one of the Southern States of the American Union
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{{c|{{fs|180%|LOUISIANA}}
''Copyright'', 1882, ''by Henry Gannett''.}}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Plate I.}}
{{di|L}}OUISIANA, one of the Southern States of the American
Union, situated on the lower course and debouchement
of the Mississippi river. It is bounded S. by the
{{EB9 Margin Note|Boundaries and extent.}}
Gulf of Mexico, W. by Texas, N. by Arkansas, and E. by
Mississippi. Its western boundary is a line through the
middle of Sabine lake and river, as far north as the 32d
parallel, whence it follows the meridian of the point of
intersection of the river with that parallel. The northern
boundary is the parallel of 33°. The eastern boundary
is the mid-channel of the Mississippi river, as far south as
the 31st parallel, whence it follows that parallel eastward
to the middle of Pearl river, and passes down that stream
to the Gulf. The area of the State, according to a late
determination made by the Census Bureau, is 48,720 square
miles, of which 1060 consist of land-locked bays, 1700 of
inland lakes, and 540 of river surface, leaving 45,420
square miles as the total land area of the State.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Surface.}}
The average elevation of the State is only 75 feet, and
no part of it reaches 500 feet above sea-level. The most
elevated portion is near its northern border. The surface
is naturally divided into two parts{{—}}the upland, and the
alluvial and coast swamp regions. Each of the larger
streams, as well as a large proportion of the smaller ones,
is accompanied by a belt of bottom land, of greater or less
width, lying low as regards the stream, and liable to overflow
at times of high water. These bottom lands form
collectively what is known as the alluvial region. It
extends in a broad belt down the Mississippi, from the
mouth of the Ohio to the Gulf of Mexico, and up the
Ouachita and its branches and the Red River, to and beyond
the limits of the State. Its breadth along the Mississippi
within this State ranges from 10 to 50 or 60 miles, and
that along the Red River and Ouachita has an average
breadth of 10 miles. Through its great flood-plain the
Mississippi river winds upon the summit of a ridge formed
by its own deposits. In each direction the country falls
away in a succession of minor undulations, the summits of
the ridges being occupied by the streams and bayous.
Nearly all of this vast flood-plain lies below the level of
high water in the Mississippi, and, were it not for the
protection afforded by the levees, with which most of the
course of the stream is lined, every considerable rise of its
waters would inundate vast areas of fertile and cultivated
land.
Stretching along the coast, and extending inland to a
varying distance, ranging from 20 to 50 or even 60 miles,
is a low, swampy region, the surface of which is diversified
only by the slight ridges along the streams and bayous
which traverse it, by occasional patches of slightly elevated
prairie, and by live oak ridges. It is in and along the
borders of this coast swamp region that most of the sugar
cane and rice produced in the State are grown.
The low regions of Louisiana, including the alluvial
lands and the coast swamps, comprise about 20,100 square
miles, or nearly one-half the area of the State. The
remainder consists of uplands of prairie and forest. The
borders of these uplands are generally defined by lines of
bluffs of no great height.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Rivers.}}
The principal rivers are the Mississippi, which flows
nearly 600 miles through and along the border of the State,
the Red River, the Ouachita or Washita, Sabine, and Pearl,
all which, excepting the last, are navigable at all stages of
the water. Besides those streams which may properly be
called rivers, the State is intersected by “bayous,” several
of which are of great importance both for navigation and
for drainage. They may be characterized as secondary
outlets of the rivers. Among them may be mentioned
<!-- column 2 -->
Achafalaya Bayou, Bayou la Fourche, and Bayou Bœuf.
The signification of the name has, however, been extended,
so that many rivers in this region, particularly if they have
sluggish courses, are known as bayous. The alluvial
portion of the State, particularly below the mouth of the
Red River, is a perfect network of these bayous, which
serve, in time of flood, to carry off the invading surplus
waters.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Lakes.}}
The lakes of the State are mainly comprised in three
classes. First come the lagoons of the coast, many of which
are merely land-locked bays, whose waters are salt, and
which rise and fall with the tides. Of this class are
Pontchartrain, Borgne, Maurepas, and Sabine, and indeed all or
nearly all those situated in the region of the coast swamps.
