Jefferson County Louisiana Archives News.....Trip to Grand Isle June 3, 1866 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Savanna King savanna18king@gmail.com August 21, 2023, 2:32 pm The Times Picayune June 3, 1866 [Special Correspondence of the Picayune.] Grand Isle, May 28, 1866 It may not be uninteresting to yourself and many readers of your useful paper, to give a hasty, or rather unpolished sketch of an excursion en route and visit to this noted Island, the advantages of which, to many of our people, are almost as little known as the Fegee Islands. Left the terminus of Harvey's Canal, opposite the Stock Landing, Jefferson City, at 8 A.M., per that substantial and well conducted steamer St. Nicholas. We had on board about fifteen cabin- passengers, all male excepting one lady, wife of a respectable sugar planter, who was visiting his sugar plantation on Bayou Barataria. The other passengers were planters, mechanics, gardeners, etc., bound for various points on the bayou. We passed at different places along the canal, moss boats, fish boats, lumber boats, wood boats, and other water craft. After running about six miles, we came in view of Bayou Barataria, and a short distance from where the canal debouches into the bayou, on the left hand side going south, we pass Kyser's steam saw mill; not far below this, on the same side of the bayou, is Friend's steam saw mill; we were detained here about half an hour wooding. At this place, on each side of the bayou, is a vast extent of apparently dry land, covered with large, tall cypress timber and live oak suitable for lumber. The soil along the bayou is black, and judging from the rankness of vegetation and great variety of trees and undergrowth, must be exceedingly rich and productive, and no doubt could be made very profitable to anyone with energy sufficient to clear and cultivate this alluvial soil, and develop the various other natural resources of this yet virgin section of Louisiana. Passing the towering cypress we come to forest of ash, dum, locust, and maple, interspersed with the majestic live oak in moss drapery, "appearing gloomy, grand and peculiar," covered with nature's habiliments, as if to shield them from the midsummer's heat and wintry blast. We next come to Mr. Wintz's extensive steam saw mill, quite a deserving enterprise, which, in a new forest country, like the wood chopper, but on a larger scale, subdues the forest to the cultivator of the soil, besides, is always esteemed by the pioneer and hailed with delight as a harbinger or forerunner to civilization and an age of improvement. Mr. Wintz has railroads running into the inmost recesses of the forest where the timber is most accessible. The proprietor of this enterprise was formerly extensively engaged in the omnibus business in New Orleans. Besides the public spirit and energy displayed in advancing the interest of the city, he has gone to work out here on the bayou, with his extensive steam saw-mill, giving employment to many men, and material aid in developing the resources of this rich and productive section of Louisiana, adjacent to, and so much identified with, the welfare and prosperity of New Orleans. There are, after passing this mill, numerous little cleared places, owned and occupied by gardeners, moss-pickers, fishermen and huntsmen. A large quantity of moss is prepared and sent to market from here, which is becoming to be quite an important article of commerce, and of much use to the world--worth almost as much, at this time, as cotton was before the war. Wild fowl, game and fish are in great abundance on the bayou. A short distance below these settlements, the bayou on the left makes a short bend, elbow, and on the right, and the northwest side, is an extensive, beautiful, dry prairie, covered with luxuriant grass, skirted with a heavy, rich growth of tall cypress and live oak. The edges of the prairie and the banks of the bayou are fringed with a great variety of undergrowth, willows and flowers, blended with the most beautiful and variegated foliage imaginable, alive with wild songsters of varied colors and plumage, discoursing nature's sweetest notes. After running every point of the compass, the bayou runs from here in a more southwestern direction. We next come to what is called the Peach Orchard Plantation--a high, dry place, situated on the right bank of the bayou. From this place, a road runs in almost a northern direction to the Mississippi River, distance twelve miles. The next sugar plantation on the left side of the bayou is Mr. Berthoud's, formerly Hodge's; opposite to this place is Beard's steam saw-mill, at the junction, or where the Bayou Villars unites the waters of the Bayou Barataria with Lake Salvador, distant two miles north. The next sugar plantation on the right bank of the bayou