Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-04


The value Of slave labor 10 the South-particu
larly upon TIE sugar plantations Of Louisiana--is
wsll illustzaAsd In recent article in the New Or
lsans Pioayuns. That journal gives some inter
estine statistics concerning the Parish Of St. Ma
rvs in louisiana, which show not only an extra
ordinary proaactiveasss Of soil, but perhaps lar
eer ns< rssarn from the labor Of slavcs than can
b found In any other portion Of the Southern
ccsahy. The Parish Of 81. Mary's is situated in
the swanp district Of Loaisiana, Immediately up
on ths Gulf Coast To enable our agricultural
frisnds 10 make ooupsrison Of the value Of slave
labor ia Loaisiana and Virginia, we subjoin the
interesting figures Of the Picayune:
TAs population Of 81. Mary, BY these assessment
rolls, consists Of 402l whites Of all ages and sex
=, and 1000 slaves We do not see the number
Of free negroes stated, but by the census, hye
wears ago, they numbered 585.
The slave property 10 assessed at SO. 433, $50
averaging $535 rs - the value Of each slave; and
about 81 900 \ head Of slave property for every
white man. woman and child in the parish.
The total assessed valuation Of all the taxable
property in the parish 10 lG9. or within
tribe Of q, 500 . head for every white nhabitant
The number Of plantations in the parish is III.
and the number Of acres cultivated and in swamp
lands is 279 SAT, Of which the assessed valuation
10 $5,9ls, 100.
It is iiihcult 10 state from this with accuracy
the average yaluc Of the cultivated land. which is
returned at $685. acres. The estimate in the
Register takes s. per acre as the valne OF tho
swamp lands, and dsducts from the aggregate the
estimated value of the town lots and buildings in
the towns at 100000. The average dednced from
all the circumstances is, that the cultivated land
in St. Mary 10 to be valued at $65 81 per acre
an estimate, which the writer himself is startled
with, but he can only amend it by estimating
some Of the uncultivated land At more than - an
acre. or in supposing. tho number Of cultivated
acres uuderstated. The figures will bear no 9TH
er alteration, and they show At all events an OK
traordinary state Of prosperity.
The products Of these III plantations for the
year ending with the crops Of 1887. are estimated
BY the prices furnished in New Orleans. viz Su-
gar 1t $56 net per hogshssd, molassss at O. net.
corn at 20 cents. and cotton at $40 per bale. al
The tesal value Of the products raised, viz: 3D.
9l5 hogsheads Of sugar. Al 800 barrels molasses.
4Ol, 500 bushels Of cDrn and smaller products. ia
nut down At $2,3l6,553 SO. The average pro-
duction 10 therefore 500 and . small fraction per
acre Of the cultivated lands. Taking the excess
Of 2,0l9 over TO- 900 the estimate of slaves en-
ployed other than in agriculture the production Of
every slave on the plantation, men, women and
children, exceeded 1921 q head. and il We take
only the working hands must DO yearly 800 II
head. The product for every white person. Of
every age and sex. averaged $57G head.
The plantations being ILL., the average Of each
plantation was $l3.547 %.
These are the gross ressipn. The following
arc the estimates made Of the net income. The
molasses on plantations il estimated rs paying
current expenses. and the other products, except
ing sugar, Is consumed IN the place. The sugar.
therefore, is net profit This amounted to $l,I35.-
325.
Each slave therefore, netted his master Sl75
year, or nearly 80 per cent on his assessed val
ue.
The summing up 10 as follows:
The Ill plantations have An average value each
of $72 1873, an average net income Of saO. 265.-
There are go voters in the parish. and it follows
that if it were equally divided among the white
population. each would receive IS, 407 80; il shar
Cd among the go voters. each would receive Sl4,-
4lO 4s; If shared among the whole population,
including whites negroes and Indians. there
would be for each 1899 SO.
The number Of slaves being 1909. there arc
three to each white in the parish, over twelve to
each voter, and over seventy to each plantation.