Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-07-27
TIE SOUTH WEST.

Baron RouGE stands on the first high ground
on the Mississippi above New Orleans, being
one hundred and thirty miles above that place.
! The Louisiana State Prison is located here, as
also extensive U. S. Barracks, which at pre-
sent contains two companies u. s. troops.
The State Prison contains lS9 convicts, who
| are employed in various mechanical occupa-
tions, the most profitable of which is the pro-
duction of coarse cotton and woollen goods suit.
able for negro clothing, made by machinery
brought out from the north with Steam engine
to drive it, &c. The manufacture of this de-
| scripton OF goods, which finds a ready sale for
cash, for all that can be made, will yield in Lou
lsiana from 40 to 30 per cent. clear profit
even when worked by slave labor. 1t may be
considered more profitable than any other busi.
ness in the state. The wonder is that it has
not been heretofore more extensively engaged
in.
SUGAR ESTATES. Owing 10 the protective
duty on sugar, and its consequent advance in
price, and the fall in the value of cotton, great
many large plantations heretofore planted in
cotton have been changed into sugar estates
know OF three in this neighborhood that have
been thus changed two Of which | visited yes
! terday. One, the estate of the Messrs. P--s
east two miles of this village, formerly made
about 200 bales of cotton this year it will pro-
badly make from 80 to $50 hogshead of sugar
DR.. p, a friend of mine, owns splendid estate
directly opposite this village, on the right bank
of the Mississippi River, for which some FIVE or
six years since, he paid Sl20,0O0 dollars On
this estate he made about 800 bales of cotton
This year he has most splendid crop of sugar
cane growing on it, He will probably produce
this year 450 hogshead OF sugar, besides moas
ses. There is another estate a few miles be-
low, on the left bank of the river, which made
about 100 bales of cotton. This year it is all
in sugar cane.
Some estates will yield six hogsheads Of su.
gar to the hand. In favorable years the ave-
rage may be set down at five hogsheads. One
hand can cultivate from ) to 6 acres in cane,
and at tue same time raise sufficient corn TO
support him in bread. Sugar at 81 to cents
is equal to cotton at 10 and IL cts. per h.
1t requires two years to change n cotton
plantation into a sugar estate. The first year
all they can do is TO raise sufficient ratoons seed
cane with which to plant the crop the second
year. The machinery including sugar house,
steam engine for grinding the cane, and ket-
ties for boiling, cost according to the extent OF
the crop to be gathered, from to $1,000
t There is often injury done TO the cane by
{ frost, between the 10Th of October and the Goth
, of November. This is now measuraby obviat
? ed by the planters, by the system of twin row.
ing,"as it is called. When they discover tha,
r frost is likely TO intervene, they immed ately
, cut down the cane, piling it on the drills were
they cut il, and cover over the stalks with the
, leaves and tops of the cane, which prevents the
: stalks from freezing, which never fails to soul
I the juice and render it unfit for conversion in
to sugar. In fine, cold weather, the cane will
keep long time under cover and can be grount
up as desired.
SCENERY OF THE MIssIssIrpI-I have ira
yelled over various parts of the world, but no
, such beautiful residences, and such hghl,
improved and cultivated country, as that bord
derng the Mississippi, from Point Coupe dOwr
to New Orleans, distance of about 100 miles
The private dwellings in most instances, are
: beautifully and taseiully arranged, being en-
e powered amlds, beautiful shade trees, and sur
y rounded by the richest and most enchanting
a towering shrubbery These shores seem to b,
, the very home OF the mocking bird and other
2 ofrich and beautiful pumage; while the suga
fields stretch out like vast carpets of the riches
e green. Even the negro dwellings are general
d ly neat looking cottages, set up from the ground
Il built of good framed timber, well weatherboard
J. ed and shngled. They are painted white, sc
n in rows, with shade trees in front, and altogc
ther have a neat effect. Each double coltag
has good brick chimney IN the centre, an
, each house contains one family. When Tia
fine family mansion, the large pile OF whit
;, painted brick sugar houses, and rows of whit
cottages for the residences OF the negroes, az
viewed from the river each estate presents tn
l. appearance of pretty village, free from III
; outskirt rubbish and old houses which usual
"A surround ordinary villages. The capital inves
70 ed in these sugar estates is immense, and wi
r. probably be increased
le The MocKING BlRD.-This is the layir
of season with the knocking bird. The trees al
II. IL, a ,T