Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1858-07-31

In our last issue, we gave a detailed state
ment Of the. afairs of our Railroads. report
which we think will favorably compare with
the rcceiptstand expenditures of any Road III
the United States. We propose, now show
ing in what manner we will continue the
Road, and its probable cost to the Atcha(a-
laya, say a distance OF twenty miles from the
Crosse Tete terminus.
When it was determined unon by the stock
holders of the Crosse Tete Plank Road to
change the same to an Iron Road, a propo-
sition was made by one Of the Directors to
purchase a number Of negroes, instead OF
giving it on: to contractors, underth Old sys-
tenn. The proposition was combatted with
much energy, as being too visionary or Chi
merical for that body to entertain-the con-
tract system relieved them OF all trouble-the
negroes would be subject to all the ills that
flesh is heir to, and they might be carried off
at any moment by an epidemic, or they might
run away, and many other objections Of a
similar nature. But the advocates of negro
labor carried the day, by a small majority
only, and th!rty-tive We're Immediately pu:-
chased and put to work. Hardly had they
entered upon their duties before the most vio-
lent opponents OF the measure acknowledged
that they we're far superior and more salts
factory thar, the white labor usually en-
ployed on such works. These thirty-hve
hands completed the Road in eighteen months
and besides erecting all the sheds, me-
gro cabins, etc. Two died during the time
one from sun stroke and the. other.'o of dropsy
ofthe heart. The others have advanced enough
in value to fully compensate for the loss of
the two.
Under the supervision Of white overseers
having an interest in the Road-work
progresses much faster, and at the same time
more attention is paid to durability and econo-
my. The negroes work from dawn to dark
daily, SUNDAYS of course e%xcepted;) without
intermission. unless in cases of sickness, the
year throughout, and thus the labor can 10
relied upon. But with the contract system
the case is entirely different. White men
will only work when they feel like it, and
nine times out of ten, the contractor is en-
tirely at their mercy, Tedious and vexatious
delays often occur from their whiu1sicalities.
and at times too when the utmost haste is re-
CURED. ALI are aware how annoying these
things are, to both contractor and Com
pany, and when men have to be coaxed and
wheedled into working, the contractor grows
indifferent and careless, and so long as it Is
patched up to bear inspection and receive the
pay, he of course has nothing else to care for.
This has been too often the case, as som
Railroad Companies have found out to their
sorrow. There are many other points to
show the preference Of slave labor, in Rail-
road building, but we have advanced enough
for our purpose. Slave labor built the Crosse
Tete Road, and if We are successful in pro-
curing subscriptions to extend it to the At
chafalaya, slave labor will be employed
throus bout.
As Mr.. FoRD has not completed his survey,
and we cannot hear from him for some days
yet, we cannot give the exact point where it
will touch the Atchafalaya, but he is directed
to locate the terminus at about the mouth of
the Bayou Rouge. The distance is twenty
one miles from Crosse Tete, and We have
every assurance that the road can be built at
an expense considerably less, per mile, than
the cost of the first section from the Missis-
sippi to the Crosse Tete. The country be-
You'd presents less obstacles, it being nearly
all table land, with but very little grading.
and but two bridges Of any Importance to
construct ne crossing Bayou Crosse Tete
and the Other Bayou Marangouin, Some of
the richest lands in the State lie upon this
route, and while susceptible of the highest
and an easy access to a shipping
point, they are at an elevation .above over
from crevasses or other inundations.-
No Road can be located through any portion
Of our State that will command the same
amount of travel and freight, or that would
afford to so large an agricultural community
The facilities ofdaily access to the Mississip-
pi, and a daily market for the products of
'helr labor, and at cheap rates of transport
The bringing into market of the un-
lands along the Road, will greatly
enhance their value, which a hardy class of
settlers will soon bring it into cultivation,
adding daily to the business of the road, and
he property OF the country.
AS we stated in a previous article, the
company have sixteen negroes whose servi-
les are no longer required, although engaged in
brick for the river terminus, and
hey may be employed in building it and the
wharf, but when these works are finished
he Company can sell them. When the