New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-04
The Share system.
From the New iberia Sugar-Bo

From the New Iberia Sugar Bowl.
Present comparatively high prices for
cotton are tempting many to quit sugar and
recommence cotton cultivation, and we
occasionally hear of planters who will plant
both cotton and sugar. while they have
facilities for grinding as much cane as they
can make.
The reason given for this proposed change
is the demorallzed condition of laborers.
and the fact that hands can be had to work
on shares in the cultivation of cotton, which
pays better than to hire them to make
sugar.
The question here naturally arises, Then
why not make sugar on shares, also!" To
this sugar planters almost invariably OBJ
ject. saying that sugar culture is so different
from cotton culture, and it is so important
that all bitches be kept open, etc. that
negro laborers on shares cannot be relied
upon.
Heretofore we have believed, with the
sugar planters, that negro labor on the
share system would prove Improbable: but
upon inquiry among cotton planters. we
find they almost as universally approve and
adopt the system as the sugar planters dis
approve and reject it.
Throughout this section of the State we
have but few large cotton planters, and we
supposed the share system was adopted
more from lack of capital than anything
else. But it is now being generally re-
marked by merchants and others who have
opportunities OF knowing, that cotton
planters usually have more money To snepd
than the sugar planters, and this, in our
mind, goes to prove the benefits of the sys-
tenn they have adopted, rather than that
cotton is more remunerative crOp than
sugar. On the contrary. we regard it as a
very uncertain crop in this section. while
the cane is quite certain
we have reflected more on this subject re-
Gently on account of conversation with
Nlr. McCowen, our new parishioner who
purchased the Pecan Grove plantation. at
Fausse Pointe, and the Charles Olivier
plantation. a few miles below New Iberia.
Mi. McCowen was recently large cotton
planter near Natchez, Mississippi. In 1870
he and his partners. on three plantations
made 1000 bales of cotton, and the work was
entirely done on shares. In fact, negroes
Will work In no other way on Mississippi cot
ton plantations and the planters have found
1t SO much more profitable than hiring thew
would not have them work otherwise.
.Mr. McCOwen says he can see no reason
why the same system could not be adopted
ny Louisiana sugar planters with equal ad-
vantage. There the planter has as full and
complete control of his laborers as if he
hired them. If the work is not done to the
satisfaction of the planter or overseer, he
has authority to hire it done at the expense
| of the laborer
This matter should at least receive the
earnest consideration of all sugar planters
ana II those few who are abandoning sugar
culture to plant cotton would only try the
former crop as they now propose doing the
latter, on the share system, we believe they
would still find sugar culture profitable. #
properly managed
Our planters would all be pleased to read
an article from Mr.. MCGOWAN on this sub
Ject, and we hone he will write us a de-
tailed description of the method adopted in
Mississippi, the terms of contracts, etc. and
anything else to throw light on this per.
picking labor question.