ship the ore to France. Of all gold and silver the king was to have one-fourth, one-tenthi of all other metals, and one-fifth of all pearls and precious stones, all of which were to be sent to France at Crozat's expense. Mines remaining unworked for three years were to revert to the crown. No one was to trade with the colonists or Indians of Louisiana except upon the written permission of Crozat, whose monopoly was complete, the only restriction being that he was not to trade in beaver skins. All land under cultiva- tion, and all factories or establishments erected for the manufacture of silk, indigo, wool and leather, were to become the absolute prop- erty of Crozat in fee simple, the title to continue in him so long as the cultivation or manufacture was maintained, but to become for- feited at the end of three years of idleness. All his goods were to be exempt from duty ; he was to be permitted to draw 100 quintals of powder from the royal magazines each year at actual cost ; was given the privilege of using the king's boats to load and unload his ships, provided that the boats were returned in good condition ; and was granted permission to send every year a vessel to Guinea for negroes, whom he might sell in Louisiana "to the exclusion of all others."
In return for all these rights and privileges Crozat was required to send annually two vessels to Louisiana, on which he was to carry free 25 tons of provisions and ammunition for the colonists and garrisons, and to send on each ship "ten young men or women at his own selection." After the expiration of nine years he was to pay the salaries of the officers and garrisons in Louisiana, and in case of. vacancies he was to nominate officers to fill the same, commissions to be issued to these officers on approval by the king. The king's expenses for salaries during the first nine years were fixed at $10,000 annually, to be paid to Crozat in France, and the drafts of the commissaire ordonnateur were to be paid in Crozat's stores, in cash or in goods with an advance of 50 per cent. Sales in all other cases were to be at an advance of 100 per cent. The laws, edicts and ordinances of France and the custom of Paris were extended to Louisiana.
On March 13, 1713, the frigate Baron de la Fosse arrived at Mobile, having on board Antoine de la Motte Cadillac, whom Crozat had appointed governor-general, M. Duclos, intendant, M. Le Bas. comptroller of the finances, 25 young women from Brittany, and a number of other passengers, among whom were the governor's family. The vessel also brought a bountiful supply of arms, ammu- nition and provisions, all of which were deposited in the public stores for future distribution. The spirits of the old colonists rose. They felt that their season of trials and hardships was at an end, and all went to work with better heart to build up homes in Lou- isiana. But their hopefulness was destined to end in disappoint- ' ment. Bienville, who had been retained in office as lieutenant- governor, and who was well acquainted with conditions, looked
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