| From the Daily Picayune (New Orleans, La.) |
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| November 11, 1861 |
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| The Trip to Berwick's Bay |
| Yesterday was one of those lovely Indian
summer days, which give us such pleasant reminiscences of the season
just closed, and bring in "the fall of the leaf" so smilingly. We
availed ourselves of a polite invitation to accompany an official
friend, by the Opelousas Railroad {New Orleans,
Opelousas & Great Western RR} to Berwick's Bay, and greatly
enjoyed the trip down and back. |
| This road, in all its appointments, is one
of the very best on this continent. Indeed, we do not see how, in
anything in its management and conduct, it could be at all improved. The
road is in perfect order, the cars models of comfort and convenience,
the conductors capable, courteous and efficient, and that great virtue
in public concerns, punctuality, characterizes all its movements. The
trip takes four hours, which is at the rate of twenty miles an hour,
including the necessary stoppages for water and the accommodation of
passengers. The train left just on the stroke of 8, by the clock at the
depot, and it was striking 12 at the moment of our entering the station,
at the Bay. So, on the return, we left at 1 o'clock precisely, and it
was 5 to a second on our arrival at this terminus. This is a fact so
commendable and exemplary that we consider it well worth of special
mention. |
| ***** |
| Almost immediately after leaving the
depot, the field of corn, in most luxuriant growth, begin to show
themselves, and then, all along the route, it is cane, cane, hardly
anything else than cane. For acres and acres, and even miles together,
on both sides of the road, and sometimes as far as the eye could reach,
the green expanse of high and vigorous cane stretched away in rich
profusion. Most of that which is standing seemed ripe for the harvest,
and many of the fields had been gathered and were laid down in winrows.
Here and there were seen groups of hands engaged in cutting, or carrying
home the cane, while in the distance were seen, at intervals, the tall
chimneys of the sugar houses, in full smoke and steam, indicating that
the process of rolling was going on industriously. From what we saw we
should say that there will be no lack of a good crop of our important
staple, this year, in the parishes through which the Opelousas Railroad
runs. |
| The orange trees, with their deep green
foliage and their golden fruitage, dotting here and there the pleasant
landscape so beautifully displayed to the view of the traveler, make a
most agreeable feature of the picture. The yield of this delicious
fruit, this season, is very abundant. |
| ***** |
| On arriving at Berwick's Bay we had the
good fortune to find ourselves by the attentive politeness of our
inviter, the guests of Mr. Carr, the agent of the road at that end of
the line, and to him we were indebted for such genial hospitality as
rendered our only hour at that point most delightful. It is a superb
view one has from the agent's office of the broad and beautiful expanse
of water which is formed by the widening of the Atchafalaya into what is
called Berwick's Bay. The steamer Mobile and the old Fashion were lying
there at anchor, and there were other craft to be seen, here and there,
some still and some in motion. |
| ***** |
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