New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-04
FEE FREEDMEE WILL WORK.

refute the statement that the freedmen of
the South do not and will not work by
illustrations and arguments drawn from
the cotton culture of the last twenty years.
Our remarks on this interesting subject
have been extensively copied bp the press
of the country, and have ELECTED the atten-
ton and appreciation of all candid readers
The question Of what the freedmen have
| done, and what they will do, in the Gull
ture of sugar is more complicated but It's
FUR discussion will lead to the same result
The crop is one of special Importance to
I,ouisiana. 1t is the surest we have, and
though it requires great care and consider
able investment of capital, it is in the long
run the most profitable of our products,
Before the war the crop reached in some
wears an annual production of four humid
red thousand hoesheads. But to consider
fairly what has been its history since the
war we must take into account the method
of cultivation, the situation of the sugar
district, and the necessary effect Of the war
upon the sugar estates.
It is hardly necessary to say that cane in
Louisiana must be planted on the layer
system. The stalks are put down in the
burrows and covered with earth, and the
new plants spring from the joints Of the
seed cane. In the succeeding fall the crop
may be cut. and then either ground for
sugar or saved for seed; but it can not all
be used for both purposes. The stubble
that is left will produce crop for second
and third year, then it must be plowed up
and replanted. II q planter has but little
cane on his place and desires to increase it
largely it follows, as matter of course,
that he can make but little, if any, sugar.
Il is also clear that if the plantation is
neglected for two or three years the crop
will run out completely and he will be
obliged at large expense, to procure seed
cane from some other estate; and that this
expense sill increase according to the
demand; and the demand will increase &C
cording to the number of sugar estates
which have been thus neglected and which
their owners desire to replant.
Now the sugar district Of Louisiana was
at the beginning of the war confined within
the limits OF the region lying between th
mouth Of Bed river and the gulf; and
it was precisely within these limits that the
ravages of the war were most complete.
The rivers and bayous were the scene Of
constant conflict between gunboats and
guerrillas. The plantations were trOdden
down by advancing and retreating armies.
SuRarhouses were used as tortresses and
battered down by artillery. Fences were
burned for fuel. Mules were taken for
military use, or stolen by bandits. Levees
were cut or allowed to erumble, and i'm
mense districts which had been productive
Of sugar were oTerhowed, and even in the
few parishes where there was no continued
war, so timid was capital that sugar was
nearly abandoned, the cane in many in
stances plowed up, and the simpler crops
substituted. The inflated price Of cotton
fastened this last result.
The war closed, then, with the sugar in
terest Of Louisiana completely ruined; and
the struggle since, in which the freedmen
have borne noble part, has been TO re
store it. The crop of 1866 was but 49,
600 hOgsheads. The crop of 1867 was
about 40, 600 hogsheads, and it would have
been 100000 if the cane had all been
ground; but such was the imperative
necessity Of saving il for seed, and thus
increasing the breadth of planted land,
that not one-half the amount raised was
converted into sugar. It was hoped that
the production of 1867-S would be $4,000
hogsheads, and SO it would have been but
for climatic Influences which lessened the
proportion of saccharine matter in the
juice. The planters, finding that given
amount of juice was yielding less than one
half the usual quantity Of sugar, wisely
stopped grinding, and saved the unground
cane for seed. They are now planting this
extra, seed and next season. if ordinarily
favorable, win see an immense increase of
: ...;:: valuable product
Thus far the work of recuperation has
gone on with wonderful Vigor, and while
the earnest and honest among the planters |
have done their share, the freedmen have |
done theirs. The blowing, the planting, |
the hoeing, the cutting, the rolling, the !
boiling, have been dsne 50 far as manual |
labor goes by the tugging muscles Of
these industrious labOrers, and they deserve
their share Of thanks and Of respect. There
is not a recorded instance where stalk of |
cane or pound Of sugar has been lost by
their neglect to labor; and 50 far as the |
sugar crop is concerned the oft-repeated |
statement that they viii not work is con
temptibe SANDER. Let few more seasons
Of spch work elapse, and the old glories Of
the sugar cultnre will be esiipsed
Cheap Freight RaiIsVays.
We have received call for a cheap
=