320 



LOUISIANA. 



Gulf and Warrenton, on the Mississippi, in the southern part^ Columbus on the Tombigbee, 

 and Grenada on the Yalabusha, further north, are considerable places, with from 1,000 to 

 1,500 inhabitants. Vicksburg, at tlie Walnut Hills, on the Mississippi, has grown up sud- 

 denly within 6 or 8 years, and exports much cotton to New Orleans. Steamboats regularly 

 ply between the two places. It has a remarkably picturesque situation, being seated on the 

 shelving side of several high hills, with the houses scattered about in groups upon the terraces. 

 Population, 4,000. 



3. Agriculture. Cotton is the staple of this State, and is raised in every part. Hardly 

 anything else is thought worthy of attention. Sugar-cane has been introduced only in the 

 southern part. Both the climate and soil are adapted to the cultivation of tobacco, maize, 

 sweet potatoes, rice, and indigo. The palma christi., or castor-oil bean is sometimes raised. 

 No planters in the United States derive greater incomes in proportion to their capital than those 

 of Mississippi. The number of laborers on a plantation varies from 20 to 200. The cotton 

 crop exceeds 350,000 bales. 



4. Railroads. Several works of public benefit have been undertaken. The Mississippi 

 Railroad., which will extend from Natchez, through Jackson, to Canton in Madison county, a 

 distance of 150 miles, is in progress. The Grand Gulf and Fort Gibson Railroad, 8 miles 

 in length, connects the latter with the Mississippi at the former point. The Jackson and Bran- 

 don Railroad, 8 miles, unites those towns. The Vicksburg Railroad extends from Vicks- 

 burg to Clinton, 35 miles. The Feliciana Railroad extends from Woodville to the Mississip- 

 pi, at St. Francisville, 30 miles. The Lake Washington and Deer Creek Railroad extends 

 from Princeton on the Mississippi, to the Deer Creek, 20 miles, and its condnuation to the 

 Yazoo, 50 miles, is in contemplation. The great projected railroad from New Orleans to 

 Nashville, will traverse the whole length of this State from north to south, through its central 

 portion. 



5. Government. The legislature is called the General Assembly, and consists of a Senate 

 and House of Representatives. The senators are chosen for 4 years, one third being renewed 

 every year. The representatives are chosen biennially. The right of suffrage requires one 

 year's residence. Clergymen are excluded from civil ofBces. Mississippi sends two represen- 

 tatives to Congress. 



6. Religion. The Methodists are the most numerous sect, and the Baptists the next so ; 

 there are also Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and some Cathohcs. 



7. Education. Jefferson College, at Washington, near Natchez, was established in 1802. 

 It has 6 instructors, and 60 students. Oakland College, at Oakland, founded in 1831, has 

 100 students, and Mississippi College, at Clinton, about 60. The State has a literary fund, 

 and there are high schools at Natchez, Woodville, and Monticello. 



8. History. The French formed a settlement in this State at Natchez, in 1716 ; but the 

 right of the territory was long disputed between the French and the Spanish, and more recent- 

 ly between the French and English. Hardly anything further was done toward the settlement 

 of the country for many years. In 1763, it was ceded to the English, with all the French 

 possessions east of the Mississippi. In 1798, it was erected by the United States into a terri- 

 torial government, Alabama being included within its limits ; but this latter State was set off 

 from Mississippi in 1817, and Mississippi was, the same year, received into the Union as a 

 State. The constitution was formed in 1817, and revised and amended in 1832. 



CHAPTER XXVI. LOUISIANA. 



PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. 



1. Boundaries and Extent. This State is bounded north by Arkansas and Mississippi ; east 

 by Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico ; south by the Gulf, and west by Texas. , It Ues be- 

 tween 29° and 33° north latitude, and 89° and 94° west longitude. It is 240 miles in length 

 from north to south, and 210 in width, and contains 48,500 square miles. 



2. Rivers. The Mississippi flows through this State into the Gulf of Mexico. A full 

 description of this river will be found in the general view of the United States. In this place 

 it may be remarked, that it affords a navigation for ships of any size through the State, and 

 passes to the sea by several outlets. Red River is one of the western tributaries of the Mis- 



