Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I, Part 49

Author: Fortier, Alcee, 1856-1914, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1294


USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 49


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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of a senate committee of investigation, on the ground that the exodus was for the purpose of colonizing Republican voters in the close or doubtful states.


Various causes have been alleged for this unusual procedure on the part of the negroes. Gov. Stone, of Mississippi, in his message of 1880, said: "A partial failure of the cotton crop in portions of the state, and the unremunerative prices received for it, created a feeling of discontent among plantation laborers, which, together with other extraneous influences, caused some to abandon their crops in the spring to seek homes in the West." Some writers have contended that the exodus was due chiefly to the loss of po- litical power by the negroes at the end of the reconstruction period. While this may have been true to some extent, it is quite. as probable that unscrupulous partisans in some of the Northern states tempted the blacks to emigrate, in order to secure their support in close elections. It is also equally probable that land speculators in their desire to induce settlers to their lands in the West circulated glowing reports of the possibilities of that region among the blacks in the densely populated districts of the South, and the promise of "Forty acres and a mule" was too much for the negro to withstand. The exodus continued into the early part of 1880; the failure of crops in South Carolina in 1881 caused a number of blacks to leave that state late in the year; and there was another migration in the fall of 1886, but it was slight when compared with the great hegira of 1879. While the excitement in- cident to the exodus was at its height the Southern people were divided in their opinions as to the effects of the movement. Plant- ers and other employers of labor looked upon it with feelings akin to consternation, while others, among whom was Senator Lamar of Mississippi, hailed it "as the dawn of a new and grand era for the South." The hardships endured by the negroes in Kansas taught a useful lesson to those who remained on Southern planta- tions, and since then the better class of colored people have been content to remain there, trusting to their industry to overcome the obstacles that might present themselves, rather than to attempt to shun such obstacles by emigration.


Explorations, Early .- When Christopher Columbus returned to Spain from his first voyage to America, he was granted the ex- clusive privilege of exploring the country he had discovered, but the order was revoked a year or two later and freedom of naviga- tion was given to "all merchant adventurers" who might desire to send .expeditions to the New World. Under the liberty thus ex- tended Amerigo Vespucci came with an expedition to the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico about 1497, which was followed by other voyages. Other early discoveries and explorations that had more or less bearing upon the territory comprising the present State of Louisiana were the discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon in 1512; the voyage of Francisco Cordova to Mexico in 1517, and that of Juan de Grijalva to the same country the following year ; the expedition under Alfonzo Alvarez de Pineda sent out from


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Jamaica by Francisco de Garay in 1519; the ill-starred attempt of Panfilo de Narvaez to found a settlement somewhere on the Gulf coast in 1527-28, and some others of minor importance. In the early years of the sixteenth century the explorers who were most active on behalf of Spain were Leon, de Garay, Cordova and Grijalva, and it appears their several fields of discovery and con- quest were defined by the patents or commissions under which they operated. Ponce de Leon was assigned the coast of Florida, extending probably as far west as Apalachicola bay. From that point to the vicinity of Pensacola bay was a neutral zone, await- ing some ambitious explorer. Thence to the west and southwest, past the mouth of the Panuco river, was the sphere of action of de Garay and his representative Pineda, covering the Louisiana coast, the patents of the others embracing the coast of Mexico. Under the names of these explorers will be found a more detailed account of their discoveries. The only expedition of historic importance to the interior was that of De Soto, 1539-42. (The mad search for Quivera and the "Seven cities of Cibolo" by Coronado and Peña- losa can hardly be classed as exploring expeditions.) After nearly a century of fruitless quest for the precious metals, Spain appar- ently abandoned the field, the only settlement on the Gulf coast being a feeble one at Pensacola. It remained for France to explore the mighty Mississippi, claim the country tributary to it, and found the first settlements in its basin.


