SOUTHERN PACIFIC LINES 25 
Just east of Lafayette the terrace step is only about 12 feet high, 
but at Opelousas, 25 miles northwest, its steep eastern face is a 
bluff nearly 40 feet high. Its elevation is 35 feet near Rayne 
and for some distance beyond. The land is better drained than the 
lowlands of the valley of the Mississippi or the low prairies to the south, 
and it contrasts also in having a slightly rolling configuration and 
sandy soil. Refugees of the flood of 1927 went to this upland near 
Segura as the nearest highland that was available. At the crest 
of this flood the swamp lands to the north were under 5 to 10 feet of 
water, and even New Iberia was inundated for several days. This 
flood was the first in a century that overflowed any of the country 
south of Bayou Teche. 
Southeast of New Iberia there is a terrace or upland somewhat 
similar to the Hammond terrace, lying south of the Bayou Teche 
mound and extending to and beyond Jeanerette. South of this ter- 
race is a lowland flat that extends as far to the west as Vermilion and 
Mermentau Prairies, which are mostly less than 20 feet above sea 
level. (Turn to sheet 3.) 
An important resource of southwestern Louisiana is underground 
water, which yields flowing wells at moderate depth in the lower 
lands and water available for pumping in the higher areas. The 
wells are mostly from 200 to 300 feet deep and obtain their supplies 
from gravel and sand in the younger formations. 
At Cade is the junction with a branch railroad which goes to Port 
Barre, a small town on Bayou Cortableau about 40 miles north. 
The first station north of Cade on this branch line is 
St. Martinsville, above referred to in connection with 
the legend of Evangeline. Cade is surrounded by 
cane fields, and considerable quantities of cane and 
other farm products are shipped here and at Burke and Duchamp 
sidings. 
At Billeaud, a mile east of Broussard, a large sugar refinery just 
north of the railroad utilizes cane from the adjoining region. Brous- 
sard is an old town sustained in ayet part by the 
sugar industry and surrounding farms. It was 
named for a French captain by one of his descendants 
New jauie% 140 miles, When the town was established after the Civil War. 
The rolling country is covered with cane fields that 
extend at intervals to Lafayette, where they give place to rice. Much 
pepper also is raised. 
152109°—33-——3 
Cade. 
Elevation 32 fe 
New Orleans en rifles. 
Broussard. 
a ly + 
