The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-06-30
A Letter from MIR. TreveIlick.

TO the Editor OF the WoRTIsGMAE's ADVOCATE.
promised to tell you how we are getting
along in this, the land Of oranges, sunshine,
and musquitoes-and Of the latter we have
no right to complain, for there is more Of
them this year than have seen in New Or
leans any previous year.
am sorry to say that the prospect Of q
crop looks rather bad. The Mississippi has
overhowed its banks or broken through the
levees in several places, doing very great
amount Of damage, and destroying at least
one third Of the crop. On Red River the
same thing has happend but at present the
water is falling, and some planters are again
planting corn and cotton. also see on the
Alabama and Tombigbce rivers, that more
than one-half Of the crop is also destroyed
by the overflow Of those rivers. And
although some branches Of trade have
plenty Of work at present, yet on the whole
trade is rather dull and the prospect looks
gloomy. Unless the general government
levees the river it will not be done, for the
people Of this section have not the money,
and the same state Of affairs exist oil along
the river for 1900 mics.
| If it is done by the general government,
there viii be enough rich land reclaimed to
make homesteads for four millions Of peo-
pie, and q gain to the nation of at least
three hundred millions per year.
Now, as to the Unions Of New Orleans,
they are not in that condition that you or |
/ Ia ~
that are doing well. The Shipcarpensers
and Caulkers' Unions, No. 20 and 81, are in
dead CO.. Iition, but work ia very slack.
They az Drking under the Eight Hour
System, Itch shows that they have the
power TO control their trade They have
been very successful since organized. TIE
Aoulders are getting along slowly, but be-
lieve. they will eventually have . good
Union. The Machinists and Blacksmiths
also have a Union, but not very strong
The Tinsmiths are doing well, and, with
perseverance,, will be . good Union. The
Carpenters and Joiners are not stroL.g
The Painters are aoing pretty well, az they
have plenty Of work ut present / asked
the Printers why they were not represented
in Convention, and they said that some
were Of the opinion that it was time enough
to be represented here when the members
from Louisiana were Acknowledged in Con.
gress. That, Mr.. Editor, il the fact that il
Keeping the Unions back from doing their
duty in this place toward their Unions, and
capital keeps il up amongst them the same
old thing as at the North. Politics ia at the
root of the evil, and is cursing every Me-
chanics' Union in tie land One Of the
draw backs met with here is that we had N
election for city officers and some Of the
candidates were defeated sni they cannoi
bear defeat; but there will be reaction,
and designing politicians win be found oui
and marked and uadl that Is done nechan-
les viii be tools in the hands Of capital, n
they ever have been North aud South
We have two cooperative businesses
here, and in the hands OF some mouiders
and machinists the building is complete and
in running order, with fair share of busi-
ness. The other, % Of Algiers, has
opened shipysrd and presume viii Get 1
fair share Of business.
Az 70 the Baltimore Convention I do not