The French did not begin their explorations in the Mississippi valley until about the middle of the seventeenth century. One of the earliest Frenchmen to visit the region was Jean Nicollet in 1643, but it was not until the expedition of Joliet and Marquette 30 years later, that the French government began to see the ad- vantages to be gained by making the valley of the great river a dependency of France. Even then the king was unwilling to incur any expense in exploring the country, but generously permitted some of his more ambitious subjects to do so "at their own ex- pense." Most of the early French explorations were confined to the upper portion of the Mississippi, in the present states of Minne- sota, ' Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, but in 1682 Robert Cavelier de La Salle descended the river to its mouth and claimed all the country drained by it and its branches for the French crown-a claim that was subsequently sustained by the tribunal of nations. (For more complete information on the subject of French Explor- ations see the articles on Joliet, Marquette, Hennepin, La Salle, Iberville and Bienville.)


In 1627 Charles I of England granted to Sir Robert Heath a tract of land embracing the Carolina coast from the 31st to the 36th parallels of latitude and extending westward to the South sea. This grant, which included the northern part of what is now the State of Louisiana, was later acquired by Daniel Coxe, and from him passed to his son. About 1722 the younger Coxe published a journal setting forth the claims that a Col. Wood had ascended the Mississippi as early as 1648; that he had again visited the river in


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1676, when he spent some ten years in exploring it and its branches ; and that in 1670 a Capt. Bolt had navigated the Mississippi in the interests of the English claimants. The journal was supplemented by a map, purporting to show the route followed by Col. Welch. who had been sent out by Daniel Coxe from Carolina to explore the country. This map showed the location of settlements and factories in what are now the states of Alabama and Mississippi. None of these expeditions is well authenticated and all are disre- garded by historians, the consensus of opinion being that the map and journal were issued by Coxe for the purpose of attracting colonists to his claim, but they were nevertheless brought forward by some parties in support of the English claim to Louisiana as a part of the Carolinas. Their publication was too late, however, to be of any material service in establishing that claim. Another English claim was that explorers from Virginia had crossed the Alleghany mountains in 1654 and again in 1664 and penetrated the Mississippi valley by way of the Ohio river, but it is not likely that any of these expeditions ever saw any portion of the territory claimed by the French under the name of Louisiana.


Expositions, Industrial .- Since the great war between the states, :the industries of Louisiana have derived material benefit from the state's exhibits at various industrial expositions, both at home and abroad. The first instance of this kind was in 1867, when the state was represented at Paris, France. On March 28, 1867, the legislature made appropriations amounting to $4,502.10 for pack- ing and forwarding specimens of sugar, salt, tobacco, petroleum, etc., to Paris, and for other purposes. The largest item of ex- pense was $1,500 to Edward Gotthiel for services rendered: the next largest was $1.337 for plans and the erection of a cottage on the exposition grounds; W. S. Pike, president of the Louisiana board of commissioners. received $750 for his services and expenses, and the remainder was used for printing and advertising. Although this exhibit was not extensive and was made at a time when the state was in the throes of reconstruction, when money was lavishly expended without regard to results, it advertised abroad the capa- bilities of the state, but, owing to the unsettled conditions of that period, it would be a difficult matter even to estimate the benefits resulting from the display.


The same is true in a great measure of the Centennial exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. By the act of Congress of June 1, 1872. which authorized the "Central Board of Finance" to secure sub- scriptions to not more than $10.000,000 in stock, that amount was apportioned among the states according to population. At that time the population of Louisiana was estimated at 726,916, and the amount of stock apportioned to the state was $188.520, in shares of $10 each, but there is no record as to whether the stock was subscribed by the citizens of the state. John Lynch was ap- pointed commissioner. Thomas C. Anderson, alternate, Mrs. M. C. Ludeling was made the Louisiana member of the women's execu- tive committee, and a board of finance, consisting of five members


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from the state at large and two from each of the five Congressional districts, was appointed. Some little advertising of the state's re- sources was done at Philadelphia, but no exhibit of products was · made.


In 1877 the state government was restored to the people of Louisiana, and on Jan. 23, 1878, a joint resolution was adopted by both branches of the legislature requesting the governor to appoint two honorary commissioners to the Paris exposition of that year, said commissioners to serve without pay and without expense to the state.


