and other inland waters cover an area of about 3,000 square miles. Lake Ponchartrain is surrounded by land, except at its outlets, but its waters are salt and rise and fall with the tides.
Climate. Louisiana is semitropical, there being but three months of frost, which begins sometimes in November, sometimes in December. The summer's heat is tempered by the gulf-breeze, and the rainfall is about 50 inches in the north and 60 in the south. This warmth and moisture promote the most luxuriant growth of flowers and semitropical fruits.
Forests. In the swamps are vast forests of red and white cypress; in other sections immense areas of long- and short-leaf pine, besides ash, oak, beech, walnut and cotton-wood.
Minerals. Some iron and low-grade coal are found, but the important minerals are rock-salt and sulphur. Petroleum is also found, and the oil-fields give promise of rivaling those of Texas.
Agriculture. The soil is very fertile, especially the delta lands, the principal productions being sugar, cotton and rice. Three fourths of all the sugar cane produced in the United States is grown in Louisiana. The cotton yield in 1906 was 979,270 bales. The rice and sugar productions also were large yields.
Manufactures. The chief industries are the manufacture of sugar and molasses, lumber and timber products, cottonseed-oil and cake, named in the order of their importance. Oyster-beds along the coast employ many people, and tobacco, machine shop and foundry products are among the industries.
Education. The state maintains public schools for white and colored children; graded schools are established in all cities and towns; and a State Normal is located at Natchitoches. Higher education in Louisiana is represented by the State University, with the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Baton Rouge. At New Orleans are Tulane University with a faculty of 152 members and 1,880 students, Leland University, having a faculty of 53 and a student body numbering 1,971, New Orleans University with its faculty of 38 and 928 students, Straight University and the College of the Immaculate Conception. The Southern University for colored students is also in New Orleans; there are an Industrial Institute at Ruston and the Southern Industrial Institute at Lafayette; also institutions at Convent, Keatchie and Jackson.
History. Louisiana is a part of the territory purchased from France in 1803, it having been claimed for France in 1682 by La Salle. It became a state in 1812. It was at New Orleans, now the chief city, that General Jackson won so signal a
victory over the British forces, Jan. 8, 1815. Baton Rouge is the capital (population 11,743). During the Civil War Louisiana became a member of the Confederacy, and more than a hundred battles and minor engagements were fought upon her soil duiring the struggle. New Orleans was captured by the Federal navy, April 24, 1862; and when Vicksburg and Port Hudson fell in 1863, the Mississippi was opened throughout its course and the Confederacy was literally cut in two. Population 1,656,388. The state has 3,221 miles of railway.
Louisiana Purchase, The, was the most important addition to the territory of the original thirteen states. Its northern boundary is indefinite, but practically reaches the boundary between British America (Canada) and the United States. Thus it took in the whole of the United States west of the Mississippi, except Texas, California and what the United States won from Mexico by treaty and purchase. For this country, bought from France in 1803, the United States paid $11,250,000 and assumed the French spoliation claims, which, however, were never paid.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. To commemorate the centenary (1803) of the purchase from France of the Territory of Louisiana, an international exposition was held at St. Louis, Mo., from May 1, 1904, to Dec. 1. The project of historically marking the acquisition of the vast region was locally discussed and agreed upon as early as May, 1901, when state as well as national authority and financial aid were secured for the scheme, a site (within the limits of St. Louis, including 1,300 acres in Forest Park) was chosen, and buildings were erected. Much interest was taken in the exposition and its varied attractions, which included exhibits beautifully housed in an extensive series of appropriate buildings, many of them having symbolic as well as historical significance. Further interest was taken in the enterprise as the result of the large number of prizes awarded, consisting of gold, silver and bronze medals, diplomas and the like. The total of admissions was close upon 20 million; disbursements exceeded $31,500,000, an amount slightly in excess of the total receipts, including the sums received for concessions and other privileges. In September interest was added by a Congress of Arts and Sciences, at which papers were read or presented on appropriate topics.
Lou′isville, the largest city of Kentucky and capital of Jefferson County, is on the Ohio, 150 miles below Cincinnati. It was founded in 1778, and named after Louis XVI of France. The falls of the Ohio furnish an important developed water-power, and render necessary a canal for the passage of boats a part of the year. The city has increased greatly in prosperity and