is a beautiful, rich piece of land, formerly owned by Mr. Davis. The next and last improved sugar plantation on the left side of the bayou is owned by Messrs. Druet & Brother. The crops of sugar cane, cotton, corn, etc., in this section, are looking well, not having been affected in the least by the overflow. On the left bank of the bayou--west side of Messrs. Druet's plantation--Bayou Dupont unites its waters with Bayou Barataria. After passing this point, we entered what is called the Rigollets, on each side of which there are immense trembling prairies, covered with tall, green grass. These prairies might be made practicable for the culture of rice. A novel and no doubt interesting sight to a stranger visiting these waters, is to see the numerous alligators, basking in the sunshine, or swimming ahead of the steamer and diving out of the way as she approaches, or at another time running through a school of fish, myriads of which, darting like lightning through the black waters of the bayou, holding out great inducements and affording abundance of sport for the votaries of Izaak Walton or those fond of piscatory exercises. After considerable meandering, the Bayou Rigollets enlarges and runs in a more southern direction. The next object of note is a mound of sea shell called Little Temple, on the right bank of the Rigollets, making a sharp point of an island formed by the confluence of the Rigollets and Bayou Pero into a beautiful sheet of water fringed with green grass; called Little Lake. We then came to a noted point of land on the west side of the Lake, called Fisherman's Point, due west from which communication can be opened through a small inlet called Bay Desamoureux at but a small expense compared with the advantages to be derived, connecting with a rich sugar section of the lower Bayou Lafourche, distance twelve miles west, and some distance south of Bayou Des Almands Railroad station. This rich section is as yet undeveloped for want of convenient communication with the New Orleans market. After leaving Little Lake we enter Grand Bayou, next Barataria Bay, and shortly afterwards the Light House at Fort Livingston appears in sight. The fort is situated on the point of Grand Tier Island, and commands the entrance of the Grand Pass, between the Grand Tier Island and Grand Tele. The Gulf of Mexico flows into this pass, and between these islands and the main land Barataria Bay is found, a noted place in the early history of Louisiana. Grand Tele (or Grand Isle) is situated opposite to Fort Livingston, west side of Grand Pass; between the Gulf of Mexico and Caminida Bay. A large portion of the island was formerly cultivated in sugar cane, but during the war the place was abandoned and the sugar houses and valuable machinery has rapidly decayed, and vegetation suffered to grow wild; withal, nature has done so much that it is yet a beautiful spot of earth, clothed with a suit of verdure, interspersed with groves of live oak, some improved gardens, orange and fig orchards; also has an extensive and firm sand beach, entirely open on the south side to the sea, affording the finest sea bathing to be had, anywhere on the Gulf of Mexico, and excels any place for fish I have ever seen. North and southwest of Grand Isle, surrounded by the waters of Barataria and the Bay of Caminida, are numerous small islands, but the principal one of note and most productive is Caminida Island, one half a mile north of Grand Isle, and separated from it by Caminida Bay. It is three or four miles in length and ranges from two hundred to six hundred yards in width, containing several hundred inhabitants, principally engaged in gardening and fishing. This island is noted for the abundance of its fruits, melons and vegetables, but more especially for its large delicious oranges and lemons; also has numerous cattle on its shores, and the waters adjacent abound with a great variety of fine fish. Caminida Bay, flowing in between this island (Caminida) and Grand Isle, connects with the Gulf of Mexico by another pass on the west end of Grand Isle, being a very frequented thoroughfare for the Chinese fishermen, returning from the Timbalier Island loaded with the delicacies of the sea, such as the green turtle, pompano, red snapper, sheepshead, sea trout, red and white sea shrimp, oysters, etc. On Grand Isle a hotel is opened, under the auspices of Mr. Margot Jolley, where everything is done to make the visitor comfortable. The sea bathing is as fine as any to be had on the Gulf and fare good. Would recommend those wishing a change of air to pay him a visit, hoping you will pardon this prolix digression of an Observer. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/jefferson/newspapers/triptogr822gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/ File size: 9.9 Kb