These are simply parts of the sea which have escaped the
filling-in process carried on by the great river and the lesser
streams. A second class, large in numbers but small in
area, is the result of “cut-offs” and other changes of
channel in the Mississippi, and, to a small extent, in the
Red River. The part of the river left by this change of
channel becomes gradually isolated from the stream by the
deposit of silt along the borders of the latter, thus changing
what were formerly windings of the river into crescent-shaped
lakes. A third class may be mentioned, namely,
those upon Red River and its branches which are caused
by the partial stoppage of the water by the “raft” above
Shreveport. These are, of course, much larger at flood
season than at other times, and, it may be added, have
been much reduced in size by the cutting of a channel
through the raft.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Climate.}}
The climate of the State is semi-tropical; the mean
annual temperature ranges from 60° to 75°, changing
approximately with the latitude. The mean temperature
of the hottest month is about 85°, while that of the coldest
month ranges in different parts of the State from 45° to
60°. The temperature rarely, if ever, falls below 0° Fahr.,
while the heats of summer reach 105° in some parts. The
rainfall is very heavy along the coast, exceeding 60 inches
annually, but decreases inland, and is not more than 50
inches in the northern districts.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Flora.}}
This large amount of moisture, together with the high
temperature and the fertile soil, suffices to cover the greater
part of the State, and particularly the alluvial regions and
the coast swamps, with the most luxuriant sub-tropical
vegetation, both arborescent and herbaceous. Much of the
latter region is covered with lofty cypress trees, from
which hang festoons of Spanish moss. The most common
species of the alluvial regions and the drier portions of
the coast swamps are live and other species of oaks, sweet
gum, magnolia, the tulip tree, black walnut, pine, and
cedar. Along the streams in the alluvial region are found
willows, cotton-woods, basket oaks, and other species of
similar habitat. For the beauty and fragrance of its flowers
Louisiana is justly celebrated. Its bottom lands and its
upland prairies are decked with them in tropical profusion.
Prominent among them in abundance are roses, magnolias,
jasmines, camellias, and oleanders. Most fruits common
to a semi-tropical region are to be found here, either native
or cultivated, such as oranges, olives, figs, peaches, and
plums.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Forests.}}
The forests cover a very considerable portion of the area
of the State, and are destined in the future to form an
important element of its wealth, although up to the present
time the lumber interest has not been very extensively
developed. The most valuable timber is that of the
long-leaved pine (''Pinus australis'') and the short leaved pine
(''Pinus mitis''). These are mainly confined to the upland
regions, being nowhere found in the alluvial or coast
sections. The north-western part of the State is occupied by
the short-leaved pine, while the long-leaved pine is found
<!-- p. 21 -->
mainly in large masses north and south of the Red River,
and also in the east of the State.<ref>
Of these two species of trees, Professor Sargent, of the United
States Census Bureau, estimates that there were standing on June 1,
1880, 26,558,000,000 feet of the long-leaved and 21,625,000,000 feet
of the short-leaved species. The cut of the former for the census year
was 61,882,000, and of the latter 22,709,000 feet, the total cut being
but .2 per cent. of the amount standing. There is every probability,
however, that the rate of destruction will increase greatly in the future.
</ref>
{{EB9 Margin Note|Fauna.}}
The native fauna of the State resembles in its general
features that of the other Gulf States. Large quadrupeds
are comparatively rarely met with, although occasionally
there are seen black bears and wolves, and in the swamps
an occasional panther. Smaller quadrupeds, such as
raccoons, squirrels, wild cats, opossums, &c., are still
common. Every bayou contains alligators; and reptiles of
various species, such as turtles, lizards, horned toads,
rattlesnakes, and moccasin snakes, are abundant. The avifauna
of the State is varied and abundant, comprising eagles,
vultures, hawks, owls, pelicans, cranes, turkeys, geese,
partridges, ducks, &c., besides numberless smaller species, many
of these, as in other parts of the world in the same latitude,
being brilliant of plumage, but harsh of voice.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Geology.}}
The surface geology in its general outlines is very simple.
