The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1867-12-28

We have lately heard the charge mao
against the Opelousas Railroad Compan
that the price of freights on some few art
: cles have been raised within the last fe
months. We thought the charge erroneous
from the fact that both the mail boat an
railroad companies stand pledged. sine
they united, that the charge for freights b
that road should be no higher than by tn
Atchafalaya route; and, in fact, not so Hig
as they have: often charged by that route
While in New Orleans lately we examine
this matter thoroughly. at the office of tn
mail boat company; and also at that of tn
railroad company:
We examined old bills of freights mad
/ out by the steamers Lady Grace, Thompson
J. D. Hinde, Sonora, Cuba, Lizzie Tate an
Ruby. These boats ran between New
Orleans and Attakapas. by way of tn
Atchafalaya. since the war. We copied tn
prices in the receipts given by the boat,
and could give them here but they would
occupy too much space.
After the war boats charged ten dollar
per hogshead for freight on sugar vi,
Atchafalaya to New Orleans, and six dollar.
bale for moss, and other frcights accord
ingly. Their charges have been five dol
lars via the railroad, and two dollars anG
fifty cents for molasses, aud two dollars 70,
moss. They now charge four dollars and
fifty cents on sugar anA two dollars or
mouases. We publish tbs week, the regu.
lar rates by the nail liz and the railroad
ana all can cxam;i., for ei.emsc!ycs, Some
- tha "a A..<s lag. -1,nu.a. f;,vx sin IL.
reduced lower. Sugar and molasses are now
taken half dollar cheaper. No boat can
be handsomely supported at these rates bv
the Atchafalaya route.
Insurance BY the Atchafalaya il one and
ons.quartsr per oent.; BY the railroad route
It 10 thres-fourths. A bogshead Of sugar
worth ono hundred dollars would cost lust
Fifty cents moro insurance via the Atchafa- |
aya than via the mail limo and railroad. Il
costs the planter that difference. So II.
real cost of sending hogshead Of sugar 20
New Orleans, worth. and insuredat one haa-
lred dollars, would stand thus:
Freight via railroad four dollars and fifty
cents. insurance seventy-ive cents. total !
Eve dollars and twenty-five cents. Frcis ht i
via Atchafalaya four dollars and fifty cents,
one dollar; and twenty-five cents,
total five dollars and seventy five cents.
And the difference in all other freights il in
The same proportion. Il
By the Atchafalaya route boats run or
draw out of the trade whenever they find it
to their Interest to do SO, regardless Of the
wants or interests of the people. The mail
line Of boats and railroad are always reliable,
aud tho boats Snd cars are always at tho
service of the public, even in epidemics.
slieH. they lose money by it: This limo
would have saved indhy thousand dollars If
hey had not moved a car or boat III the
months Of August. September ahd OctoUcr.
We are satisfied that the justice of the
complaints against the railroad and the mail
inc cannot be sustained. The mail com.
,any have had to borrow money to pay tho
expenses Of the boats during the late cpl
lemic. Transient boats would have stopped
unning under the circumstances.
We hope those who raise complaints
gainst these boats and the railroad will in
estigEts the subject and make up tkeir|
ninds from facts instead Of supposstions. (
Many Of our planters are hesitating in
egard to the wages they will pay another
ear for the best field hands: They ARE
II willing to pay fair wages, but this years j
rop has set them to thinking whether they
an possibly pay the wages of last year and
rake anything. And if some disaster should
ONE upon the crop of 1868, can the planters 6
ave themselves from bankruptcy if they :
ay fifteen dollars month and rations.
The more fortunate of the planters who
re out of debt seem disposed to risk fifteen a
ollars month another year. One more q
cor Of disasters to the sugar planters who
re in debt and "Othello's occupations
one."
The planters of st. Bernard parish havo q
eld convention and resolved to pay first
lass hands no higher than twelve dollars
'onth with rations and eighteen dollars
ithout rations; and second aud third rate
ands in proportion. In the cotton regions i
ON eight to ten dollars is tho highest price
aid for the best hands. II
The JAMAn1. RESURRECTION or 1865.
the outbreak at Morant Bay, Jamaica, in
Q year 1865. VIC have proofs of the superi.
ity Of tho sA.to race when they come in
intact vita tho African race. 7.