The Opelousas courier., 1871-02-11
a Supply Of Gaborers.

German Society, at No. 10 St. Pete
street. New Orleans, was now able II
furnish planters with any desired mum
Der OF laborers. AS this is matter o
OF general Interest and great importanc.
:, to the State, We again Introduce the sub
y ject.
= ih,s society is composed of q number
OF influential Germans, citizens of New
s orleans, who, seeing that their country.
| men only landed in New Orleans to take
the first boats for the West, determined
oy an organized effort, to do all in theil
power to induce these hardy immigrants
, TO locate IN Louisiana. By Subscription
they raised large sum of money. and
made 1t point to look to the welfare OF
al German immigrants who landed in
New Orleans, securing employment for
the strong and hearty, and protecting
and Gazing for the helpless or sick. All
this was done, and has been continued
during the past few years, ut their own
expense, and without any charge what
ever, either to the immigrants or the
planters, or others who employ them,
! While in the city, recently, we saw
II large number of these hardy people,
awaiting employment, in the Office of
the society. and were struck by their
intelligent appearance. Upon inquiry,
@e learned that many of those who are
constantly arriving, and seeking en-
plos ment upon plantations, have been
weli educated at home, and are capable
Of filling almost any position in life.
| While wiling aid anxious to york, they
are not accustomed to heing tfeated like
negroes, and hence they have left some
; plantations where employed.S In fact.
here lies the only obstacle in be way Of
securing full supply of laborers. Our
planters must think more of the comfort
OF their worSmen-especiailv if they ex-
! pect to be successful with white lahorers.
Men who are badly fed and miserably
sheltered, are not as likely to work for
the interest Of their employers, as are
those who see that the planter ia con-
stantly mindful of their comfort.
10 illustrate Low important is this
| matter OF attention to the comfort of
1iaorers, we will mention that it has
been remarked to us by number of
Northern gentlemen who, upon open
| ing their plantations here, at first tried
white iaborers, and afterward colored,
and they say that they have no fault to
tinA with the negroes, as they make ex-
ceiient lahn"ers when well treated. There
should be the best feeling between the
planter and his workmen, instead of ami
mostly, as is too often the case, aud we
hope the day is not distant when plan
ters will fully understand these things,
aud learn that money invested in making
comfortable quarters for their workmen
is well spent. -.
Now, especially, since both sugar and
cotton are selling so low, planters will
savfthat they cannot afford to pay PRES
ent wages and add to their expenses by
making theinprovements which we sug-
gest. This would appearto be reason
able deduction !: but we believe there is
no good reason why we cannot afford to
pay as good wages ia Louisiana as do the
farmers of the North and West. where an
acre OF ground does not yield one fourth
as much revenue as here. The secret
lies in the fact that Northern planters
and their sons are all producers them
selves, actually working % hard ae
tlleir hired asen, instead of seeking to
live altogether upon the labor of the i
latter. The Almighty ordained that we
should learn our bread by the sweat of
our brow" and when an, impoverished
people seek to do otherwise, it is not
strange that they should find that they T
are not paying expenses, i
Howevet, NO are digressipg. Our !
subject is the supply OF. labor in Louisi-
ana, and ne should reserve other re.
marks for future articles. The Germans
are coming to Louisiana in great mum
bers many even retnrning here from
the West, since they hear such favorable
accounts OF our rich State; the Norwe-
gains, Danes and Swedes are coming, an
agency having been established in New
ORLEANS to promote the immigration of
the scandinavians and if our planters
only exercise Judgment and patience
with this new class of labofers, they will
soon find that there will be no more
difficulty ink1etting good. reliable Ia
herers. +
Because tAese new workmen oil seek
homes and lands of their own, and in a.
short time wIil work for no enc but
thenselves, should be no objection to
their employment. The very fact that
. poor man eaa purchase land and soon
have q home Of his own, after having
commenced as field hand, will be the
means Of seeuriDg to us p growing emf
grafton and IN increasing supply of Ia
0OESHa AIN n kaES III th6 more Irugal
bny. lands, and commence to work on
their own farms, new immigrants will
be glad 70 take their places, thus giving
40 all the labor necessary to till our
thousands Of sacres Of idles4ands, and
bring % all tho advantages of an old aud
thickfy peopled country-schoolse every
where, churches for all, and happiness
and wealth within the reach Of the most (
humble. Iaaisiana Sugar Bosl. !
insure Tnodesty would advise the
sdncating Of the sexes together; for two
boys viii preserve twelve girls, or two
girls TN elve l,oys s-innaceut amid winks,
lakea, aud imprdrrieties. merely by that
instinctive senas which 10 the forerunner
Dfnaturel mDdestT 6nST will guarantee ]
Aafhing Id a acfool Mhere girls are alone I
togsth md stin leas where boys are. -