In 1880 came the first suggestion for a general exposition of industries, arts, etc., at some point in the Southern states as a means of calling attention to the resources of that section of the country, encouraging the development of those resources, and stimulating the trade of the South with other countries. The sub- ject continued to be discussed by Southern newspapers for some time, but no definite action was taken until in Oct., 1882, when, at the annual meeting of the National Cotton Planters' association, attention was directed to the fact that the first shipment of cotton from the United States was made in 1784, when six bags were shipped from Charleston, S. C., and the association adopted a reso- lution that the proposed exposition should be held in New Orleans. in 1884 to celebrate the centennary of the event. The subject was. brought before Congress at the ensuing session, and on Feb. 10, 1883, President Arthur approved an act incorporating the "World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition," thus giving the en- terprise the encouragement of the national government, and New Orleans was selected as the most suitable place, provided that city would guarantee the necessary financial support. The citizens of New Orleans, with the cooperation of railroad companies and other large corporate concerns, subscribed for $500,000 of the stock ; the city government contributed $100.000, the state legislature by the act of June 24, 1884, appropriated $100.000 "to be applied to the erection of buildings to accommodate the Louisiana exhibit and to collect, prepare and display products." The president appointed commissioners for the several states, a majority of which made liberal appropriations for an exhibit of their products, resources, etc. E. A. Burke was appointed director-general and chief execu- tive officer ; F. C. Morehead, commissioner-general ; G. M. Torger- son, supervising architect ; F. N. Ogden, chief superintendent ; S. H. Gilman, consulting engineer : and the following selections were made for chiefs or heads of departments: Parker Earle, horticul- ture ; George B. Loring, agriculture ; B. K. Bruce, colored exhibit ; Samuel Mullen, installation: Charles L. Fitch, transportation ; B. T. Walshe, information and accommodation ; Thomas Donaldson, ores, mines and forestry exhibit ; John Eaton, education : W. II. H. Judson, printing and publishing ; C. W. Dabney, Jr., government and state exhibits: Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, women's work. Com- missioners were also appointed by the board of managers to visit


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foreign countries and different sections of the United States to awaken interest and secure representation at the exposition.


The site chosen for the exposition was a tract of land (now Au- dubon park) belonging to the city, about 4 miles above the busi- ness center of the city and extending from the Mississippi river to St. Charles avenue. The main building, devoted to the general exhibits, foreign displays and machinery was 905 by 1.378 feet, and was the largest structure ever erected for exhibition purposes up to that time, its area being more than 200,000 square feet greater than the famous crystal palace at the London exposition of 1862. The next largest building was the government building, 565 by 885 feet, devoted to the exhibits of the United States government and of the various states. Other buildings were the horticultural hall. the art building, the factories and mills building. devoted chiefly to displays of cotton, sugar and rice, the building for sawmills and wood-working machinery, live stock stables, restaurants, etc. The Mexican government erected two buildings, one in the general style of a "hacienda" 192 by 288 feet inclosing an open court 115 by 184 feet, and a smaller building for the display of Mexico's mineral products. The horticultural hall was erected with the $100,000 contributed by the city government. with the understand- ing that it should become the permanent property of the city. It is still standing, but the other buildings were removed from the grounds soon after the close of the exposition. Between the build- ings and the river was a garden of semi-tropical plants, including groves of orange, lemon, fig and banana trees, etc. This garden proved to be one of the most interesting features of the exposi- tion.


The original intention was to open the exposition on Dec. 1, . 1884, but the time for preparation was so short that the exhibits were not in place on that date and the opening was postponed un- til Dec. 16. The ceremonies on that occasion were appropriate and impressive, and when all was ready President Arthur touched an electric button in the White House at Washington, thus giving the signal for starting the machinery in the main building. The ex- position remained open until May 31, 1885, and was visited by thousands of people who came from all parts of the world and carried away with them a better knowledge of the resources and capabilities of the South and particularly of New Orleans.


On Nov. 10, 1885. the North, Central and South American ex- position was opened at the same place in which the Cotton Cen- tennial exposition had been held. It was a continuation of the lat- ter and was fairly successful for several months.


