New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-20
a SURE WAY TO MAKE MONEY


Our people have, if they choose to
adopt it, sure WY to make money. one
that is much more certain to result favor
ably than schemes in politics. And the
way is a most wholesome and pleaSan!
one withal: one that is not only calculated
to develop our resources and beautlty our
our State. but it is one that will develop
true manhood and womanhood in our
people. and finally become never-ending
source of wealth and contentment to all
concerned. We refer to the improvement
and cultivation of our vacant lands.
When trade languishes in our cities.
towns and villages it is a sure lndl-
cation the surrounding country is
not sufficiently settled with pop
ulation devoted to agriculture, fruit and
stock-raising pursuits; for 1t is the
wealth of the country in this respect that
makes business good in our cities. The
great change our labor system has under
gone since the adjustment of slavery has
so materially interfered with the cultiva-
ton of large tracts Of lard known as
plantations that the proprietors have been
compelled to abandon their cultivation.
This course has been forced upon many
planters who have failed to make the cul-
tivation of cotton and sugar by free labor
profitable: and. the consequence is. the
amount of our tillable lands has been de-
creasing for several years past. resulting IN
corresponding decrease in the yearly
products of our State and affecting ma
terially the business of its commercial CEN
tres.
This condition Of our agricultural in
terests might have been in a large degree
averted, had the owners of land aided III
establishing small farms and offered them
for sale at reasonable prices to new COM
ers. The improving and selling Of farms
is something like tie improving Of towns
and cities and the selling Of town lots.
The improvements are certain to add to
the value of surrounding property. Be
sides, the man who improves one or two
hundred acres of land so as to make 4
comfortable farm, with the necessary
buildings. orchards, garden spot. fields.
etc, and has gathered around him stock
of poultry, hogs, sheep. cattle and horses.
is certain to reap the benefits Of this ac-
cumulated wealth. Somebody will come
along, see and admire his snug little home
and make him an offer for it that viii pay
him for his labor and give him the benefit
of the increase of his stock. The laying
off and improving Of farms il the West
has proved a profitable business. and we
are satisfied that it might be made a sure
way of not only realizing money here, but
Of improving and settling the lands Of our
State under system that would soon gives
dense and thrifty population. devoted to the
cultivation and production Of everything
that can be raised here. BY way Of en-
couraging our planters to this course, and
those Of our people with some means who
find it difficult to hold their own under
the pressure Of dull times in the city. we
will cite an instance o: what gentleman
is likely to achieve by going into the coun-
try and commencing and improving
farm. The gentleman in question Was
living in New Orleans five years ago. when
becoming di5heartened with his prospect.
being without business. he determined to
60 into the country. purchase piece
of land, and improve it. He settled
near the Jackson railroad. about two
hours and half ride by rail from New
Orleans. and has succeeded in laying off
and improving farm. surrounded by
many Of the comforts Of life, the result Of
his own labor for five years. Here he has
made employment and home for himself
during that time, and succeeded in max
lug. besides living. Improvements that,
together with the stock that has grown
upon the place, he values at seven thou
sand dollars-and he is likely to have q
purchaser at that price. If this gentle
man had remained in the city, or upon
plantation, doing nothing it is quite prob
able that he would have been getting
poorer every year. and it is not improbable
that be would have attributed his poverty
to Radical rule.