Terrebonne County Louisiana Archives News.....A Trip to Grand Isle (part 3) September 23, 1882
************************************************
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 12, 2023, 7:15 pm

The Thibodaux Sentinel September 23, 1882
Leaving Grand Isle on the Joe Webre in the morning, a pleasant and refreshing 
ride transports the passenger into Grand Pass, in which huge porpoises are 
sporting, whilst a flock of 50 pelicans gathers above our heads and form 
volunteer escorts to the Boat for many miles, through lakes and Bayous, until 
the river lands are reached.

Entering the Socola Canal the voyage unfolds new scenery and strange views at 
every turn of the Boat’s wheel. Then the Grand Bayou is entered, a beautiful 
long stream, as large as Bayou Lafourche, which heads near Algiers and runs 
parallel to the river, carrying off the surplus waters, in the rear of 
plantations, and emptying them into the Gulf.

The dark muddy appearance of this Bayou, as I passed through, showed that the 
Mississippi river water, by way of the Live Oak crevasse, was seeking an outlet 
through this stream. 

Thence, by a canal, the Boat reached the Mississippi river, passed through the 
locks, and entered into that stream 48 miles below New Orleans. I noticed that 
the lands on either side of the river were principally cultivated in rice. 

The scenery on the river below New Orleans is wilder and more picturesque than 
that above the city. The banks are lined with cotton wood which for miles 
obscured the fields of sugar cane and rice that were waving in the warm breezes. 

I was astonished at the small levees along the lower coast.

From the fuss and noise that had been made about the high water in part of the 
river, I had imagined that the Levees were small mountains.

Were such levees built down there as the people have erected on the banks of the 
Lafourche in this Parish they would have no trouble about high water, and 
overflows.

The approach to the city after dark afforded the passengers on the Webre a 
beautiful view. For miles the electric lights along the wharves were visible, 
reminding me of Jack O’my lanterns that I used to see on dark nights in my 
boyhood days. As the steamer approached the end of her destination the number of 
lights increased, whilst the view along the streets towards the swamps in the 
rear, as they were passed one after another, was grand. Finally the landing was 
made when Capt. Hotard who had gone to the city previously, came on board and 
notified that he was going to return to Grand Isle the next morning. This 
interfered materially with my arrangements, as I expected to return home by that 
route after being one day in the city. 

However, all that was to be done was to view the matter philosophically and 
return home by the usual route.

A day in New Orleans can always be interesting, if the visitor is disposed to 
have it so. After calling on a few friends and doing a little business I gave 
the new building lately built by Rice Born & Co. on 79 Camp street, and into 
which they were busy moving their immense stock of merchandise. 

This magnificent store is now the most commodious, convenient, and comfortable 
building in New Orleans, and in no other city will there be stores found to 
surpass this one. Nothing that could be done for the convenience of owners and 
employees is left undone.

Each story and room has its speciality, and when one of the ten thousand 
articles, which are always on hand for sale is called for, the salesmen know 
exactly where to look for it.

Its sanitary arrangements are perfect and light is so thoroughly distributed 
throughout the immense building that the use of gas in daylight will never be 
required.

Two elevators for merchandise and one for customers are constantly in use, 
propelled by an Engine worked by gas, that is of itself, one of the wonders of 
this century. Looking at it operating one can not help but think that the 
ingenuity of man is overcoming every obstacle that may interfere with his 
progress. 

From the top of this building one gets a bird’s view of the great city 
surrounding it. The Mississippi meandering about the city, resembles a great 
serpent’s irregular movement. In one direction the view crosses the river twice. 
In the circle lies Algiers with the smoke of the Morgan’s Locomotives and 
workshops curling over it. In the opposite direction sparkling in the sun’s rays 
is seen Lake Pontchartrain, the sails of its luggers and boats resembling 
seagulls slowly moving over its bosom.

The spires of the churches rise up in every direction, proving, at least that in 
theory, Bob Ingersall’s nonsense is not popular in the Crescent City.

Morris McGraw is also building an immense store for his large trade and which 
will soon be completed.

The new Cotton exchange and many other structures under way will be noted 
specimens of Architecture in the future of New Orleans. But it is time to return 
home and a pleasant ride on Morgan’s road completes the trip and brings it to a 
close.


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/terrebonne/newspapers/atriptog796gnw.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/

File size: 5.4 Kb