On July 1, 1892, the Louisiana legislature appropriated $18,000 for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. 1892, and a like amount for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1893. for the purpose of making a display of the state's products at the World's Columbian exposi- tion at Chicago in 1893. Col. T. J. Woodward and Davidson B. ' Penn were appointed U. S. commissioners, and Mrs. Perkins and Miss Kate Minor were the lady commissioners. The principal fea-


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tures of the exhibit were the rice and sugar displays, showing the various steps in these industries from seed time to harvest, and specimens of the finished products. John C. Wickliffe was at first in charge of the exhibit, and upon his resignation Gov. Foster appointed T. J. Butler, who remained in charge until the close of the exposition. The Louisiana state building at Chicago contained eight large rooms and was visited by a large number of people, who were attracted by the novelty of the exhibits and entertain- ments there given. In this building was an Acadian exhibit from the old French colony in the Bayou Teche country; relics of the French and Spanish days of Louisiana ; the richly carved antique furniture of Gov. Galvez, usually kept in the museum . at Baton Rouge; an educational exhibit, showing the work of Louisiana schools; a creole concert company, and a creole kitchen in which meals were served.


On June 22, 1894, the legislature adopted a resolution requesting the state's senators and representatives in Congress to vote for the bill providing for a government exhibit at Atlanta in 1895, and another resolution of the same date authorized the Louisiana bureau of agriculture to make an exhibit there in the name of the state. "showing the great and varied resources of the state and its prod. ucts, with full information concerning its institutions and vast capabilities." The legislature further requested "all cities, citi- zens, parishes, corporations and commercial organizations of the state to cooperate with the bureau to make the exhibit worthy of this state and its people." Prof. W. C. Stubbs was appointed com- missioner on behalf of the state, and the lady commissioners from Louisiana were Mrs. Scott McGee, Mrs. Fred G. Freret and Mrs. William H. Dickson. The report of the commissioner was never printed, but from unofficial sources it is known that the Louisiana exhibit at Atlanta attracted much favorable attention and won sev- eral awards. No provision for expenses was made by the legisla- ture at the time the resolution authorizing the exhibit was adopted, and on July 6, 1896, an act was passed appropriating $5,700 to re- imburse the parties who advanced that amount to the bureau of agriculture. Of this appropriation, $500 went to Miss M. Evans, in payment for 5,000 copies of her magazine. "Men and Matters." distributed by her at the exposition in the interest of Louisiana's industries and institutions.


No formal exhibit was made by Louisiana at the Tennessee Cen- tennial exposition at Nashville in 1897. nor at the Trans-Missis- sippi exposition at Omaha in 1898, though on July 8, 1898. the legislature of the state appropriated $1,000 to reimburse Miss Evans, editor and proprietor of "Men and Matters," for her serv- ices in representing the state at Nashville. On July 7, 1896. a resolution was adopted by the legislature authorizing the state board of agriculture to make an exhibit at Omaha, and a space of 3,000 square feet in the agricultural building was allotted to the state for the display, but for some reason the project was not car- ried out.


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Through the efforts and influence of Gov. Heard a creditable exhibit was made at the Pan-American exposition at Buffalo in 1901. The exhibit was collected and arranged by Maj. J. G. Lee, state commissioner of agriculture and immigration, and Prof. W. C. Stubbs, director of the state agricultural experiment stations. Aug. 21, 1901, was Louisiana day at the exposition. Gov. Heard and his staff were in attendance and addresses were made by Gov. Heard and by Prois. J. B. Aswell and Alcee Fortier (the latter spoke in French) in the Temple of Music where President Mc- Kinley was assassinated two weeks later. At the close of the Pan- American exposition the exhibit was removed to Charleston, where it remained until the close of the exposition there, when the sev- eral collections were returned to Louisiana. The total cost of the displays at Buffalo and Charleston was about $10,000.


