New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-05
LETTER FROM IBERIA PARISH.

i
A Gloomy Picture-short Crops for the
Planter-Exiortionate Demands Of City
Merchants.
We publish the following letter at the
request Of the writer, and join with him in
the hope that some other planter may be
able to furnish brighter side of the pic
| ture:
! ST. GAHKlsL, isEKiA PAklsn. a., }
| November %, 1871. )
EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
I'VE are now in the midst of the rolling
season. Usually, this expression seems to
convey ideas of busy scenes and sensations
| OF thrift and happiness. But now, how
destitute Of these sentiments; how fatty to
the ear it sounds A rolling season which
Will barely cover expenses for the most for
tunate, and which will bring distress and
ruin to many at an early day. All, indeed .
did that dream of my good neighbOr mean
anything! That dream Of nightmares fed
on mortgage paper, groomed by the mer-
chant and driven by the sheriff. l ween. it
forbodes much.
The crop of this year has had every con-
celvable contingency adverse to its success
The cold, wet weather Of last winter dete-
riorated both the stubble and the seed cane:
the deluging rains of spring chilled and
sickened the young plants; the early cool
days checked the growth generally; the fall
rains, late and little cold, and no frosts.
prevented ripening; heavy winds Frustrated
entire districts, or rather the whole sugar
region, while the tornadoes of last spring
iaid low many sugarhouses. And now the
frequent and abundant winter rains will
barely permit the harvesting of the sorry
crop.
Planters who put up seed last winter for
crop of four hundred hogsheads this year
Will consider themselves lucky if they
should get off with one hundred and fifty
! have seen planters waiting for the water
to get out of their cane rows to cut for tue
mill l have known cane to lay ter days on
the ground waiting for dry roads to be
hauled to the mill. ! hear of good man
ayers falling short of wood while hundreds
of co rds lay inaccessible in lis forest. And
what has the planter to offset all this His
sugar last year, which was fair and
prime" and commanded from eight to ten
cents, now rates as common" and finds a
slow market at five cents. Labor has made
Us annual rise. The merchant still exacts
his two and one-half per cent commission
and his one-half per cent brokerage, which.
according to the agricultural dictionary.
means extortion. The levees are down
everyw here from an unprecedented amount
% caylng, the levee tax has been collected
the levee board has fzzled and the State
hope OF leveN building assistance from the
general government. and not able to help |
ourselves, certain inundation threatens the !
entire eount1
Even should we escape overflow. the |
prospects for crop will be slim indeed. |
The stubble. under water the entire season. |
Will be of little or no avail for the next |
'rop. And about as much can be said for
he cane put up for seed.
With this, there will be all Of the corn to
'e bought. increased wages to contend
With. additional taxation no dininution in |
AOAC III tIldT9tS, none
n assurances, none in prices of provisions
lone. nothing For no one has ever any
consideration for the agriculturist all prev
.pon him. all live upon him. Like ray,a-
lous birds from their comfortable emf
fences. the merchant. the lawyer. the doc
or, the oiiiceholder and the parson watch
I'm during his toilsome ltbors. and the mo.
lent he has grubbed a worm from the earth
hey swoop down and take it from him
From the present standpoint of prospec-
i've vision. can see no hope for Il profit
bic crop for two wears to come. The best
hat can be hoped for for the coming crop
! that it will pat Us IN seed for the next
re.
This picture. Nj Editor. is not over
rawn. | do not write this because am
lue; but | am blue because know these
lings. If amonG your readers there be any
a.iecting planter who can show a bright
de TO this. let him 90 So Nv heart is sick,
nj will gladly listen 20 words of cheer.
4 PLANTER