The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-07-27

That the city Of New Orleans, and the
State Of Louisiana, are in perilous con.
ditjop, all agree. Some think the condi-
ton of the State hopeless, and purpose to
abandon her, as sailors abandon wrecked
vessel. That the State is very sick, that
Of them Of very bad type, is generally
admitted to be true. That prompt RENE
dies of some kind are needed to prevent
the State maladies from becoming chronic
and ipcpreble, no ono will deny. But the !
question a. 70 the best remedies in this
never will be settled upless our people |
take the trouble to inquire critically into
the causes Of all this suffering. poverty and
ruin, and see if there are not other, besides
political evils, that prey upon the heart
and vitals Of the State. As our political
the Journals Of the city aud State. and BY
the orators and the people, it will not be
necessary to examine them on this oc-
casion.
THE SITUATION EXAMINED.
Let ms first examine the symptoms of
the diseases which threaten the State and
. city, and then consider, seriously and care
may not be q bright eide, as well as dark
side, to the vexed Louisiana question. Why
are the notices ''For Rent" and "For Sale"
on more than six thousand business houses
and dwellings in this once prosperous city
Of New Orieansf Why have rents and
tent in the past two years Why is the
commerce, which properly belongs to New
Orleans, seeking new and strange channelsf
Why have Louisiana lands, formerly the
most productive in the State, deprecated
in their market value fifty, seventy-f1ve,
and in some instances ninety per cent, or
more.
ATunN
According to an article which appeared
in the Picdyune last season, the plantation
and other property belonging to the estate
of Henry Doyal deceased, situated in the
parish Of Ascension, were formely assessed
at 81 100000, including slaves, but the
In 1872 this eetate was appraised at $780,
600. The estate of V. Anne, in the parish
of st. James, formerly Valued at 81 600 600,
in 1871 could have found q purchaser at
$500, 600 in 1872 at l25 600; was after
wards appraised at SIS, OOO.. 1t was lately
purchased by o reluctant creditor at $780,
900. At the close of the war this estate
was out of debt, and in 1872 it owed 49,, 900
The Linwood plantation and property in
the parish of Ascension, valued at 5000. 600
in 1860, has lately been appraised by one
of the best planters in the parish at SIO,-
plantations and farms of Louisiana were
valued at $2S4 900 600 in 1860 at SOS, =
OOO, 900 in 1870. The farming utensils of
the State were valued at $4,000 600 in
1860 at 81 10000 1870. In 1860 the plan
ters and farmers of Louisiana, cultivated
27OO, 600 acres of land in 1873 they do
not cultivate two thirds that amount. The
cultivated lands Of the State had decreased
66l 900 acres in 1870. Lands have been
depreciating in value since 1865. They
had, in many instances market value OF
considerable Importance from 1865 to 1858.
LANDS AND CULTIvATING FORCE.
The planting and cultivating force OF
this State has been estimated at more than
O.OOO before the war, but from close and
careful examination this appears to be an
over estimate the number did not exceed
l25, 600 field handle, one fifth white and
fur fifths blacks. Both the white and the
black population of the State have latel Y
been decreasing, This State has 10 900 600
acres of tillable land and less than . 900 600
acres in cultivation. The land agent of
the Citizens Bank Informs us that this
bank owns ftty-one plantations. only six
of which are in cultivation. Some of these
places are occupied by sqnatter, who
cultivate patches and pay light rents to
the bank. (The mortgage claims of this
bank on Louisiana plantations amount to
many millions Of dollars.) Large numbers
of sugar and cotton plantations have pass J.
= now the property of New Orleans mer-
chants, and this list will be largely increas-
ed in the next few years.
10000 CoLoRED IMMIGRANTS AND CASH
ADVANCES.
To save these plantations and the plan
tors, after the war, not less than twenty
thousand colored field hands were brought
to this State at an expense of about a mill
lion dollars; and many women and children
were brought with them. These colorcd
immigrants have always voted, in mass,
for the ruin of the planters and merchants
who brought them here, and for the pre-
sent poverty and distress of their adopted
State. A we'll informed merchant of this
city has stated that New Orleans has ad-
vanced to cotton and sugar planters of
this and other States $50, 100000 year to
help and save their crops. Louisiana alone
has paid yearly gil 900 900 for labor, be-
sides large amounts for plantation i'm
provements and supplies. Even with the
vast sums advanced to Louisiana planters,
and the army of field hands brought from
Virginia and other States, those to whom
these favors have been extended have gem
orally failed to pay expenses, and to pay
their merchantR and vet many claimed