The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-09-05

From the New Orleans Times.l

ExperienceprOves thatcountries which
depend mainly on a single industry are
seldom prosperous. Theyd do w~ellenough
when that industry is in demand and
circumstances favor them, but when
these conditions are reversed they have
nothing to fall back upon, and not un-
frequently are overtaken by dire calami-
ties. Ireland since 1891 has beena graz
ing and farming country, with a good
market near at hand, yet her people
have not been prosperous, and famine
has on more than one occasion visited
them. To advance English interests,
the result has been the utter impover-
ishment of the Irish people, and a de-
crease in population since 1841 of nearly
three millions on the island. Deprived
of the diversified industries to which
they had been accustomed in their days
of comparative independence, Irishmen
have found farm labor an Improbable
occupation. The assertion of Adam
Smith in his "Wealth Of Nationsn has
been sadly verified to their prejudice:
Whatever tends to diminish in any
country the number Of artiticers and
manufacturers, tends to diminish the
home market, the most important of all
markets for the rude prOducts of the
land"
Much of what is produced on farms is
p~erishable i'll its character, and will not
bear transportation. Thus, though we
send breadstutfs to England when the
demand warrants it, yet the farmers of
the West can eve expect to send their
potatoes, cabbages and turnips to con-
sumers on the other side Of the broad
Atlantic. For many of their products
they must have a home market or none.
On this side of the Atlantic there are
few States or territories whose people
cOntine themselves to a single industry.
The islandOf Newfoundland is the near
est American approach to country thus
situated. Fishing is, so to speak, the
sole occupation Of the inhabitants. On
the sea their industry is mainly pursued
and from it their wealth is derived. In
prosperous seasons they are a prosperous
people, being supplied in abundance
with all the necessaries and many of the
luxuries of life. But let the cod and
seal fisheries fail during a single spring
and summer, and the utmost restitution
WILDE felt duringth the succeeding winter.
The lesson to be derived from these
and kindred facts is one in favor of di-
Versified Industries. Here in Louisiana,
before the war, we depended for every
J UIl1IIS III Jul UNO SICdU SIdDlcSy COllOIl
and sugar. But there were no good
reasons Why people should not avail
themselves of quite an extended variety
Of Industries. We have at hand the raw
materials required for most OF our do
nestle textile fabrics, and both water
power and labor sufficient, without in
terfering with other industries, to give
to these raW materials many times their
original value.
One branch of agricultural industry
which has materiallyincreased since the
war in this State is hat of rice prOduc-
ton. In1860 the total rice crop in Louis
lana was but 6,331, 1857 pounds in 1870 it
had increased to 15,854,0 12 pounds; last
year it was over 100000 900 pounds, and
this year it is expected to be Over 49,
100000 pounds. This crop is one of the
most certain, as we'll as most profitable
that can be raised Oh our lOw-land re-
giOn. Moreover, plantations devoted to
the culture of rice are quite as favorable
to health as those ON which cane, tObac-
co or cotton are the staple products. In
this regard our rice fields enjoy great
while, as tOquantity, quality and facility
of culture, the advantages are in our
favor. White men from any of our
Northern States may come to Louisiana
and enrich themselves By raising rice.
Grapes and oranges are also in the
near future to become important Louis
lama products. Portions of this State
are natural vineyards, while other por-
portions-those nearestto the %gulf-may
with great facility be convertedinto most
productive and profitable orange orch
ards.
IF all the resources of Louisiana be
wisely and harmoniously developed, ere
two decades our State will be one of the
richest in the Union, and the export and
import business of New Orleans will
greatly exceed that of any other city on
this continent.