The whole alluvial region and the coast swamps, besides a
considerable portion of the prairie and pine flats bordering
upon the lowlands, are of the most recent or Quarternary
formations, while the remainder of the State, comprised
mainly in the region west of the Ouachita and Calcasieu
rivers, is Tertiary, with the exception of a few very small
islands of the Cretaceous formation in the north-western
part of the State.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Minerals.}}
In the Tertiary region are found small quantities of iron
ore, and an indifferent brown coal. But the only important
mineral product of the State is rock salt; the deposit upon
Petite Anse Island, in the coast swamp region, has been
extensively worked, and produces a very high quality of
salt. In 1880 its production was 312,000 bushels.
{{EB9 Margin Note|Agriculture.}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The principal industry of the State is agriculture, and in that
cotton takes the first place. Out of a total area of tilled land of
two and a half million acres, more than one-third was planted in
1879 with cotton. The total production was 508,569 bales, an
average of .59 of a bale per acre. Louisiana stood seventh in the list
of cotton-producing States, being exceeded by Mississippi, Georgia,
Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, and South Carolina. The cotton crop
is cultivated both in the alluvial and the upland regions. In the
former there were raised in 1879 282,390 bales, on 364,790 acres, an
average yield per acre of .77 of a bale. In the latter region 498,080
acres were planted, giving a total yield of 225,385 bales, an average
of .45 of a bale per acre. The great depth and fertility of the
alluvial soils are strikingly illustrated by these average yields. In
the coast swamp region but little cotton is cultivated,{{—}}the total
yield in these parishes, as reported by the census, being but
794 bales.}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The production of other agricultural products, as given by the
census of 1880, is as follows:—}}
{|align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|align="left"|Indian corn
|align="left"|Bush.
|align="right"|9,906,189
|-
|align="left"|Oats
|align="center"|”
|align="right"|229,840
|-
|align="left"|Wheat
|align="center"|”
|align="right"|5,034
|-
|align="left"|Rye
|align="center"|”
|align="right"|1,013
|-
|rowspan="2"|
{|cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|rowspan="2"|Sugar cane
|rowspan="2"|{{brace2|1|l}}
|align="left"|Sugar
|-
|align="left"|Molasses
|}
|align="left"|Hhds.
|align="right"|171,706
|-
|align="left"|Gals.
|align="right"|11,696,248
|-
|align="left"|Sweet potatoes
|align="left"|Bush.
|align="right"|1,318,110
|-
|align="left"|Rice
|align="center"|℔
|align="right"| 23,189,038
|-
|align="left"|Tobacco
|align="center"|”
|align="right"|55,954
|}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|Rice is cultivated almost entirely in the lower coast region, on the
margin of the swamps, upon their prairie islands, and in the
alluvial region south of Red River.}}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Communication.|8em}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|With the exception of its navigable streams, the State is not well
supplied with the means of transportation. The only railroads of
importance are{{—}}the Chicago, St Louis, and New Orleans, which
connects New Orleans with Cairo, Illinois; the Louisiana and
Texas Railroad (Morgans), which runs from New Orleans westward
to Vermillionville, and thence northward to Cheneyville; the
Louisiana Western Railroad, from Vermillionville to Orange in
Texas; the New Orleans and Pacific Railroad, from New Orleans to
Shreveport; and the Vicksburg, Shreveport, and Pacific Railroad,
running from Delta to Monroe. Besides these there are several
minor lines. The total length of railroad is 632½ miles, and the}}
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{{EB1911 Fine Print|cost of construction $44,869,342. The gross returns for 1880 were
3,238,318, and the net returns $984,497.}}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Manufactures.|7em}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|Louisiana, like the other Southern States, has latterly made
great advances in the manufacture of home products. In 1880
there were 120 looms and 6096 spindles, which used 1354 bales
of raw cotton.}}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Banking.}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The banking interest is not extensive, as will be seen from the
following statement, from the report of the comptroller of the cur
rency in 1880:—}}
{|align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" rules="cols" border="1"
|
|align="center"| Number.
|align="center"|Capital.
|-
|<hr>
|<hr>
|<hr>
|-
|align="left"| National banks
|align="center"|7
|align="right"| $2,875,000
|-
|align="left"| State banks
|align="center"|3
|align="right"|2,723,698
|-
|align="left"| Private bankers
|align="center"|8
|align="right"|53,333
|-
|
|<hr>
|<hr>
|-
|align="left"| {{gap}}Total
|align="center"|18
|align="right"|5,652,031
|}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The number and circulation of newspapers and periodicals for
1880 are as follows:—}}
{|align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" rules="cols" border="1"
|
|align="center"| Number.
