New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-21
The Tenant Sysfem-lts PrncticaI w ork'
New Iberia Sugar-BOwl.

From the New Iberia Sugar Bowl.
Another instance of the advantages of
the tenant system over the usual mode Of
hiring hands on sugar plantations has re-
Gently come to our knowledge.
Mr.. w. +. Hudson, the owner of Lodi
plantation, Immediately in the rear OF Jeane-
rette, this parish, last year had his place
cultivated on the tenant system. by three
famiies--two white and one black-and the
result has been most satisfactory to all
parties
Hilaire Hebert, with his two sons. aged
about eighteen aud twenty respectively,
cultivated twenty-oEe arpents of cane,
eighteen of which were ground, yielding
thirty-one hogsheads of sugar, which
brought S2iSl. after all expenses were
paid one-halt of which went to the work
men. Besides this they made about $50
barrels of corn, three-fourths of which they
were allowed to retain, together with
sugar and molasses enough for the family
for the coming year. This family COM
menccd without anything-seed, team. pro-
visions, etc, were all advanced by Mr..
Hudson, and their portion of the crop not
only paid all this but lett them some money
beside. While. one wear ago, they had alb
solutely nothing, they now own their
one arpents of first year S stubble, and seed
cane enough to plant twelve or fifteen
arpents more. This years crop. under or
binary circumstances, will be much larger
than last and their half VIII then be all
profit. since they have already paid for
their teams and stock. The amount adj
vanced them. last year. by Mr.. Hudson
was SlI50.
Joseph lIebert. the head of the second
family. with two boys. made twelve hogs
heads Of sugar and nineteen barrels Of mo-
tasses which brought $500 after all eX-
penses were paid. onehalf of which belongs
to the family. They also made a good
quantity of corn. and retained their years
supply Of sugar and molasses.
George Washington. colored, aided by
one boy, from six arpents OF plant cane and
two of very poor stubble. made fourteen
hogsEeads OF sugar and twenty six. barrels
of mOlaSses. which realized Sll30, all eX-
penses paid. This industrious negro man
thus made S515 clear, besides seventy-tive
barrels Of corn, and twenty-five for Mr..
Hudson, and a barrel each of sugar and mo-
lasses for his provisions.
Thus it will be seen that three small fam
lies made crop which realized sii52 after
all expenses were paid: and Mr.. Hudson,
without the annoyances always attending
planters who hire their labOrers, has made
over $1,000 profit on small place-more
than the majority of large planters realized
during the past year-besides 10 or 29U
barrels Of corn.
If tbs was the first instance Of the sac
cesstul working of the tenant system, it
might be said that this was an exceptional
case-that it would not do for the majority
of laborers to be employed thus: but We
know of many more such cases. Doubtless
there are many worthless laborers, who
could not be stimulated to proper industry.
even by such unusual advantages: but we
desire to see the system encouraged, be-
cause it will do more to promote immi gra-
ton and secure the location among us of
Intelligent and Industrious white people
than anything else.
Why should fthe poor men of other por-
tions of the United States continue to toll.
wear after year, for a bare subsistence for
themselves and families when there are
such opportunities ia louisiana! Our plant
ers all find that they are paying the highest
wages for the most inferior class OF laho-erS
in the world and hence thousands of indus
trious white families will be welcomed and
eagerly employed on the tenant system, or
hired, as the immigrants may desire.
1t is a noteworthy fact that white laborers
are much better adapted to sugar culture
than TO any other crop grown i'll Louisiana.
The cane is well grown and laid by be-
fore the hot months set in, after which the
laborers work in the shade, getting out
wood to boil the crop.
Our most successful planters have found
that to interest tHe llhorers IL the crop is
the surest way TO -lc eed: and when the
tenant system is generally adopted the
thousands of acres OF land now lying idle
will be brought under cultivation. anC
prosperity again become general.