Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-10-01
THE G PROSPECT.

the entire sugar growing SeCtlOn *OI our otd'c,
on business of a private character. He IN.
forms US that from his own observation and
the best information he could gain, we conld
not look for a crop reaching over 300, 900 hhds.
Indeed, said he, | would dislike to take bets
on its reaching those figures. Our parish. and
information derived from other parish papers,,
fully confirm our informant's statement. We
are not Of these, aud never Eavr been. who
every $, asoL attempt I" le,,y the real con-
dition of our crops, for the purpose Of endeav-
oring TO create an opinion that they will be
short VITA the intention of influencing the
market. This we know has been d,ne, and
doubtless may be done by manly who think
they are serving the planters interest by so
| :loing. 1t is a mistaken idea altogether. Let
the true statements always be given without
caring who suffer, and the result will be that
all will be benefited in the end. SpecuIa-
tors and others who deal in Louisiana sugars
are as well aware in New Orlean. Of the
condition of the crops throughout the State
as are the planters themselves-in fact t Is
their business to know it, and no pains or la
Dor are spared to put them in possession Of
the most reliable intelligence. The refore
for a country paper to give a false statement
| Of crops always places it in a position otques-
tionab|e honesty. and renders it liable to
the faint Of misrepresentation in any po-
sition it chooses to assume upon any sub
ject whatever. W. hope to see this ridicu-
!ous custom dispensed with altogether.
The extravagant calculations made some
weeks since IN regard to the crop OF $3.50
will fall 50 far short Of the mark that We
fear some will hardly attempt a prediction
again, unless batter informed upon the sub
jcct. In fact it is perfect folly for any one,
no matter how experienced, to attempt to
give figures for such an unreliable crop as
even then it is At best, but doubtful. This is
we'll hno~t, md yet it is persisted in with a
trnacity truly ridiculous. 1t must be appa-
rent to the merest tyro that such spec %ulations
are highly injurious to the sugar planter, i'll
domestic or foreign markets. When large
crops are predicted a tendency down" ard is
exhibited ut orce. and as there seems to be
but few reliable sources from whence to de-
rive accurate information, prices remain
down until it il too late for the sugar planter
tn profit by his short crop in getting prices
that he would assured!y get, were the truth
known. When IL crop falls Snort, the planter
should have full benefit OF the market, and
receive every cent he possibly can to make
|up tie dei!clen, Y in his crop. This he can
never do, if some newspaper writer's indulge
in imaginary figures which are as, substance
less as the h~aseIess fabric OF a vision. To
illustrate our point, it is well known that
very many Of our sugar planters are not IN
such circumstance as TO permit their holding
on to their crops unit! the true state of"aairA
is thoroughly known, but are compelled by
force OF circumstances 70 sell so soon as the
sugar can leave the puryery, to meet their
! obligations which must he met, or their
credit Is gonc.
This is ~wrong-very wrong. There is no
branch Of agriculture ia the United States SO
prccaripus as that Of cu|tivati"g sugar. 1t
| should be fostered aud protected: and every
advantage gwen to- those who place their
capital in that which ottener proves Z losing
business. than otherwise. Sugar cane is in
digiuous to tue soil. The greatest care must
be taken to make it a remunerative branch
of our products. Itadds largely to the wealth
OF our State and gives employment to a vast
number Of mechanical and other pursuits
The chancesare as about one in five of its
proving a lucrative business, yet our enter
ISL /: citizens are using their best enc 1,ies
10 make /: d positive result, and they should
be met halfway, and not Lc permitted 10 be
proved UPON by those who have heretofore,
and are now, making their thousands Of dol
lars o1t Of the hard won earnings of the toll
ing and patient planter
In these remarks we intrnd TO cast no re-
i~irctions upon any one, but on behalf OF that
class, whose title we bear at the head OF our
columns, we protest against the habit of ih-
du}ging in speculations upon the sugar PLAN
tiers crops. when such speculations are highly
injurious to the enterprising men who have
embaI ked their all in the cultivation of the
staple article Of orr State.
70 1t is amusing to witness the efforts
just now Of politicians, says the Memphis
Enquirer, to give themselves enough promi-
nece to get into the Charleston Convention.
Stephen A Douglas, who occupies the same
position, politically, as w. H. Sewa.d, has
warm supporters in the South: not that he is
a Free SoiIeE 1aer e. hut because be- ioias To