The idea of an exposition to celebrate the centenary of the ac- quisition of Louisiana by the United States was first proposed by the Missouri Historical society on Jan. 11, 1898, and after some preliminary work the governor of Missouri called a convention of delegates from the several states and territories carved out of the Louisiana Purchase to meet in St. Louis on Jan. 10, 1899. This convention indorsed the scheme, and on April 24, 1901. the "Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company" was duly incorporated with David R. Francis as president. On July 5, 1902, the Louisiana legislature passed an act. providing "That a board of commissioners to be known as the board of commissioners to the Louisiana Pur- chase exposition, be and the same is hereby created, consisting of the governor, who shall be ex-officio president thereof, and four other members, who shall be appointed by the governor and hold office during his pleasure." and appropriated $100,000 for the pur- pose of making an exhibit. Pursuant to the provisions of this act, Gov. Heard appointed as members of the board Col. Charles Schuler. Judge Emile Rost, Hon. Henry L. Gueydan and Maj. Jordan G. Lee. Judge Rost subsequently resigned on account of his health and was succeeded by Gen. John B. Levert. The board met early in Jan., 1903, and organized, electing Dr. W. C. Stubbs, state commissioner: Robert Glenk, assistant commissioner ; Maj. J. G. Lee, secretary : and Charles K. Fuqua, assistant secretary.


The commissioners began the work of collection and arrange- ment with the intention of having the entire state exhibit in one building, but upon learning that this would be contrary to the general plan of the exposition officials the collection was divided into groups according to the character of each display. Concern- ing this arrangement the report of the commission says: "Thou- sands of visitors, even many of our own citizens. formed inade- quate, often erroneous conclusions relative to Louisiana's display, simply because they saw only one or two of her exhibits, and these perhaps not representative of her chief resources. % Without a guide. it was almost impossible for even a Louisianian during a visit of ten days to find all the exhibits from this state. It is almost certain that the state would have derived larger bene-


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fits in attracting immigration had the policy of the commission prevailed."


In the agricultural building were several wax models of sugar- cane fields, showing cane in all stages of growth ; implements used in cane culture ; methods of transporting the cane from the field to the sugar house ; a complete model of a sugar mill, and numerous samples of the finished product. Rice and cotton culture were simi- larly illustrated, and there was a large and well selected assortment of the various agricultural products of the state. The exhibit in this building was under the control of Robert Glenk, the assistant commissioner.


Daniel Newsham of New Orleans was in charge of the horticul- tural exhibit, which consisted of pecans, fresh and preserved fruits, ete., and in the conservatory were two carloads of ornamental plants from New Orleans, most of which collection was furnished by the florists of that city.


In the forestry building the exhibit was under the direction of Prof. W. R. Dodson of the state experiment station at Baton Rouge. It consisted of selected specimens of every variety of forest growth, sections of trees, boards, and various articles manufactured from Louisiana timber, with photographis illustrative of logging camps, sawmills, etc. In this building was also the fish and game exhibit, containing many specimens of Louisiana's fish, batrachians, rep- tiles, game animals and birds, etc.


In the mines and metallurgy building were shown specimens of brick, sulphur, crude and refined petroleum, iron ores, marble, lig- nite, sandstone, cement, etc., and in the center of the space was a large topographical map of the state, prepared by Dr. G. D. Har- ris, showing the different geological horizons and locations of min- eral deposits. Prof. George Williamson of the state normal school had charge of the exhibit here, as well as that in the anthropology building, where a large collection of Indian relics and articles of manufacture were shown.


In the transportation building, where J. P. Culotta of New Orleans was in charge of the exhibit, were shown models of vari- ous eraft, illustrating the development - of river transportation, from the Indian canoe and the pirogue of 1700 to the modern side- wheel steamer or the ocean liner. The exhibit also included the original of the first wagon made in Louisiana, an old cypress affair, 116 years old, made by Don. Juan Filhiol and exhibited by one of his descendants.


The educational exhibit occupied space No. 1 in the educational building, and was a fine collection from the public schools in dif- ferent eities and towns of the state and the higher educational institutions, public and private. This exhibit was under the direc- tion of Dr. Brown Ayres of Tulane University.




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