|align="center"|Circulation.
|-
|<hr>
|<hr>
|<hr>
|-
|align="left"| Dailies
|align="right"|13
|align="right"|38,765
|-
|align="left"| Weeklies, semi-weeklies, &c.
|align="right"|97
|align="right"|95,115
|-
|align="left"| Monthlies
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|950
|}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Population.|6em}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|According to the census of 1880, the population of the State
was 939,946. This was divided nearly equally between the sexes,
females being but slightly in excess. The proportion of the
population which was of foreign birth was very small, being but 5.5
per cent., while in respect of race, the negro element outnumbered
the whites, being 51.5 per cent, of the total population. The
following table gives the number in each of the above classes:—}}
{|align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|align="left"|Male
|align="right"|468,754
|-
|align="left"|Female
|align="right"|471,192
|-
|align="left"|Native
|align="right"|885,800
|-
|align="left"|Foreign
|align="right"|54,146
|-
|align="left"|White
|align="right"|454,954
|-
|align="left"|Coloured
|align="right"|483,655
|-
|align="left"|Chinese
|align="right"|489
|-
|align="left"|Indian
|align="right"|848
|}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The following table exhibits the growth of the State in
population since it became a portion of the United States:—}}
{|align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" rules="cols" border="1"
|
|align="center"| Population.
|align="center"| Per Cent. of <br>Increase.
|align="center"|Density of<br> Population.
|-
|<hr>
|<hr>
|<hr>
|<hr>
|-
|align="center"| 1810
|align="right"|76,556
|align="right"|...
|align="right"|1.7
|-
|align="center"|1820
|align="right"|152,923
|align="right"|99.7
|align="right"|3.4
|-
|align="center"|1830
|align="right"|215,739
|align="right"|41.0
|align="right"|4.7
|-
|align="center"|1840
|align="right"|352,411
|align="right"|63.3
|align="right"|7.8
|-
|align="center"|1850
|align="right"|517,762
|align="right"|46.9
|align="right"|11.4
|-
|align="center"|1860
|align="right"|708,002
|align="right"|36.7
|align="right"|15.6
|-
|align="center"|1870
|align="right"|726,915
|align="right"|2.6
|align="right"|16.0
|-
|align="center"|1880
|align="right"|939,046
|align="right"|29.3
|align="right"|20.6
|}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The principal cities are New Orleans, with a population of
216,090; Shreveport, in the north-western corner, population
8009; and Baton Rouge, the State capital, 7197.<ref>
The capital was removed from New Orleans to Baton Rouge in
1880.
</ref>}}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Education.}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The State is fairly well provided with the means of education.
School attendance, however, is not very general. Out of a
population of 330,930 between the ages of six and sixteen, 78,528 were
enrolled in public schools, and the estimated average attendance was
50,248, or less than one-sixth. There are in the State seven
colleges, with 49 instructors and 786 students.}}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Administration.|7em}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|As in the other States of the Union, the government is
distributed among the executive, legislative, and judicial departments.
The executive is represented by the governor, lieutenant-governor,
secretary of state, State treasurer, auditor of public accounts,
attorney-general, and superintendent of instruction{{—}}all these
offices being elective, and the period of incumbency four years.
The legislative power is vested in a general assembly consisting
of two branches, the lower one being the house of representatives
and the upper one the senate. The members of the former body
are elected every two years, and the number is by law never to
exceed 120 nor be less than 90. The members of the senate are
elected for four years. The number of senators is fixed at 36, and
the senatorial districts are apportioned according to the population.
The judicial power is vested in a supreme court, district and
parish courts, and justices of the peace. The supreme court, except
in cases specially provided for by law, has appellate jurisdiction
only. It is composed of one chief justice and four associate justices.
These are appointed by the governor, by and with the advice
and consent of the senate, and hold office for a term of eight years.
The State is divided by the legislature into judicial districts, in
each of which there is a district court. The number of districts in
the State cannot by law be less than twelve nor more than twenty.
