The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-07-21
THE FREEDMAN.
The Problem Of Labor at the South
Negro Labor--The Government Ele-
phant.

We copy from the Mobile NetUs, the follow
| ing exposition of the proposed regulations of
the Freedmen's Bureau, on the subject of ne
gro labor in the state of Alabama. 1t is worthy
of perusal or reflection.
! The Freedmen's Bureau have already made
known their desire to assist in the work of re-
organizing labor. and to that effect have pub
| lished regulations which, with the sanction Of
the military authorities, have acquired the force
| of law.
The regulations are simple, very simple in
deed, and may be summed up in few words !:
A home, wholesome food, comfortable clothing,
medical attendance, and one hundred and TWEEN
| ty dollars year.
In addition, the use of one acre Of land aud
the use of the stock and agricultural implements
necessary for It's cultivation.
In exchange, the laborer owes two hundred
and eighty-seven days labor at an average Of
nine and half hours day, or 2592 hours
year.
What wholesome food and comfortable cloth
ing are, is not stated, and may, we suppose,
create some little difficulties, bat we will take
it for granted that it is. tie same food, and the
same clothing they were used to, whilst in bond
age and to give fnl play TO the advocates OF
the system we will admit that the conditions e.
numerated will not entail on the planter a heav-
ier expense than in former tlmes when the
lowest average of the purchased supplies was
not less than sixty dollars. This, added to one
hundred and twenty for wages, makes $3.50,
actual disbursement. 1t is not being too exact
ing to set down the rent of the acre Of land
and the wear and tear of the stock and imple-
ments at Sl2 year, increasing the actual ex
penditure to Sl62 for each field hand. Now,
for the sake of argument, we will suppose that
the laborer loses not an unnecessary day nor
an unnecessary hour Of that day, and we will
compare the result Of his steady work under
the present system with thaSunder the former
In state of bondage, the now retrenched
half Saturday (26 days in the year, was deyo-
ted to the farm work, thereby increasing the
number of actual working days to 315 instead
of 287, or little over nine per cent, which
would only reduce the produce in equal proper
In all countries, the sld Gahd hd"c6 c6mmsncgs tcs
his labor at break of day, leaves off at 8, re-
sumes at 9 till / 2 and then from p NJ. till
sundown, being fully Il hours during six months
and 10 during the balance Of the year, or a
full average of IL hours day, or 1886 hours
year, 1eaVlh9 d uliieIehc0 VI 0o- ho"i' "
work against the planter, equivalent to over p
per cent less work than previously, and there
fore % per cent. less in produce.
In Louisiana, on sugar plantations, four hogs
heads or 1000 pounds, and in Alabama three
bales of cotton or 500 pounds to the field
hand were considered very high average per
annum.
Although, If the theory of the advocates of
free labor at fixed rates be correct, there is no
reason to apprehend any reduction in our great
staple, but rather an increase, and that this in
crease, will reduce the price for the pur-
chaser, we are, however, willing 20 admit
that the average price of cotton will yield
so rer cent. more to the plannter than it did
before the war, increasing therefor from | 0 to
! nIdnces, by Madam Robinson. oounds.
DR.. STEVENS TROUPE OF >