New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-11-12
HEED LABOR ON SOUTHERN
PLANTATsONS.
Report by Adjf..(;eR. Thomas OF His 90.
scrvations-eirest Success Of the Exper.


Special Dispatch to The Y. T. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Nov. II, lso3.
The following report has been received from
Adjt Gen. Thomas:
NArCgEZ Miss, Oct. Is ls63.
SIR. 1 recently passed a few days at Goodrichs
Landing, Louisiana 80 miles above vicksburg, Of
ny purposes being to ascertain the condition of the
head panatorsto what extent the cultivation Of cot
ton had been carried, and especially to know whether
the cultivation Of plantations could not be carried
wei, by hired freemcn as by slaves Tho gathering Of
cotton in full operation and it may be 100 soon
"a report fully the result, But the facts in my posses
zion are sufficient for Judgment the experiment 40
previously reported The lad advanced fully two
months from the time cotton should have been planted.
which was unavoidable. though the system
put into operation soon after my
coming % this country "a YVES possible.
The cssees therefore. abofed under great disadyan-
tages In this respect for OF them had first 10
the urrow 10 plant the seed then plant their corn re-
lying subsequent time to break up the ground be-
the burrows of cotton and externinae the weeds
The necessity Of Withdrawing the troops from Louisiana
to augment the forces operating against Ncksburg kept
the line % plantations 90 in all without adequate
protection when the Rebels made tie attack Milf
ken's Bend. whore they signally defeaied and
made raids the plantations, scattering and driving
OF the negroes and stock This occurred n. the .imo
when II important 10 cultivate the crops. Some
tine elapsed before the hands could be collected
and be- induced 10 recommence work. The
consequence was fully one half Of the crops not
worked Al ALL and In other cases whore some work
was done the weeds and plants had TO grow up
together the i'll weed oycriopping the cotton plant
The army attacked all the late cotton, destroying
from fourth 20 third Of the crop. sin. under all
these Disadvantage not one Of the essecs will lose
money but al derive profit l know that they arc
satisfied with the experiments all desire tie release for
another year Tie negro lossecs, of whom there arc
some H. will make from four or five bales up 10, in
case l5o and il is fact that the cotton they havo
raised for themselves, owing better cultivation is Of
higher grade than that Of the white lcssees Some II
the negroes have cultivated by themselves and families,
while Others have employed their fellow freedmen. Tho
freedmen have al worked for wages according to a
scale fixed upon by the Board Of COMMISSIONER and at
q higher rate understand than was adopted in the
Department, Of the Gulf They have been well and
moro abundanily led than they were when held in
slavery Schools have been established upon the PLAN
aiols and tie lcssecs have fit duty BY every proper
mems % elevate this unfortunate race IS general
rue. tiey greatly prefer working with Northern men.
Southerrors even their former owners, and hazard
nothing in saying that the net proceeds on crop by
Nor,herner who has paid his hands wages will exceed
TINT Of Southcrner who has cultivated ly slaves tho
number OF acres being the in both cases. Those
employed have thus been Of expense 20 the Govern
mcut bat have supported themselves and families They
perfectly coniented and look forward with hope f
elevation OF character The experiments, adopted
hastily and from necessity with many msgyings now
regard complete The number fhaes Of cotton
raised these plantations viii not much If any, fll
short of 600 bales, giving to the Government some
Sl5OOO0 Of revenue. The lcssoes VIII also pay TO tho
Quartcrmaster's Department for mules, utensils, &c.
furnished found the places. some $4,000. Tho
charg. lieu of is 81 bale making SIG 600 Tho
Government share on some few plantations abandoned
by the essecs may sell for Sl5O0OO desre this money!
or as much as may BE- necessary, set aside as fund
necessary pay the expenses of this year. and Of tho
year commencing January |. 1904
IL is a significant fact that while transports on tho
river have been frequently fired into blythe Rebels not
single shot has been fired from that line of the river
covered by leased plantations, extending for IS miles
above Ncksbng, which shows the importance to CON-
merce Of lining the river with a loyal population.
have Sir the honor to be. very respectfully. your
oh,dient servant l.. THOMAS, Adlt. Gen.
Hon. t.. NJ. STANTON, Sec of War
LIQUOR PALCEs IN JERSEY CITY.-Ihe Police