The district judges are elected by the voters of the district, and hold
office for four years. Each parish has its own court. The parish
judge is elected by the voters of the parish, and holds his office for
two years. In addition to this each parish elects a certain number
of justices of the peace with power to try minor cases. The State is
divided into fifty-eight parishes (equivalent to counties), and each of
these into a certain number of police jury wards which are designated
by their numbers.}}
<!-- p. 22 -->
{{EB1911 Fine Print|Louisiana is represented in the National Congress by two senators
who are chosen by the legislature of the State for a term of six
years, and by six representatives who are chosen for a term of two
years by the voters of the several representative districts.}}
{{EB9 Margin Note|Finance.}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|The following table, compiled from the returns of wealth, debt,
and taxation of the tenth United States census, shows the financial
ondition of the State in 1880.}}
{|align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|align="left"|''Valuation'' (''Assessed'')—
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}Real estate
|align="right"|$122,362,297
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}Personal property
|align="right"|37,800,142
|-
|align="left"|''Debt''—
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}State
|align="right"|23,437,640
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}Parish
|align="right"|1,107,951
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}Municipal
|align="right"|18,320,361
|-
|align="left"|''Taxation''—
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}State
|align="right"|1,171,084
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}Parish
|align="right"|710,573
|-
|align="left"|{{gap}}Municipal
|align="right"|1,914,219
|}
{{EB9 Margin Note|History.}}
{{EB1911 Fine Print|''History''.—The early history of the exploration of Louisiana forms
one of the most interesting chapters in the annals of the country.
It was first visited in 1541 by De Soto, of the Spanish Government
service. This daring explorer, landing on the coast of
Florida, made his way through the pathless forests and almost
impassable swamps to the Mississippi, and even penetrated many
leagues west of it, finally leaving his bones upon its shores. In
1673 Marquette and Joliet, starting from the settlements in Canada,
descended the great river from northern Illinois to the mouth of
the Arkansas. In 1682 La Salle descended the Mississippi, also
starting from the French settlements in the Canadas. He
navigated the river from the mouth of the Illinois to the Gulf.
Returning to France, he originated a scheme for colonizing the country,
and succeeded in obtaining from France the desired concessions,
and in collecting a company of colonists, which set sail from
Rochelle on the 24th of July 1684. Owing to the difficulty of
obtaining correct longitudes at sea, the vessel missed the mouth of
the Mississippi, and finally landed on the shore of Matagorda Bay,
in Texas, where they established a colony. From this point La
Salle started to make his way overland to Canada, but was treacherously
murdered by his companions. Shortly after his death the
colony disappeared.
The first successful attempt at settlement within the State was
made by the French under the leadership of Iberville in 1700. The
colony was located at a point on the Mississippi about 38 miles
below the present site of New Orleans, now known as “Poverty
Point.” At first it was by no means prosperous, and it was only
after the treaty of Utrecht that it appears to have gained ground.
At that time there were not over five hundred Europeans in the
whole territory of Louisiana as then constituted; the greater part
were in what is now the State of Louisiana, the others being
scattered at a few little posts along the Mississippi and Illinois
rivers. Immediately after the treaty of Utrecht the king of
France granted the whole territory of Louisiana to Antoine Crozat,
ceding to him all the territories watered by the Mississippi and its
tributaries below the mouth of the Illinois, with all the privileges
of hunting, fishing, commerce, mining, &c., which might arise in
this new territory. Crozat appointed Cadillac governor of the
colony. Affairs, however, went badly under the new administration,
and after a succession of governors, the whole district fell into the
hands of John Law, the originator of the famous “Mississippi
scheme.” Desiring to control, among other commercial monopolies,
the colony of Louisiana, Law found it an easy matter to obtain
the charter and privileges from Crozat, who was only too glad to
relinquish them in his favour. A company was formed under the
name of the “Western Company.” Grants made to it were for
twenty-five years. Subscribers to the stock were allowed to pay
three-fourths of the purchase money in the depreciated bonds of
France, one-fourth only of the subscription being asked for in coin.
Bienville, brother of Iberville, and a man possessing great influence
in the colony, was appointed governor. One of his first acts
was to found the city of New Orleans on its present site. During
the year 1718 7 vessels were sent out with stores and emigrants,
numbering in all about 1500 persons. The following year 11 ships
were despatched, and 500 negroes from the Guinea coast were
imported. In 1721 1000 white emigrants arrived, and 1367 slaves.
In the meantime the Western Company had obtained from the
regent power to join with it the East India Company grants, and
its name was changed to that of the India Company. This inflated
scheme burst in due time, but the misfortunes of the company
did not check the prosperity of the colony. The year 1721, which
was that following the financial ruin of the former, witnessed the
greatest immigration to the colony which it had ever received.
The company retained its organization and its grant of Louisiana
until 1732, when the province reverted to the crown. At that
time the population of the colony was said to have been 5000
whites and 2000 slaves; but a census taken fifteen years later shows
a population of only 4000 whites.
In 1762, by a secret treaty, the province was transferred from
France to Spain. This treaty was not made public till a year and
a half after it was signed, and Spain did not obtain possession}}
<!-- column 2 -->
{{EB1911 Fine Print|until 1769. Meanwhile, in February 1763, by a treaty made
between France and Spain on the one hand and Great Britain and
Portugal on the other, the portion of Louisiana lying east of the
Mississippi from its source to the river Iberville, and thence along
the middle of the Iberville and the lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain
to the sea, was ceded to Great Britain. In this treaty, by
implication, Louisiana was made to extend to the sources of the
Mississippi, and this is the view commonly held. The province
was governed by Spain till the year 1800, in the meantime making
little or no progress owing to the narrow and oppressive policy
pursued towards it by the home government. By the treaty of 1783
with Great Britain, the United States were placed in possession of
the eastern bank of the Mississippi river, as far down as the 31st
degree of latitude, while Spain held possession of the other bank,
and had complete possession of the river below the 31st parallel.
From the time of the first settlement in the valley of the Mississippi
and its tributaries, the importance of the river as a means of
transportation to the seaboard, and the almost absolute necessity of
possessing the country about its mouths, were recognized by the
United States. As settlements increased in the valley and spread
down the river, and as the hostile policy of Spain became more
and more plainly developed, the feeling of the settlers became
stronger against the restrictions of the Spanish Government. In
1800, however, Spain ceded the territory back to France, and in 1803
it was sold to the United States by Napoleon, in order to prevent
it from falling into the hands of Great Britain. The price was
60,000,000 francs, with a stipulation that the United States should
assume the claims of its citizens against France (French spoliation
claims), which were estimated to amount to $3,750,000. The
province which thus came into the possession of the United States was
of vast though ill-defined territorial extent.
In 1804 nearly all of what is now the State of Louisiana was
erected into a territory, under the name of Orleans. In 1810 this
was increased by the addition of the south-eastern portion, east of
the Mississippi river, and in 1812 it was admitted as a State under
its present name, and with its present boundaries. During the
war with Great Britain, which followed shortly after, a battle was
fought for the possession of New Orleans, between the British forces
under Pakenham and the American army under Jackson, in which
the former were signally defeated. Up to 1860 the development of
the State was very rapid, especially in the direction of agriculture
and commerce.
Upon the outbreak of the civil war the State promptly joined its
fortunes with the Southern Confederacy. Its act of secession from
the Union was passed December 23, 1860, and from that time until
the final suppression of the rebellion the State government was in
the hands of the Confederates, although for the last two years of
the war its territory was held in the main by the Federal forces.
In the early part of the war the State suffered but little, but in April
1862 Admiral Farragut with a powerful fleet succeeded in passing
Forts Jackson and St Philip, which defended the approaches to
New Orleans, and captured the city, thus compelling the evacuation
of the forts. The navigation of the Mississippi being secured by
this means and by operations from the north, the State was at the
mercy of the Federal Government. At the close of the war, on the
reorganization of the State government, the administration fell into
the hands of the ignorant negro classes led by unscrupulous whites,
and an unfortunate state of affairs ensued, which was brought
to an end only by the arbitrary and forcible assumption of power
by the better elements of society. This occurred in 1877, and
since that time the State has prospered markedly in all material
respects. ([[Author:Henry Gannett|H. G.]])}}
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{|align="center" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
|align="left" valign="bottom"|''PLATE I.''
|align="center"|{{fsx|120%|LOUISIANA}}
|align="right" valign="bottom"|''VOL. XV.''
|-
|colspan="3"|[[Image:EB9 Louisiana.jpg|600px]]
|-
|colspan="3" align="center"|ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA, NINTH EDITION
|}